"Hen of the Wood is widely regarded as Vermont’s most celebrated restaurant, and the experience makes it immediately clear why. The space itself sets the tone: warm wood textures and thoughtful design create an intimate, grounded atmosphere that feels special even before the first dish arrives. I began with the scallop crudo, an appetizer defined by exceptional freshness and precision. The scallops were pristine, their delicate sweetness enhanced by carefully balanced seasonings and garnishes that added both contrast and textural interest without overwhelming the dish. For the main course, the duck breast was flawlessly executed—crisp skin giving way to tender, flavorful meat. The accompanying elements provided a welcome counterpoint to the richness of the duck, resulting in a dish that felt both indulgent and refined. Dessert was the chocolate almond cake served with ice cream, a standout finale that was truly memorable and easily among the best desserts I’ve had this year. Throughout the meal, service was attentive and polished, complementing an already remarkable atmosphere. Hen of the Wood is absolutely worth a dedicated trip and comes highly recommended."

"We had a wonderful dinner at Hen of the Wood with my wife and son. We arrived on time and were seated immediately, even though it was fairly crowded for a Sunday evening. Our table was close to the kitchen, and you could feel the warmth and energy from the back—something I actually enjoyed, as it added to the atmosphere. We started with seltzer water and drinks, and our server went above and beyond by making a homemade Shirley Temple for my son, which he absolutely loved. For appetizers, we ordered the pork pâté wrapped in bacon, served with charred bread. It was rich, flavorful, and beautifully done. For my main course, I ordered the 16-ounce ribeye, cooked medium rare. It came with potatoes and a delicious jus, along with mustard seeds that added a fantastic pop of flavor. My wife ordered the duck, which she found incredibly tasty and well prepared. One unique and thoughtful touch was on the menu itself—items labeled something like “kisses to the cooks” and “hugs to the kitchen.” Curious, I asked our server and learned these are tips that go directly to the kitchen staff. I really appreciated this gesture, recognizing the people who work hard behind the scenes and aren’t usually visible to guests. To finish the meal in classic Vermont style, we ordered three different cheeses from the cheese menu. They were served with hazelnuts and crackers lightly sweetened with almond—an outstanding and memorable ending to the meal. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the restrooms were exceptionally clean and well maintained. My wife is usually hesitant to use restrooms in crowded places, but she was pleasantly surprised and even praised how clean they were. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience. If you’re in Burlington, Vermont and looking for a high-quality dinner spot, I highly recommend Hen of the Wood. It’s family-friendly as well—we saw other families with young children—making it a great choice for both special occasions and relaxed evenings out."

"Hen of the Wood was a fabulous experience. Although reservations were fully booked, our party of 2 made an attempt at bar seating, and we were delighted that after just 10 minutes we were seated at the chef’s table. The food is incredible, of course. Don’t miss the cheese selections. If you’re dining with someone willing to share, I recommend ordering several plates and splitting them to taste as much of the menu as possible. Service was wonderful, our server was attentive, helpful, and kind. The whole evening was a treat and a highlight of our weekend visit to Burlington."

"Dishes are really perfect! Better reserve the seats beforehand as the restaurant is quite busy. The dishes are really perfect! The menus are always updated from time to time depending on the seasonal and fresh market food. A lot of choices of wines for your selection. Environment is decent and comfortable, waiter is very knowledgeable and friendly to introduce the special dishes and recommend the right wines for us. Small plates and big plates are very very delicious and perfect. Only the dessert we ordered is a little bit sweet for myself, maybe next time I will choose some ice cream."

"I grew up in the sf bay area, and its fair to say i came of age with the farm to table dining movement. My high school prom dinner was at Chez Panisse, for example. Since then I've dined all over the world and I appreciate street food as much (often more) than three star Michelin spots. Something I've leaned is that a great restaurant experience is way, way more than great food. The vibe of the restaurant is equally important. Boo and I dined here for NYE this year and it wad great! We couldn't get a reservation a month out (via resy and calling) but we followed the advice here to show up at 4 and ask to eat at the bar or chefs table. The bar was filled up at 405 for seats, so we got chefs table. My advice is that if you don't have a res you need to show up early. Chef's table experience was great. You could tell by the energy of the staff that they were happy to be there and proud of the product. They rolled with the fact that boo didn't want any big plates and they coursed out the meal with aplomb. Farm to table is a challenge in New England in winter (see Erin French's musings on this subject in her history HBO show) but the cabbage dish was fire. Not a Michelin star spot bc they don't come here (Boston paid for their stars, fyi) but it well could be based on my experience dining at those spots in cities like sf, la, NYC, Barcelona, Paris, London ETC."