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It's got a massive mural featuring rollicking nude figures straight out of an ancient bacchanal, and tons of al fresco seating on a busy corner of Church Street. But for years, there was one thing Sweetwaters lacked: food worth a trip.... Read more

Opening a restaurant in a former bus terminal can present some design challenges — think super-high ceiling, harsh lighting and an industrial ambiance. But Pho Hong, which took over the convenient North Winooski spot previously occupied by Global Markets, has adapted to its unusual surroundings with grace. Exposed brick is painted a delicate salmon, and the walls — which hold a collection of paintings and Asian scrolls — are spring green.... Read more

If you think of White River Junction as a place to hop off the highway for a bathroom break and a fast-food burger, you may want to give it another look.

The tiny village, located within the town of Hartford in Vermont's Upper Valley, declined after the interstate system replaced the trains that used to bring passengers, and bucks, to area businesses. But over the past decade the locale — which lies at the intersection of I-89 and I-91 — has been experiencing a creative-economy renaissance.... Read more

When I was a little girl living in Brooklyn, my parents used to take me to Brighton Beach on the weekends. Aside from riding on the overheated subway, I don't remember much about those trips — except my lust for potato knishes, that is. Vendors walked up and down the beach hawking the golden dumplings that were filled with a rich mixture of mashed potatoes and onions. I couldn't get my toddler tongue around the word "knish," so I begged for "potato conditioners."... Read more

For two and a half years, Chef Chris Hechanova ran a successful take-out and delivery business from his apartment kitchen. Though Big Chile Republic's advertising was limited to guerrilla tactics such as flyering car windshields, and its menu and hours could be erratic, it was a hit.... Read more

Everybody has their own version of restaurant love at first sight. Some people swoon over a joint with 25 beers on tap and a selection of crisp, golden-brown fare from the fryer. Others go for minimalist décor, tiny plates of architecturally arranged food and a cadre of model-thin trendy folks. For me, it's about a cozy environment, thoughtful staffers and a menu that appears to take both food ethics and taste into account. Of course, for the place to keep my affection, the offerings have to tantalize my tongue, too.... Read more

A few months ago, I had a lumberjack for the first time. Too much information? Well, consider that the lumberjack in question was a crêpe the size of a vinyl record folded over slices of Vermont ham and cheddar, with the optional smattering of tart apple slices. Sitting on a lower Church Street bench beside the cart where the salty-sweet concoction was made, I devoured it and licked the last bits of cheese from my fingertips. Then I went back for dessert.... Read more

I'm not much of a sports fan, so I rarely eat dinner in a room suffused with the green-blue glow from multiple TVs. Those who relish an athletic ambiance will feel right at home at the Scuffer Steak & Ale House on Church Street, formerly The Rusty Scuffer.

For me, though, it was a novelty. While I tried to ignore flashes of really big guys tackling other really big guys, my husband, though not really into sports, either, couldn't look away. "I'm a Cowboys fan from way back," he enthused.... Read more

The American tapas-bar craze made the term "small plates" a big buzzword. But decades earlier, restaurants across the country were already selling diminutive servings of food to accompany a favorite beverage. And these weren't little dishes of marinated Manzanilla olives, or slivers of jamon accompanied by a glass of sherry. The restaurants were Chinese, the drink in question was tea, and the food was called "dim sum."... Read more

B-town's famously potent "hurricanes" and conch fritters disappeared when Auggie's Island Grill closed in July. Its alcohol-free successor, Bueno Y Sano, which translates "Good and Healthy," is going a different route. Right next door to vegan-friendly Stone Soup, it offers an array of fresh, Mexican-flavored wraps that you choose yourself from an à la carte menu. There's not a bottle of Cuervo in sight.... Read more