Hen of the Wood - Burlington

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.

Cozy, romantic, wood fired, warm. Highly recommend for fancy, romantic. Called for a same-day res for 2, and we did have to wait a bit. Though we got drinks immediately, then had a wonderful time watching the rhythm of the restaurant. Got bar seats watching the kitchen. Highly recommend. The chefs most consistently and deliberately. Slow is intentional. Intentional is fast. They crank out a ton of food in their grill, stove, and wood oven. We got the hanger steak and broccoli hen of the woods mains. Steak was cooked perfectly. The charred kale was crispy smoky and enjoyed by the kale skeptics in our group. We also enjoyed the kielbasa with cabbage and sea urchin sauce. Unique, smoky, acidic. And the service was great. Never waited, always pleasant and helpful. Excellent experience for a romantic get away, or family occasion.

We came to celebrate being newly wed, and from the moment we walked in, the team made us feel like royalty. The management went above and beyond with a surprise toast of wine, a sweet handwritten card that said “congratulations,” and even a complimentary dessert that was as thoughtful as it was delicious. Such a personal touch, we were honestly blown away. Every bite of the food was unforgettable. We had everything from a few small plates to desserts. The chef clearly knows what they’re doing because the flavors were rich, fresh, and just perfectly balanced. I’m back home now and I swear, I can still taste it. That’s how good it was. This place has officially earned a special spot in our hearts. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in Vermont. Thank you, Head of the Wood, for making our celebration feel truly magical. Mr. & Mrs. Posik ❤️

Visiting from FL and stumbled upon this place when looking for a place to eat dinner. They were able to seat us at the bar next to the chefs. Wow! What a great experience - service was fantastic, our food was fantastic, drinks were fantastic. It was really neat watching all of the chefs prepare meals. And for dessert we had the pumpkin tart and it was phenomenal. Overall, super impressed - definitely recommend anyone visiting to stop in for great food, drinks, and service!

Love love love. There is zero bad to say here. Ambiance is great. Rustic warm. Exactly what you'd like in Burlington. Food is amazing. Smaller menu but everything is good. Amazing bar and bartenders. If you're local go!!!!!

Fancy is hard. Every time I walk into a place with low, romantic lighting and a lot of wood panels I am instantly on guard. I sort of know what I'm in for - snack-sized entrees, indecipherable ingredients and cocktails that are more or less just negroni with extra steps. Because this is Vermont, let's add to that list cheeses that are roughly the same price per ounce as solid gold. The place is very nice and definitely a great venue for a fancy cocktail and a snack. But it's honestly just too much for too little. Cheeses are $10 a pop which would even make a Boston place's eyes water. The dishes are artfully designed but pretty much all pizzazz and no substance. Or too much substance, some of the dishes seemed like an experiment in how many sauces is too many sauces. The other confusing thing to me is that there was an absolute boatload of fish on the menu. For a place that's all "sustainably sourced" - it seems like if the food has to travel across the country to you, it doesn't matter whether the fish was massaged before it hit my plate, it's not really on brand. Service was kind of...eh. It seemed like they were absolutely slammed, and as a result we waited too long and were largely ignored after our order was taken. Fancy is hard - if you set up the kind of artifice this place has, you need to deliver. And, honestly, they didn't.

