Doc Ponds

This place scores a five at every aspect. Look forward to going back again. The calamari is phenomenal! Type of place that would be fun just to sit there and have some drinks. Great music, vibe, and atmosphere.

My family and I went here on 7/15. Husband got the marinated mushrooms which he said were awesome. They did not have the cheddar fritters on the menu but were on the online version. My son and I both got the cheeseburgers. For $16 I would have figured they would have been more then an inch thick from top to bottom bun. Barely any lettuce or anything on them. Worst part was our daughter got the Mac and cheese. Came out in a skillet sliding around on a plate. Waitress said “be careful it’s a little hot” so we were careful not to touch it but about 5 minutes later my daughters arm accidentally brushed against the handle. She started to cry and it was a little red but quickly turned into a bad burn! “A little hot” caused a huge burn blister on her arm before we even left. If you are going to serve skillets, do what most restaurants do and put a handle coozie on it and use a more secure transport plate instead of sliding around in a plate. Needless to say very disappointed. Temperature safety should be a priority.

Great food, service, and atmosphere. Sat on the patio with my dog and enjoyed our time. Shout out to Dominic he was an awesome server!

A crazy busy restaurant, and you should expect a wait! That said the food is excellent, the cocktails are excellent. The sandwiches are pretty special and I’d definitely recommend the cheese fritters, and while the beer specials used to be better (I think they had $5 alchemist cans before), they always have some good local stuff

After all the great reviews we were really looking forward to dinner here. We are traveling with our pups and saw they were dog friendly and decided to try it. Especially since they have so many different Vermont beers on tap. We were disappointed by several things. 1) they don’t do flights so you can’t try a bunch. 2) Everything is a-la-carte so no sides included, which quickly escalates the cost. 3) Most upsetting, we found a bolt in our pickled vegetables (pictured). The waitress’s response was “something must be falling apart in the back.” That was not very reassuring. She offered us an alternative appetizer, and when she brought it back, she said “Apparently it is a bolt from the mandolin that they used to cut the vegetables. It is also apparently not the first time it’s happened.” For a restaurant that is deeply concerning. Especially since they know this is a problem, but continue to use that equipment. They did comp our appetizer so it worked out. The food was good but other Stowe restaurants have been significantly better in food quantity, quality, and service. They weren’t super knowledgeable about potential allergens (we have dairy allergies) and we both felt ill after we left.

Stowe has plenty of great restaurants, and this is one of the better choices. It's generally busy, so be prepared to wait, but it's worth it. They serve one of the best burgers in Stowe, and the rest of the menu is filled with solid options. The VT cheddar fritters are great, as well as the Mac and cheese. Doc Ponds also has some of the better tasting fries I've had from any restaurant. Pictured is the crispy chicken sandwich and the double bacon cheeseburger, both delicious.

Service and atmosphere- amazing! Food was just ok. Drinks were perfect. We got the double + bacon burger and the Chicago beef. If you’ve ever had a Chicago beef… or just beef in general, the Chicago beef is not great. It was clearly overcooked and dry which was such a shame because it’s so hard to find a Chicago beef on the east coast

Solid burger, and incredible fries. These fries are probably the best fries I've ever had. This is a good place to get a quick bite or to enjoy a drink at the bar.

Doc Ponds was our last meal during our trip in Stowe and we absolutely loved it! We started by ordering a couple beers and a couple of their "Snacks." We opted for the Marinated Olives and the Local Pickled Vegetables. I don't know about you, but I can stay AWHILE and have drinks while eating small plates like that. We then ordered the Doc Smash Burger and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich as our main meals. My only complaint is that the sandwiches came out on their own and I wish they included a side salad, fries, or chips. The sides are available to order separately though, this just makes them a little pricier but maybe there will be larger portions? The restaurant was very busy when we went early on a Saturday night. There was a little bit of a wait, but we didn't mind. The waitstaff was a little short with us, but that is probably just because they were busy and trying to keep things moving, which I totally respect! I would definitely recommend Doc Ponds as a casual restaurant option in Stowe with some delicious upscale bar food and drinks!

