Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

(Published in 7 Nights 2006-07)

You can get good food all day at The Bee's Knees in Morrisville, but the term "restaurant" may be too restrictive for this all-purpose eatery that is also a coffeehouse, a playpen, a gallery, a nightclub — even a massage parlor. Owner Sharon Deitz wants customers to think of the place as "the town's living room, a place where everyone feels comfortable..." You may find yourself surrounded by bois-terous toddlers gleefully reducing homemade muffins to their molecular level. The live music starts up around 7:30 almost every night.

Cramped, comfy and slightly chaotic, the place has a crunchy charm. Various styles of art cover the walls and hang in the windows. A collection of books, toys, and board games is jammed into a corner bookshelf.

The hearty and generous food, mostly organic with many vegan-friendly dishes, adds nourishment to the scene. Relying heavily on local producers such as Pete's Greens, Winding Brook Farm and Sandiwood Farm, the menu offers everything from breakfast burritos to creamy mac-and-cheese and a chicken with goat cheese potpie. The roasted root vegetable salad is a standout. Homemade applesauce and organic mesclun greens accompany most orders, and there is a small but choice selection of wine and local beer.

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