Goodness gracious. First and foremost we had a blast. The chef is a genius (and we cook for private events so we know what good food is). The rib eye is quite possibly the most beautiful plate I have ever seen complete with red cabbage and spinach, it was honestly a portrait of how to respect food. My wife and I had the time of our lives drinking and eating here. Now most of that was because of the food and our attitudes. Because service here was abysmal. First we were made to wait 20 minutes with not even a complimentary drink offered. Several staff talking and pointing about how long we were waiting yet coming up to us with useless pleasantries. What you do at that point if mr eric the owner knows how to run a business is say "let me get you a menu and wed like to offer you and your wife a complimentary drink for the wait", especially when you take our card for reservation and threaten to charge if we cancel or are late. Secondly on top of not doing that you guys brought out ham that my wife doesnt eat and said it was for free for the wait, yet charged for it. What an amateur mistake. Then when we brought it up you added on price of rolls you said you forgot. You also brought out the wrong side. What a mess! My wife and I are big spenders and big tippers so when spending 300 bucks we expect good service. The restaurant surely takes itself quite seriously so what happened? And lets make one thing GLARINGLY clear, the wait staff isnt to blame. The owner and management is clearly setting up a structure where staff is more interested in overcharging and scamming instead of customer care. Right off the bat with our business we tell employees IF a customer waits, offer a drink, mistakes are welcome and even encouraged because this is how people learn and when a mistake arises you tend to the customer. With mistakes we have the chance to make a bad opportunity an amazing one. And you go to the customer and take care of them, not say oops your right I charged for the complimentary ham but forgot the bread so heres the 7 dollar add on. We came to celebrate something, we came all the way from NY and you guys charged us for your mistakes. And my wife and I are in the middle of NYC. You are vermont. If you want to uphold this class and price with your restaurant you need to bring the same energy to customer care. All in all great chef bad management. Pay your workers more, incentivize them because remember they make your business possible, they are with customers daily, they are the face of your livelihood so respect that and train them appropriately. A waiter can come with 20 yrs experience and still without proper training on how you want your restaurant dynamic to run they will fall short because they were not given the tools to succeed. No refund necessary we have the money we hope you use this to improve and reward the staff to make up for the restaurants shortcomings that in turn reduce their tip.

Beautiful restaurant with a maxing food and service! I really liked their oyster hour!

Went here for my anniversary and it was incredible! I would 100% recommend! The rolls where one of the best things ever! The waiter who helped us was so sweet! It was a very romantic experience and had an amazing ambiance.

Spent a long weekend in Burlington and had to check out this place! Nomz: Started with the roasted carrots, were served on the cooler side, flavorful when eaten together with the ricotta and apple. Then came the Harbison, it's on the small plates but it was pretty filling. Really enjoyed dipping the bread into the jam and then the melted cheese, so yummy. Finished by sharing the hanger steak and a side of cabbage. I thought the steak was good and went well with the beets. The cabbage was recommended to us, but found it underwhelming, lacking flavor. In terms of being full, we could have done without the cabbage side. Drinks: Had cocktails and they were very well made. Service: It took about 10-15min to get someone to stop by our table and ask about water which was shocking to me, I almost got up to talk to the hostess and ask for water. Ambiance: The location is interesting, the entrance is next to a parking garage entrance but once you enter it has a cozy feel. Nope or Dope: Nope, maybe our expectations were too high but this place left us wanting more, for the hype and the price point. They were also out of two small dishes which was a bummer.

If you do a lot of research before you go to Burlington, you will find countless lists that name this as THE spot to eat in the city. Given the high expectations, I have to say I was pretty disappointed. - FOOD was good but nothing was overly great, especially for the high price tag. I found the menu a tad bit small -- was hard to find something that called out to me which typically is never an issue. If you're looking to try some of the local VT cheeses tho, they do have a great selection. Overall I think you can probably do better with one of the many cheaper options in town serving up delicious food. -VIBE was cozy and elegant without feeling stuffy. Liked the open kitchen. Think they probably squeezed in a few too many tables as it got quite loud during peak dinner hours. - Service was a bit slow , especially for the level of restaurant. Waiters were all friendly though and very helpful.

First off amazing food. Wow the rib eye was insane! We loved it. We loved the smoked cabbage, radiccio and spinach, crispy potatoes, rabbit croquette, rolls, wow wow wow. One thing is we were made to put a card down and expected to pay 50 if we didnt show yet when we waited for 20 min. If you are going to threaten a charge for cancellation then you need to return that energy and at least offer a complimentary drink while a couple waits 15-20 minutes for their table. You had 4 people come apologize yet offering nothing but a smile. Odd. Once served the waitress was lovely and we had a blast but its clear you have taught staff to operate more like a mcdonalds than a high quality restaurant. The waitress forgets to bring smoked cabbage and brings polenta instead so then we had to wait for the complete meal we ordered for quite a while. Also during the meal the kitchen brings out complimentary ham we didnt ask for then get this.... Charges for it. Lmao. My husband just pays the bill without looking but I had a feeling they may make a mistake and lo and behold charged for the complimentary ham we didnt want. She then.... Goes on to say "oh I didnt charge for rolls but charged for that so I will take that off and add rolls." Mistakes one after another and brought the same energy as charging for ranch. It is important to note that this isnt really the staffs fault, this is clearly an issue of management not training staff in the kind of customer service that needs to be present at a restaurant like this. And its also unfair to the waitress because since shes not given the tools to succeed her tips most likely suffer and are less than what they could be. All in all not worth 300 bucks, amazing ambience and food but staff isnt trained for fine dining that you charge for.