We always make a stop into Doc Ponds when we're in Stowe! They don't take reservations so it can be a bit of a wait when it's busy, but you can join the waitlist on Yelp which is helpful. They have a great beer list with a lot of local options. Last time we were there, they had a special for Focal Banger draft for $5, what a deal! As for the food, the old school calamari is SO GOOD. It's not your typical fried calamari, it's sautéed. The squid is tender and very flavorful. I also love their crispy chicken sandwich, it's well seasoned and balanced out by the pickles and mayo. The food and booze are stellar, but we keep coming back for the casual atmosphere and the hospitality - the staff are always so nice and accommodating. They are family-friendly and we never have an issue getting a high chair. Definitely add Doc Ponds to your Stowe must-visit list!

Food: 4.5/5 | Service: 4.5/5 | Experience: 4/5 My party of 5 was able to get seated at a high table immediately upon arriving a couple of minutes after opening. I ordered the double doc smash burger. This was exactly as expected: a bit greasy, a bit messy, a bit juicy, a bit crispy edges, and a bit heavy. It did hit the spot, and the pickle on the side really helped cut the heaviness from the burger. This was my favorite place to eat in Stowe / Waterbury when visiting.

This has been my favorite place I've ate at in Stowe. Amazing burger and amazing wings. I loved the fact when you walk in and see records along the wall with two turntables. The staff was very friendly. The fact they have coke in a glass bottle was a huge plus. Most definitely a place you need to go to while in town.

This place was fun! We arrived around 6pm on a Thursday and didn't have to wait to be seated, but it was busy by the time we left. Our waitress was fine. We ordered the hummus plate which was delicious. There was also a seasonal dish we ordered which had squash and was incredible! The beer and cider was also great! Very upbeat, casual/intimate atmosphere.

This place rocks! Looking for a delicious and cozy place to land after a day out in the snow? This is the spot. Highly recommend old school calamari, green salad (dressing is perfection!) and falafel plate. Fiddlehead and Mule were refreshing and our server/bartender was so kind, we were is great hands. Thank you!!

We love it! Eat here every time we are in Stowe to ski. The food is great and drinks too. Staff is always friendly.

The hostess was rude to multiple of our party at separate instances. Despite that, we stuck it out to get a table and try the food given the high food ratings from other reviews. However, the food is absolutely mid, especially in view of the prices. The chicken sandwich is mostly breading. The fingerling potatoes were just kinda oily potatoes. Mac and cheese wasn't all that flavorful (although the crust was nice and crunchy). The mushrooms were fairly bland too. Additionally, the service was extraordinarily slow. It took us like 40 min to get even a drink, which was insane. The server also didn't ask me how I wanted my burger cooked and ended up serving me a burger cooked to medium well, which, I guess, is a choice. In summary: please don't get roped in by the high ratings of this place. Think carefully before settling here to eat.

A pretty casual place for American food! I got a regular burger with the cucumbers and salad. The cucumber salad is spicy so beware if you order it!

Tried Doc Pond's for lunch and was glad we did. Very nice place with a warm, homey feel to it. Whoever was in charge of the music was doing an awesome job, and they are playing vinyl records. Service was great throughout. Tyler took care of us, but everyone was fantastic. The food was exceptional. We started with the VT Cheddar Fritters and they were very good, I certainly recommend them. I had the Doc Smash Burger and it was excellent. My wife had the wings and they were very good too. I highly recommend Doc Pond's if you are in Stowe. If you go, be sure to read the history of Doc Pond and the signs on the bathroom doors are hilarious.

I had the pleasure of dining at a local eatery that offered a delightful meal featuring chicken with chimichurri sauce, creamy mac and cheese, and a classic Caesar salad. We had other items as well but these were my favorite. As the squash was seasoned to lightly and still crunchy. The star of the meal was undoubtedly the chicken, perfectly grilled to achieve a juicy interior with a slightly crispy exterior. The chimichurri sauce, vibrant and herbaceous, added a refreshing kick that elevated the dish. The garlic and parsley notes were well-balanced, with just the right amount of acidity to cut through the richness of the chicken. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavors, making it a truly memorable centerpiece. The mac and cheese, which did not disappoint. The pasta was cooked al dente, enveloped in a rich, creamy cheese sauce that was both comforting and indulgent. Topped with a golden, crispy breadcrumb crust, it offered a satisfying textural contrast. The Caesar salad provided a refreshing counterpoint. The romaine lettuce was crisp and fresh, tossed generously with a classic Caesar dressing that had the perfect balance of creaminess and tang. The addition of shaved Parmesan and crunchy croutons, a boiled egg added both flavor and texture, making it a delightful starter.I would highly recommend the chicken for anyone looking to enjoy a flavorsome and hearty dining experience.

