Best Restaurants in the Mad River Valley

Analysis

Sep 8

A restaurant patio at Sugarbush's Lincoln Peak base. — Both Sugarbush and Mad River Glen boast strong dining options both on-site and in town.

Mad River Valley, 40 minutes from Burlington, holds two popular ski mountains — Mad River Glen and Sugarbush. These two resorts may be remote, but they’re home to some awesome authentic food and restaurants.

Mad River Glen

Birdcage

Onsite at Mad River Glen, there are only two restaurants. The Birdcage is a small, quick-bite lodge at the base of the Birdland Chair. With low wooden ceilings, casual service and friendly staff, it is a great place to stop for a hot drink, light lunch or to warm the toes. Inexpensive sandwiches, hotdogs, chili, soup, baked goods and candy selections are available at the counter.

Stark’s Pub

Stark’s Pub, located in the rustic Basebox base lodge, is a perfect encapsulation of Mad River’s lively, vintage spirit. Floor to ceiling windows offer views of the mountain soaring above, snow drifting (or dumping), and colorful skiers milling in the Single Chair lift line. Stark’s Pub serves reasonably priced American pub food, ranging from burgers, sandwiches and soups to vegetarian options like hummus, salads, and the Grilled Portobello Burger. There is a seat option for everyone. Perch at the bar, sip locally brewed Lawson's Finest Liquids, and admire the Wall of Fame — photos of the famous “Ski It If You Can” bumper sticker from around the world. Gather near the crackling stone fireplace, sharing company with wet gloves and the odd sock. Go al fresco. Or crowd a table in the back room, which sometimes has live music and always has the sports channel on their mounted TV. Either way, Stark’s Pub is the best place to end a long, cold day of skiing.

Is dinner available at Mad River Glen’s restaurants?

During the ski season, food service at Mad River Glen is limited to lunch and aprés only.

During the summer, Stark’s Pub does offer dinner service Wednesday through Saturday from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. This service ends in early October.

Sugarbush

Sugarbush is slightly different than Mad River Glen. Their resort has two mountains, Lincoln and Mount Ellen. Food options onsite are plentiful, ranging from on-mountain lodges to places in Lincoln Peak Village and Mount Ellen’s Cafeteria. The resort also has multiple fancier restaurants on the Lincoln Peak side, many of which operate primarily for dinner.

Fit to be Thai’d

The best restaurant, Fit to be Thai’d, is a little unconventional. However, it is top-rated not only at Sugarbush, but in the Mad River Valley. Its clean, bright interior is a great space for friends fresh off the slopes, or families looking for a new dinner spot. The service is excellent, the staff are laid-back and cheerful. Live music is common. The ingredients are fresh and the generous food portions are not only well-priced, but delicious. The Pork Basil Stir Fry and Chicken Pad Thai are notable. If you are looking for a more classic aprés-ski experience, retro-themed Wunderbar is the perfect place. They serve German themed food, snacks, beer, wine, and cocktails with views of Lincoln Peak base.

Off-Mountain Restaurants

Outside of Mad River Glen and Sugarbush sprawls the Mad River Valley, full of a variety of restaurants, cafes and quick bite stops.

Best Breakfast Option: Toast & Eggs

The best all-around breakfast is at Toast & Eggs, a cozy, friendly Vermont restaurant. Inside the pale green clapboard building is a rich breakfast menu. The Hungry Carpenter, a self-proclaimed “champion of breakfasts” is a must; scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, aged Cabot cheddar, arugula, and garlic aioli on house English muffin. They also have dinner options, and all of their food can be packaged for take-away, which is perfect to pick up on your way to or from either ski resort.

A brunch plate at Mad River Valley's Toast & Eggs restaurant in Vermont. — Mad River Valley's Toast & Eggs restaurant is home to some authentic and filling brunch options. Image Via: Toast & Eggs

A pizza at the American Flatbread restaurant in Mad River Valley, Vermont. — American Flatbread might have the best ski town pizza in Vermont. Image Via: American Flatbread

Best Family Option: American Flatbread

For the family, go to American Flatbread at the historic Lareau Farm, a cluster of red, barn-like buildings. Settled in 1794, Lareau Farm was established in 1985 as the original home of American Flatbread. They serve an Evolution Salad (seasonal mix of locally and/or organically grown vegetables) and eight types of pizzas. The dough uses 100% organically grown wheat, topped with seasonal and local ingredients and fresh herbs. If needed, kids, or anyone, can customize their pizzas with eighteen different toppings. Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Brownie is always a good choice for dessert.

The patio of the Pitcher Inn restaurant in Mad River Valley, Vermont. — The Pitcher Inn’s elegant vibe makes it a perfect fit for a fancy dinner or date night. Image Via: Pitcher Inn

Best Fine Dining Option: The Pitcher Inn

If you are looking for a romantic date night, or just fine dining, The Pitcher Inn is perfect. This luxury boutique hotel, built in the 1800s, is home to an exceptional à la carte farm-to-table dinner menu created by Chef Jacob Ennis. The meals will be expertly paired with a cocktail, craft beer or wine; Wine Spectator awarded Pitcher Inn the Best Award of Excellence this year, 2023, for its extensive wine cellar with 375 selections. There are three dining rooms. The main Dining Room is an “elegantly casual space” with a huge fireplace, dark walls, wooden tables, and a “cognac leather Chesterfield sofa.” Large windows look over the back garden and Freeman brook, where dining is available in warm weather. The Brook Room is a private dining room with a classic, romantic feel; white linen and candlelight. Tracks is the most casual of the three, with living-room-style seating and “backcountry decor.” There are cozy rugs, cushioned chairs, antique lamps; pinecones and candles rest on the mantle, and a stuffed raccoon perches near the stone fireplace. You can enjoy just appetizers and a cocktail, or a three-course dinner with wine pairing here.

Soft serve ice cream from Vermont's Canteen Creemee Company. — The Valley’s Canteen Creemee Company is home to some of the most comforting ice cream we’ve ever tried. Image Via: Canteen Creemee

Other Notable Options

Two bonus recommendations: Canteen Creemee Company, which serves a Vermont “Creemee” — with a fat content higher than soft serve, these are a creamy and silky dessert — and The Mad Taco, a local-filled, casual Mexican spot that smokes its meats right in the parking lot.

Final Thoughts

Vermont’s Mad River Valley boasts a diverse restaurant scene, spanning the spectrum from rustic, comforting eateries to fine, upscale dining establishments. At the top restaurants, visitors can enjoy the best cuisines of the local area without compromising on quality.

It’s important to note that all of Mad River Valley’s restaurants can be quite popular, especially during peak seasons. To ensure a smooth dining experience, we advise you make in-advance reservations, particularly during busy times of the year. Planning ahead will help you secure a table and make the most of your visit to these high-quality establishments.

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Alex Brichkowski

Alex is a recent NYU graduate, where she studied Journalism, Spanish and Creative Writing. Vermont and Connecticut raised, Alex has skied her way from the age of two across the East, West and even out to Zermatt, Switzerland. Her writing focuses on intersections of environment, landscapes and politics. She is currently freelancing and traveling. When Alex isn’t skiing or running, she is most likely talking about global warming or how cool that tree over there looks (it’s a white pine).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-brichkowski-7b2a73226/