This was one of the best meals I have had in my life! The server was great in explaining and making recommendations for us as out of towners. Everything was paced perfectly from starter small plates to our shared steak entree. Then came the dessert... we got one to share and one to take. The maple mousse was so delicious we fought over the last bites. The chocolate cake we took for later but they let us eat the ice cream there and change it to the Cherry Chocolate Almond. All made in house and better than any ice cream made in the area... yes including that famous one. This is a must eat when in Burlington! Just do yourself a favor and go here!

Fantastic! Attentive service, clearly professional staff, fresh local ingredients, nice date night atmosphere. 10/10! I went on a Monday night. 45 minute wait for a seat at the bar (ended up chef's counter, basically the same thing. I loved watching the chefs at work!). Bill(y?) was my server and was a delight. He was prompt, friendly, and made great recommendations. Oysters were so good I had a second round for dessert. Eggplant with lobster in brown butter bowled me over! I asked if there was a gluten free option to sub for crackers that came with my cheese (I cheated and tasted the crackers and they were BOMB!) and I was generously offered cucumber slices, which was a delightful way to enjoy my cheese sans gluten!! Great drink options. Always love to see Hill Farmstead on draft! I could not have had a better experience. A must visit!

My fiancé and I both agree, this might be one of the BEST meals we have ever had!! We made a reservation in advance - which I highly recommend doing as the place is packed. There is walk in bar seating, but even that was full. We were greeted by the hostess upon arrival and were taken to our table immediately, without wait. Our waiter was phenomenal and provided a detailed description of the menu. It was extremely helpful. We ordered wine and beer to start with oysters and two cheeses as an appetizer. The oysters were phenomenal!!! The house made topping was perfect. The cheese was unlike anything we've ever had. It was served with house made jam and crackers, topped with candied hazelnuts. We then had the bass and steak as our main course. Wow is all I can say. The steak was perfect. The flavors were unreal. The salad served with it was roasted and warm - it was shockingly perfect. We finished off the evening with house made peanut butter crunch ice cream. It was heaven. This place was incredible and I'm so glad we got to experience it during our visit to Burlington.

Hen of the woods is just one of those special restaurants that seem to do something unique and fun. Lots of things that staples but they mix it up. Today in late August lots of fresh fruit such as cantaloupe was used in lots of the dishes. The menu changes often, and at times can seem quite limited but what do make is such high quality. Sitting at the chefs table/bar area was interesting to watch all of the stations work with the head chef/expediter moving things along. While the hanger steak and creamy polenta with corn was spot on it did seem to take awhile to come out. The best and highlight was the Harbison cheese. Tossed in the wood fire grill to become gooey. You could spoon it on the bread for this great mushroom like taste of the cheese and crunch of the bread. They also had what appeared to be peaches on the plate. But after talking with one of the chefs it turned again it was cantaloupe, but it had been marinated in solution to turn it into the snack pack peaches consistency. Truly one of the highlights. I really enjoy coming here, the two times I have come in the past 5 years.