Doc Ponds is a great option for dinner in Stowe! The caesar salad, burger, and chicken sandwich were really good options that my boyfriend and I shared. Staff is kind and attentive. Lots of seating, we just walked in. There's even merchandise in the restaurant, too. Loved my visit!

Decent place for a dinner. Very casual and friendly environment. My experience was a long waiting list for get in but this was also Vermonts busiest weekend but do check yelp to join their waiting list in advance.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Doc Ponds! Such a vibe. Great music, great people, and great food. Arrived after 5pm to a packed house buzzing with conversation. We had to wait 30 mins for a table so we sat at the bar. I ordered the $5 daily draft special and enjoyed the music being played, a phish live show. The atmosphere was fun but the food was even better. My favorite was the house made onion dip and chips. The onion dip was creamy and tasty. The chips had a light bbq flavor and were well seasoned. We could not stop eating these chips! You get so many with your order. The burger didn't come with fries so we did order these (not pictured here) The burger and fries were excellent. Quite a large burger with a few slices of bacon. I was not able to finish my burger (probably because I ate too many chips!) Doc Ponds would be a must see location for me when visiting Stowe.

Incredible! Worth the wait in every way! The squash soup was my most favorite I've ever had anywhere! The servers were attentive and the food came out quickly. Flavors were on point. Maple lime pie was out of this world!! Crisp Moscow mule. We came twice in our trip because my family loved it. It's affordable too! It's a great bar whether you're looking to eat with family/kids, hangout with friends or go on a date - Doc Ponds is your place!

spent the afternoon checking the online wait list. online wait list is toatal fiasco. don't waste your time.

Food, service was all great! We ordered a bunch of smaller plates and shared - cheddar fritters, caesar salad, wings, brussels sprout, artichoke dip. Highly recommend the fritters. Service was extremely friendly and would recommend doing the online waitlist as it will save time.

Doc Ponds is incredible. It's not very big, and I recommend getting on the waitlist, but it is worth every minute of waiting. I came here with my mom and husband, and we were starving. We started out with the cheddar fritters and soup, and both were SO delicious. I also ordered a cider (non alcoholic) and it was perfectly crisp and refreshing. For my main meal, I got the chicken sandwich. My husband got the dry rubbed wings, and my mom got the burger. The main entrees don't come with a side so we ordered a couple to share between us: the carrots and the Mac & cheese. These were not small so I'm glad we shared. The chicken sandwich was messy but really good. The batter was cornmeal I think and it was very crunchy. The carrots were cooked perfectly and had a great bunch of spices on them. The Mac & cheese was awesome, and they used cavatappi pasta noodles which is my favorite. We decided to be a little wild and get dessert too, so we ordered the maple lime pie. Sounds kinda gross but it was very good. Definitely the most interesting pie I've ever had. At first it was like a buttermilk pie but maple flavored, but the finishing flavor was a nice strong lime flavor, kind of like a key lime pie. Our server was excellent, the food prices were reasonable, and the music over the speakers was great. This is a must-do in Stowe.

Second time here. First time was excellent. This time just average. The sautéed calamari was presented in a bowl of oil and spice . The. Urger was good. The market salad was average at best. Our waitress got off her shift and went to drink at the bar. She didn't bother to tell us she was clocking out for the night

Doc Ponds has become my favorite place in town to enjoy some me time by sitting at the bar, bringing some work to do, and enjoying a glass of wine and some food. The staff is so bright and friendly that they make the restaurant feel even more alive than it is. It's always crowded with the best people. The vibe is just something you can't beat. And now the best part: the food is fantastic. Just thinking about the chicken sandwich right now is making my mouth water. The Caesar salad has to be one of my favorite iterations I've ever eaten. You can even get anchovies with it! Finally, leave room for a vanilla shake. It's become my go-to desert there, and it never disappoints.

Easily the best dinner we have had in Stowe. Started with the wings which were very good, nice and crispy with a great sauce. I had the Vermont chicken. I never order chicken out but saw so many photos of it and decided to take a chance. This was amazing, the skin was crispy and the chicken was insanely juicy. I ordered a side of Mac and cheese for my husband and I to share, it was so creamy and had a great flavor. My husband had the double smash burger, he loved every bite. It's such a great little place I highly recommend!

