10 Vermont Small-Town Buffets With Classic Comfort
Vermont’s small towns hide culinary treasures that locals cherish and visitors dream about. These buffet spots serve up hearty portions of nostalgia alongside their famous comfort foods. I’ve spent years exploring these hidden gems, and now I’m sharing my favorite spots where you can fill your plate with authentic Green Mountain flavors while soaking in that special small-town atmosphere.
1. Zabby & Elf’s Stone Soup, Burlington
Tucked into a cozy corner of Burlington’s downtown, this funky little spot feels like eating in your eccentric aunt’s kitchen. The daily-changing buffet features whatever local farmers dropped off that morning; I’ve seen everything from maple-glazed root vegetables to herb-crusted tofu!
Their homemade breads alone are worth the trip. The owners, nicknamed Zabby and Elf since college, wander through the dining room sharing stories about their ingredients’ origins.
Vegetarians rejoice: this place understands plant-based comfort food isn’t an oxymoron.
2. China Moon Buffet, Barre
Who’d expect the state’s most authentic Chinese buffet to be hiding in granite-quarry country? The Zhao family serves up dishes that transported me straight to Sichuan Province; no passport required!
Forget Americanized takeout standards; here you’ll find regional specialties like ma po tofu with numbing peppercorns and hand-pulled noodles made fresh hourly. The weekend dim sum addition turns this place into a madhouse of dumpling enthusiasts.
Mr. Zhao learned cooking from his grandmother and refuses to compromise on ingredients, even importing specific chili varieties.
3. The East Side Restaurant & Pub, Newport
Perched on Lake Memphremagog’s shore, this lakeside legend serves a Sunday brunch buffet that’s become my monthly pilgrimage. The owners fish the lake themselves; sometimes I watch them bring in the morning catch while sipping my first coffee!
Their smoked trout Benedict changed my life, no exaggeration. The buffet’s maple-cured bacon comes from pigs raised just three miles away, and the buckwheat pancakes use flour milled in the neighboring town.
Come hungry and request a window seat for those million-dollar lake views that somehow make everything taste even better.
4. Essex Junction Grand Buffet, Essex Junction
Don’t let the strip mall location fool you; this place is where local farmers refuel after market day! The spread defies categorization: Vermont cheese boards sit beside Thai curries and Italian pastas, creating a global tour for your tastebuds.
My strategy? Start with their famous clam chowder (Thursday special!) then build a plate that crosses continents. The retired schoolteacher who owns it travels extensively during winter closure, bringing back recipes to recreate.
The dessert section alone requires strategic planning; save room for the maple cream pie that haunts my dreams.
5. Sherpa Kitchen, Burlington
The weekend lunch buffet at this Himalayan hideaway feels like a spiritual experience. Pemba, the owner-chef who summited Everest twice before moving to Vermont, creates Nepalese and Tibetan dishes that warm you from the inside out.
The momos (dumplings) disappear faster than Vermont’s spring snow! I always load up on the dal bhat (lentil curry) and tingmo (steamed bread) while chatting with regulars who’ve been coming since opening day.
Pro tip: the spice level builds gradually, so pace yourself; and yes, their house-made hot sauce is available for purchase.
6. Lucky Buffet, St. Albans City
This unassuming spot near the Canadian border serves the most gloriously unpretentious comfort food in three counties! Family-owned for 32 years, Lucky’s Wednesday night all-you-can-eat fried chicken brings in crowds from both sides of the border.
The mashed potatoes are whipped with so much butter they practically float off the plate. I’ve witnessed heated debates about which is better; their country gravy or maple-chipotle sauce (correct answer: mix them).
The original Lucky, now 87, still makes the pie crusts each morning using her grandmother’s rolling pin and zero written measurements.
7. Made in Brazil Steakhouse (Buffet), Barre
Finding authentic churrasco in granite country feels like striking culinary gold! The Oliveira family transformed an old hardware store into this carnivore’s paradise where gauchos circulate with skewers of fire-roasted meats.
The unlimited meat service comes with access to a buffet bar stocked with Brazilian specialties. Their hearts of palm salad and cheese bread (pão de queijo) are so addictive I’ve considered asking for the recipes; though Maria just laughs when anyone tries.
Fair warning: wear stretchy pants and prepare for the meat sweats; this place doesn’t understand the concept of “too much.”
8. Lyndon Buffet, Lyndonville
Snowmobilers, college students, and local families all converge at this Northeast Kingdom institution where comfort meets value. The retro wood-paneled dining room hasn’t changed since 1978; and neither have most of the recipes!
Friday’s seafood night transforms this mountain town spot into a coastal feast with surprisingly fresh offerings. The owner’s brother drives to the coast twice weekly for their famous “downeast” clam chowder.
My personal ritual includes three trips: salad bar first (amazing pickled vegetables!), then hot entrees, finishing with their signature maple bread pudding that’s worth every calorie.
9. The Holt Brunch Buffet, Vergennes
Housed in Vermont’s oldest operating inn, this Sunday-only experience blends historic charm with farm-fresh innovation. The chef-owner, a James Beard semifinalist who escaped big-city burnout, creates weekly-changing menus that showcase whatever’s perfect that moment.
Last visit, I watched in awe as she incorporated foraged ramps into five different dishes! The buffet’s arrangement tells a story; moving from lighter fare to heartier options in a thoughtful progression.
Reservations open two weeks ahead and disappear within hours. Worth planning ahead: their maple-bourbon French toast casserole haunts my breakfast dreams.
10. P&H Truck Stop, Wells River
Truckers know the best food, and this 24-hour roadside haven proves it! The breakfast buffet (served all day, hallelujah) features pancakes so fluffy they barely need syrup; though the real Vermont maple flows freely here.
Nothing fancy, just honest cooking that sticks to your ribs. The wall of fame features polaroids of drivers who’ve completed the “six-stack challenge.” I’ve watched locals and travelers strike up friendships over coffee refills that never seem to end.
The waitresses remember everyone’s name after just one visit, and the owner still works the griddle most mornings despite being well into his seventies.