The food exceeded my expectations. After having read previous posted reviews, I had trepidations about the place. However, the ambiance, which was a gorgeous scenery, matched the food. The staff were attentive and informative. I can't wait to come back!! P.S. the steak is incredible

This is our first time dining at Hen at the Wood. We were so eager to try this restaurant as we were told it's the best restaurant in town! Upon arrival, Ella checked us in and was really nice. She walk us to our table. We asked her if the booth was available (our reservation was at 5 pm and only one other table was filled at the time) She said she would check and walked away.. then Em? (main host) abruptly told us to sit down and that the tables were all taken. She seemed like she was in a bad mood and was a bit combative -- not sure what her issue was and that interaction just changed our experience right away. Preston, our waiter was awesome and Cindy, the manager (who came over to chat with us) was awesome as well. Food was excellent. We ordered the following: Parker House Rolls with honey butter - delicious 1/2 half dozen oysters from Canada - amazing. We wanted another 1/2 dozen oysters but decided to wait for all the rest of the food Soft shell shrimp - delicious Zucchini with hen the woods mushroom - amazing and I highly recommend this dish Stripe bass - excellent Mac and cheese - delicious Grilled cheese - good Vermont Cheddar cheese - amazing Strawberry sorbet - delicious Carrot cake sandwich - good Burgundy wine - amazing! Ambience was excellent. Five stars across the board except for the hostess who gets 1 star and brings overall rating to a 4 star. That hostess should not be allowed to serve as a representative of this great restaurant.

Was finally able to dine in, visited this restaurant during covid and couldn't get a reservation last minute so I ordered take out and ate it in my car. Sat at the bar and ordered the beef tartare, pappardelle, sweet corn pana cotta, and two great cocktails - tequila one and a gin one. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

Whenever I am in Vermont for work, I come to Hen of the Wood at least once. The service is always great and I love how the menu changes daily so it doesn't matter if you come everyday. Everything on the menu is fresh, local, seasonal and all the sauce creations made in-house pairs phenomenally. The only thing is that it gets packed the moment it opens at 4:30pm and if you come with multiple people without a reservation, tough luck. Definitely make a reservation! There are seatings available for first come first serve and even those have a wait sometimes.

Food was definitely memorable. Bartender was friendly and personable. He forgot a small plate and apologized profusely. We were already full after 2 appetizers Soft baked cheese and pork belly and side of parsnips. Great selection of beer and exceptional service! We will go back as often!

My wife and I go up to Vermont 4 or 5 times a year and we've been trying to get into this restaurant for years but its always booked. I was able to grab a reservation 6 weeks ago for this Sunday night and noted it was my wife's birthday. When we arrived, the hostess asked if it was her birthday and we said yes, then they promptly sat us next to a large support beam that was wrapped with paneling at a tiny table for 2. So when I sat down I was facing my wife and I could see behind her, the chef's preparing the meals in the wood fired ovens. So the 40% of my view for the night was of this beam. It was so dark in the place none of the menu's we received were readable without a cell phone light. And it was so loud in there that my wife and I had to text each other from across the table from one another. We noticed around us 3 other couples sitting comfortably at nice open view tables for four. So much for the birthday notation. Our server was really nice, but was more concerned with his larger parties and often left us unattended to for long periods of time. When we received our appetizer, we had to literally stand up and flag our waiter down to ask him for silverware so we could eat it. Also, we ordered 2 beers and after 10-15 minutes the waiter came over and told us the Pilsner (my wife ordered) which was the only non bitter beer on the menu was no longer available. So she ordered a drink with Vodka in it instead, but they didn't have Tito's or Kettle One so we took "whatever" brand Vodka. It didn't matter because when we got the drinks 20 minutes after we ordered them, hers tasted like red water. My wife got the hanger steak and I got the Swordfish and they were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. The problem again is that it is so dark in there you can't see what else came on the plate. Were they potatoes? Were they onions or turnips or sunchokes? who knows??? Not the waiter because he didn't stop bye for quite a bit. The bottom line is, the food was excellent once we got it, but the service was slow and ambiance is hit or miss based on where you get seated. For $170 I expected more. I am really kind of disappointed and most likely won't make the effort to go back here. Also take note, the parking garage immediately next to the restaurant is free on Sunday until midnight.

It ain't Waterbury... This newer location was underwhelming. The food tasted a bit bland and didn't provide the Bravado of taste that my sister and I were looking for. Although the duck was succulent, the lighting was super low, and I could have used a less crowded and quieter experience the day before Christmas Eve.