This was our 2nd time at Doc Ponds and we loved it. Four of us went for lunch and we were able to get a table right away. Booths are comfortable, music was great. Today was Springsteen heavy but we are fans! We started with the chips and dip which is always a hit. The chips are so fresh with great seasoning while the dip cools the hint of spice down. We ordered a burger, the 1/2 chicken and two of us had the broccoli cheese melt. The melts were AMAZING! Great addition to the menu. Another great experience!

The Vermont half chicken is a must! Even the white meat was moist. The chimichurri was the perfect accompaniment. Perfect to share with another small dish or two. We even had leftovers we ate the next morning straight out of the mini fridge and it was still delicious! We also got the local pickled vegetables and marinated beet salad. I never thought of pickling celery and red peppers, but now I have new ideas! The beet salad was fresh and perfectly lightly dressed. Molly was our server and she was very sweet! Make sure to add yourself to the Yelp waitlist ahead of time!

Great burgers! One of my favorite stops in Stowe. Service is attentive and very friendly.

I will start with the food, they don't have a very populated kids menu. they everyone can get used to it and once you give it a chance it has a lot of awesome food! The staff is always so kind and it is what I like to call the hidden gem of Stowe, Vermont.

Overall we felt the food was overpriced. Unfortunately there was a hair in one of our appetizers. Service was ok, they were busy and possibly short staffed. Not our favorite meal in Stowe.

Food was really good!! The dry rub wings were amazing!!! The half chicken was very good!!! Mac & cheese was yummy. Friendly service. Good music and vibes!

Food and drinks were excellent. Service was great. Hill farmstead on tap is always a win. The baked mac and cheese was really good.

Loved this bar/restaurant, felt like the quintessential Stowe experience. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed our bartender's company- he was funny and friendly and made our experience memorable. For dinner we ordered the smash burger (special sauce, cheese from VT, lettuce, and bacon), fries with garlic aioli sauce, and the daily pasta from Hen of the Wood. The pasta of the day was agnolotti; filled with soft cheese and smothered in a mushroom sauce. The burger meat was juicy, the bun was fluffy and fresh, and the secret sauce was a fantastic addition. The pasta was cooked al dente and was my favorite dish because the flavors were unique and went together so well! For dessert I ordered the special pie of the day, which was a pumpkin pie mousse pie. The pie was one of the best I've ever had. The mouse was rich and creamy and packed with pumpkin flavor. There was a crispy crust and pecans scattered on top of the pie (with whipped cream), that gave it the texture it needed. 10/10 on the pie. The beer selection is fantastic AND they had numerous sour beers for me to choose from (Foam was my favorite!) Extra win- the merchandise here is super cute, make sure to check out the hats and shirts in the front of the store!!

This place is ridiculously good....literally everything that comes out of the kitchen is superb!

I liked everything about this place. Cool Apres vibe with killer tunes, Great service and the food was incredible!

What a view! While the servers were really busy, they still did a great job. My food came out hot and tasted pretty darn good. If I lived closer, I would definitely go back.

Day trip to Stowe. Got seated with my wife right in front of the fire place which my wife loved. Florida people in VT get cold easy lol. Ordered the bbq chips and dip. Pretty much filled up in that. The mac and cheese was perfect. Got the peach bubbly also. Nice drink if you are into vinegar and peach.

Got the Caesar salad, which is was pretty small for an entree but I would get it again! Also got 2 sides and spiked milkshake

Walked into town from the Stowe Village Inn and stumbled on this awesome spot! Being the week of the eclipse, traffic foiled our plans to try out some breweries nearby. But Doc Ponds came to the rescue with great local beers on tap. We sampled brews from Hill Farmstead, Foam and Burlington. I would describe the atmosphere as reminiscent of a brewery with the added perk of serving up some delicious food. Not being super hungry, we snacked on housemade bbq chips with onion dip and smoked bluefish dip and crackers. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here!

After years of coming to Stowe I was finally able to try the famous Doc Ponds! This place is always packed with an extreme wait and now that I've been I can see why! My boyfriend and I stopped by on a slow Friday night and got seated in the downstairs area which was cute, the place is small but organized well. I had to start with an espresso martini which was very good, no complaints here. We split the jalapeño cheddar fritters and when I tell you how good these are... I mean it!! I could've eaten just those all night, so moist and flavorful. Then we split the chicken sandwich and fries which was amazing as well. 5 stars all around!