From the cozy interior, to the fresh food (we saw a farmer drop off stacks of eggs while we sat), to the music selection this was a lovely experience. We made reservations (make them weeks in advance as they will all be gone). I ordered the kale canneloni that came topped with chicken of the woods mushrooms. Each bite tasted different and made me feel like as if I was foraging through an autumnal woods. Service was friendly and prompt. My husband ordered the bone in pork loin and it looked like something Fred Flinstone would be thrilled to eat. Perfect charring and cooked to perfection. Delicious. Oh and get the rolls.

Excellent choice for a nice night out. Every plate was perfect, and it was so impressive seeing the staff whip up each plate was so impressive.

Amazing food and atmosphere! Hen of the Wood will only seat if you make a reservation on their online system. Do not expect to be able to book within 1-2 days (especially during #peakfoliage). That said, they do have limited first-come, first-served bar seating which tends to queue up quickly. We sat at the bar and were very attentively served by one of the three bartenders.

Summary: Amazing wine list, fresh but limited food options with small portions. Not ideal for vegetarians. Good if you want to impress your friends or family with local ingredients with a high class feels. If you want to spend a lot of money, you could definitely have a good time. Overall felt a little underwhelming for such an overhyped restaurant. Ambience is dark lighting, crowded, lively but not overly loud, great for groups if you reserve in advance. Definitely a high class feel. Limited food options, likely because of the local ingredients used in the dishes. Very small portions. 4 entrees, 3 meat options and 1 vegetarian. A full page of cheese options, but these will all come out on one plate (not multiple, like we expected) with just a few crackers. Appetizers were small in size but tasty. My friend has an allergy to nuts and they were VERY accommodating. Wine list was very large and extensive. The waiter was knowledgeable and helpful in recommending wine. The waiter was attentive but left us feeling a little rushed. Plates were swept away with still some food on them, sort of giving the impression they was a shortage of plates in the restaurant. There is very limited street parking available, but the restaurant was right next to a large parking garage. There are 4 large single stall bathrooms that are in the very back of the restaurant down a winding hallway. Traversing the restaurant and getting to bathrooms with a mobility aid might pose some problems.

I can see why this place is so popular. I made reservations for my coworker, my husband, and I for a Monday night at 6:00 pm. And it was hard to find reservations honestly. We parked in the garage next door, first 2 hours were free. We were promptly seated and greeted. The waiter was friendly and sufficient. My husband and I ordered the Parker house rolls, a local cheese that came with toasted slices of bread and jam, abandoned another appetizer that escapes my mind right now. I got the duck for my main, and my husband got the hanger steak. The food was all great. My favorite was the local cheese. It was soft and creamy, the jam made the perfect complement to the flavors. The Parker house rolls had flakes of sea salt on it, which were a bit too much for me, so I just picked some of it off. My husband loved them the way they were and devoured 2 right away. The duck was well cooked. We also got dessert, 4 of the ice creams: a cantaloupe sorbet, salted caramel pretzel, honey lavender, and cereal milk. I enjoyed the cantaloupe sorbet the most while my husband loved the cereal milk. This place had great vibes as well with a dark wood decor. It was very Vermont. Can't wait to come back if we're in the area!

From just walking in the door and sitting on the bar, we had the best experience here in Vermont. Charlie at the host area helped us at with all the great information on the restaurant and helped answer any questions. He was so thoughtful and kind and really cares about making sure we were taken care of. He then seated us at the bar and met one of the bartenders Casey. He was definitely was of the best bartenders we have ever had and made us 4 amazing drinks and explained each one. He gave us so much advice about the menu. We ordered a small group of foods here which consisted of a dozen amazing oysters and a-delicious tomato salad. Thank you for helping us celebrate our first night in Burlington. Amazing Dinner Experience!!!! Sebastian and Laura

Loved Hen of The Wood Burlington! We snagged a reservation well in advance of our trip to VT, and HotW was the top of my list of restaurants to visit. We parked in the garage literally right next to the place, which was so very easy. Upon entering, the greeting area is pretty small, and very warm and inviting with plants and wood everywhere. Inside, the vibe is also warm, but simple. Not quite cozy or intimate but not too open or bright. Our server was sharp and attentive (although he was delayed quite a bit on several occasions, but it was easy to see he had two very high maintenance tables to contend with not too far away). We started with the Parker rolls and scallop crudo. Both were delicious. I had the Ribeye which was an absolute triumph. For dessert hubs had the mint chocolate ice cream, which was some of the best he ever had. I had a cheese course or Fools Gold, and with the hazelnuts, jam and house-made cracker, it tasted like the most fresh cheesecake ever. I was not able to have cocktails but I fell in love with the Bitter Bubble Soda. Hen of the Wood is an amazing restaurant and very much worth getting into, but you must plan ahead.

Although the service and the quality of the food was excellent, the quantity of food was sparse. I don't mind paying $43 for a quality plate once in awhile but I resent paying that much and leaving hungry. It doesn't cost that much for the restaurant to put a decent fair of vegetables and at least some starch with the main protein source. That should be included with a plate that expensive.

I highly recommend you start here with a martini. I had 3 for my appetizer. I moved onto the parker house rolls and ate them right up. I finished my meal with the 16oz ribeye. It was a lot of food for a petite person such as myself but I hardly could resist.

We tried Hen of the Wood for the first time on my Birthday yesterday. We had already decided to get an app and the $100 Ribeye for two. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, and it is popular so it is a bit loud. They keep the lighting very dim. We ordered the Stuffed Calamari small plate as an app, and the presentation made it look like a large green slug on a plate. The calamari was a bit rubbery, but the stuffing was literally uneatable. It was very bitter with no real flavor. We just said that we didn't care for it and they took it away. When ordering, the $100 Ribeye for Two was now billed as a $110 Family Style Ribeye. Which was fine, prices change, but when it came out we were in shock. It was ten slices of Ribeye on a small plate, with some grilled greens, a mushroom, and a single piece of cauliflower. They claim it is 16oz but it couldn't have been more than 12oz, if that. Once slice was 80% fat. The steak was cooked correctly and tasted good, but the portion, for the price, is not based in reality. It was barely a dinner for one for $110. We split the cauliflower piece between us. No starch or anything else on the plate. Granted, we left hungry due to the uneatable app and what turned out to be us splitting a dinner for one. They charge $8 for 4 dinner rolls, which we did not order, so ate again when we got home since we had no other food. The bill was $150 for two drinks and the small steak, but at least they comped the app. We will never go there again.

Awesome fine dining experience in downtown Burlington. This place offers beautifully executed food and top-level service. I've been here a few times and enjoyed my experience. It may be the top fine dining place in town but still a bit shy from many innovative fine dining places in larger cities. Personally, I think some ingredient/flavor/texture combinations can be improved to be top-notch. Bottom line, you will have a lovely experience as long as you don't expect too high. It's worth trying!

Get ready for a beautiful experience from start to finish! Prior to arriving, I called and spoke with Brigette, who was extremely kind and friendly. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Em, Allissa and Cindy, who were all so warm and welcoming. Hen of the woods is a comfy and cozy atmosphere that makes you feel welcome. The service is incredible (thanks Zac) and the food was great! I sat at the chef's table (a little hot for me) and it was certainly an experience that's worth writing about. Chef Jordan was right there giving me options on the food choices available. I took them and was pleased. And my server, Zac, was incredible and delivered EXCELLENT service! He listened to my flavor profile from drinks to desserts and it didn't disappoint. The oysters were fresh and delicious. The scallops were unique and flavorful. The prosciutto was perfect (wish I added cheese to pair with it) and the duck was great! I loved it! Enjoy!

Amazing food and ambiance. The steak and the Harbison were so good. Loved the cocktails as well. Waitress was very nice and helped us with recommendations because it was our first time there. Definitely coming back next time we are in VT.

Hen of the Wood? More like Hen of the Wouldn't. The place is a disaster from start to finish. If you're into culinary misadventures and enjoy making yourself as miserable as possible, this is the place for you. One star for the audacity of turning a dining experience into a horror movie. Never again

This place was amazing. Didn't have a reservation, but did the walk in part, and sat at the counter where the chefs make the food. Everything was so good you'd want 2 of it. Drinks were amazing, but the family plate that we enjoyed was the best. The steak was to die for, and you would want to lick the bowl clean. The chefs took time out of their work to talk to you, and greet you as well. We only waited 10 minutes to get in at 6:30 on a Saturday night! We will be back asap.