Amazing food! My fav in Stowe. The burgers and half chicken is my go to usually. Very casual.

It was a short wait and the hostess was very friendly. Place is cute and cozy. There is available seating at the bar aside from booth and high tables. The food was delicious. Highly recommend the baked Mac and cheese. Price was reasonable.

When meeting with our friends Jordan, Kaylee and Arturo at The Roastery up they recommended us to have dinner at this very local eatery.... signs saying "no snow boots" do give away what really matters in Stowe, Vermont. We immediately felt welcome, and it's been a long time since I have seen a public place with turntables and a massive LP collection. Let's start with the brew, very sumptuous, tasty and full bodied... smash burger, salads and then the chocolate cake for dessert - still salivating over it. When in the area, a must-go, same for The Roastery by the way.

Dry rub chicken wings are a must! Enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Staff were very friendly, service excellent!

Not sure why this place gets such great reviews. Seems like a fun atmosphere to get a drink or sit at the bar, but the food is mediocre at best, and it's super stingy! You pay $16'ish for a burger or sandwich and they don't even give you a garnish or fries or any type of side with that . It just a small mediocre sandwich on a big empty plate :). Seemed like an overpriced rip off to me!

Really enjoyed the chicken wings and burgers. The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. Service was great.

The food was really good. We were tired of eating at our hotel and just wanted to try a local favorite. The burgers were so good. I can usually finish a burger but this one was so filling that I couldn't. The Caesar salad was good too. I liked the dusting of croutons, it was crunchy in every bite. YuMm. Definitely go for the burger, the fries that were crunchy and served with a garlic aioli that was great on the burger too. The ribeye was good. My son ordered it and he said: "it was good, it tasted like it should taste...". Lol The service was awesome and so efficient. They run a tight ship here. It was raining so we couldn't sit outside but the outside patio is so cute. Right now in late August it has so many white hydrangeas blooming and the cafe lights make it such a pretty ambiance. We sat inside and it was more of a bar atmosphere at 8:00pm but there were families there too. They have a kids menu and the crayons and coloring was a hit for our kid, along with the Stowe, VT map.

Pretty average experience all around. Tiniest chicken wings I've ever seen, burgers/sandwiches don't come with fries, customer service was average.

The food, while delicious, was very overpriced and a small portion size. For example, I got my burger on a huge plate and it was the size of a slider. I am not from the area, but most restaurants will serve fries with their burgers but here you had to pay an extra $9 for them. We ended up going out to eat after our dinner here somewhere down the road because, after a day on the slopes, we were still pretty hungry. Some of the servers were nice but the majority felt almost robotic and genuinely miserable which made me kind of sad.

Fun & eclectic spot to grab some nosh, if you're in the mood for some nosh. Diners with cholesterol issues -- plz beware, however. The food is a lil' naughty & da mayo is spread generously on things. Things like food. Burp. I dined on the chips & onion dip. Crunch, crunch, crunch. If I had to individually count each chip on the tray, I would say that 857 of them were served. Every single one was crunchy & divine -- seasoned in bbq to perfection. The dip was decadent + dense. Flavorful, also. Do you like chips? I also enjoyed the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Sizable portion of bird, folks. And it was crispy -- yum. The menu was slightly limited -- but that's OK. Limitations make us better humans, I think. The (limited) available options could be classified as savory -- like the Marinated Beet Salad that I noshed on too. Yum, beets! The beets were so fresh I could almost sense Mother Earth coursing through their beety flesh. Yum, yum, yum + nom, nom, nom. Eat here if you like food.

Amazing food and great service! Will definitely be back -- got the burger, Mac and cheese, and maple lemonade and everything was great.

Wow wow my wife and I went with friends. What a great place. The service great. The setting inside and out was good. The food. From a basic salad with chicken to calamari not fried but steamed. Oh wow so so good with crusted bread. My carnitas amazing. On our list to come back to again. The cold beer was great

Luckily my gf knew to set an alert when to check into the wait list via Yelp so when we got there, our wait was maybe 10 mins for a group of 4 Super busy of course but it was peak weekend in Stowe. Ordered chicken sandwich, side of fries, side of mac, and a double stack burger. The fries was bad, no seasoning and overdone. The chicken sandwich wasn't bad but nothing special. Chicken itself was bland as well. Mac and cheese was actually pretty good and the burger as well. Prices were pretty decent Would come back if I was in Stowe area again and recommend it to others