I can't stop thinking about the food here. It's becoming my dirty little secret. You see me just looking off to nowhere with a smile on my face and drool down my chin? Yeah, that's me thinking about Hen of the Wood. We were so lucky to be able to snag a reservation off the notify list because I made the grave error of forgetting I was even going to Vermont (don't ask LOL) so I made almost no plans until the day before we flew. Walking in, I knew it was going to be a good night because the smell in this place was to die for. We were sat by the expo and got to watch all the kitchen action. I live for that. I mean it gives me a bit of PTSD from my line days but it's also so fun to watch and makes me understand why people glorify chefs and want to be one themselves (don't, it's very hard work.) Not one dish here was bad. Not one. I'd order my exact order again and I'd be fully willing to try a completely new set of items. I loved the habanero vinegar that came with the oysters so much I bought a bottle to take home (along with some CBD truffles that actually featured praline from my favorite chocolate maker in Paris.) The cocktails here are excellent as well. Super thought out and well balanced. Great pricing too. Our server was so engaging and really helpful and thoughtful. She was the kind of person who really "learnt" us right away and tailored herself to us. This made us feel pretty special, even though we aren't "special" people. There's just a really good vibe here.

Everything was absolutely delicious, exciting, and unique! Service was fast, efficient, while also being very kind and knowledgeable about the food, products, and preparations. Ambiance was dark but very comfy. Would absolutely recommend if you are looking for a splurge dinner spot! Expensive, but worth every penny!

Exquisite. The food. The service. The drink. Oh. My. Word. Probably one of the greatest dining experiences. The cheeses with homemade crackers. Even the fresh rolls with perfect herbed butter. The pork belly. Oy vey! Want to be surprised by outstanding flavor? Get that last side dish. Who expected a perfectly cooked Chinese green with vinegar perfection and crunch? Not this gal. Wowza. My deep compliments to the chef and to the truly amazing care of our server from the Adirondacks. You are a gift to the service industry.

Amazing!!!loved the food and service so much Highly recommend. Best food in Burlington

The food here was amazing!! Literally the best duck entree I've ever had. The service was super friendly and the ambience is cozy and romantic. All the food was incredible. Had a great time here and will be back if I ever am in vt again.

This restaurant came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint. Nice ambience, friendly service, and a very fresh and innovative menu. Delicious.

I was kind of meh on this place. I was told it was THE spot to go in Burlington, and yes the service was IMPECCABLE and the atmosphere was beautiful, but overall the food was overpriced and not entirely worth it. The cheese platter was a good sampling of local varieties which was nice, but it took almost an hour to get my steak and it came out cold. I can see this being a nice place to take a date or celebrate a special occasion, but treating myself here on a solo date wasn't the best experience for a nice meal.

The chef's table is the best seat in the house IMO. We arrived at 4:45 as a walk-in and requested the chef's table, we had to wait until 5 to sit. Once seated, the pacing was such that we didn't have our main course until 6. The entrees were nicely presented and the portions were substantial. The squid and swordfish were nothing special. Yes, it was fresh and the ingredients were high quality, but the taste was nothing more than ordinary. Their menu frequently rotates and they had only 4 entrees from which to choose. I suggest you check the day's menu in advance

Great ambiance and service. We ordered a number of items. The Harbison cheese with cantaloupe and the califlower was delicious. The bread and butter also fantastic. Cons: The family share rib eye is 16oz- and tho well made, has NO flavor, and a bit chewy for being a medium rare steak. That was a big disappointment. For $100- would not order again. The desserts were also a disappointment. We got the chocolate dish - awful. Pumpkin froth on top doesn't go well with it, and the chocolate is overly bitter and thick. The vanilla pound cake also a disappointment- can get a softer more tasty cake at the local grocery store. Finally the ice creams we got with it- 1 out of 3 were good. I think the candied oat.

A hurricane along the coast forced us to look elsewhere last minute for somewhere to celebrate my birthday. We landed on Burlington and had multiple recommendations for this restaurant. It was totally booked but someone had given us the tip to get there upon opening and ask to be put on the waitlist for the chef's counter, which is bar seating in front of the kitchen where you eat and watch the kitchen prepare every dish. We ordered oysters on the half shell, the fluke crudo, heirloom tomato and mozzarella, and lamb short ribs for appetizers. For our main meal we shared the ribeye and dinner rolls with honey butter. Every single thing we had was delicious and prepared and plated beautifully! We really loved the crudo and lamb short ribs, but I wouldn't change anything about our selections! Our waitress (Star) was attentive and made great recommendations, including helping us to select an excellent bottle of wine for the occasion (Scarzello). Sitting in front of the kitchen was entertaining and gave us such an appreciation for the art of culinary! We sat next to the head chef, who was focused on service, but was able to check in with us periodically throughout the meal. Note: I will say that if you sit where we sat (to the left of the chef) it is quite warm. I am always chilly, so I was totally fine, but others may find it too hot. All in all, it was one of the best meals I have enjoyed in a while and I cannot wait for our next visit to Burlington to try another menu!

Easily my favorite restaurant in Vermont. Here's the thing...get the vegetarian dish. As a die-hard carnivore I thought I would never say this, but the veg dish is always shockingly good. Don't get me wrong, the hanger steak is to die for, as is everything else, but the vegetarian option always blows me away. Enjoy!

This is the place to eat in Vermont. You can have it all here, including the most superb service in probably the whole United States. Our server Leia was a goddess who's recommendations impressed and surprised! Her dessert recommendation of the Goat Cheese Mouse was the highlight of the night which I didn't think could be any brighter! She earned her "Moose" nickname and then some. The complimentary bottle of gin for the table was an amazing touch, my only complaint would be that the gin tasted like water. A+

Everything about our experience was exceptional from the moment we arrived. We got there about 15 minutes early for our reservation and were able to order drinks while we waited. This was perfect because we were able to watch the restaurant buzzing and really take in the ambiance. We were sat promptly, and each and every dish that came to us was flawless. (Could have literally kissed the chefs, after.) We had oysters and cheese for apps and hanger steaks for our entree. Will was our server and he was perfect in absolutely every way. We needed and wanted for nothing because every single staff anticipated our needs before we could even verbalize them. This was our first visit and most definitely will not be our last. Bravo!

For our last meal in Burlington we visited Hen Of The Woods. It is a beautiful restaurant and they are taking lots of risks, but I did not feel like they panned out consistently enough in the food we ate. Quality: The chef adjusts the menu with the seasons, so maybe we hit a weird moment, but I was not overly impressed by our meal. The Parker House Rolls were a good start, but neither of our appetizers, Halibut Crudo or Romanesca Cauliflower, impressed me. I felt the Crudo was extremely fishy, which I don't know if is usual, but would push me away from that fish selection. The Romanesca Cauliflower was beautifully presented, but bland in flavor. The Duck was okay, with the meat being prepared well, however the flavor profile it was matched with was odd. We ended with a delicious Roasted Apple dessert, the cheddar ice cream was incredible. Quantity: The dish sizes seemed fair for the prices. Value: $7 for the Parker House Rolls. $18 for the Halibut Crudo. $16 for the Romanesca Cauliflower. $40 for the Duck. $8 for the Polenta. $14 for the Roasted Apples. Ambiance: After visiting the Waterbury location of Hen Of The Woods, decided to try out the Burlington one during our visit. It sits in the bottom floor of a hotel and can be tough to find. The inside has a similar decor as the other location, but lacks the same authentic fun. Harder to built a cozy cabin in the middle of the city than out in the wilderness. However, I will say they made an admirable attempt, with lots of wood elements, romantic lighting, and a certain warmth from the kitchen. Crowd: Reservations in advance are needed, we ended up with a late slot from waiting too long. Service: Felt a little sporadic at the end of the night. Parking: Near a large garage.

Incredible! I can't say it enough. I sat at the bar and the bar tenders were so incredibly knowledgeable and delightful. They knew drink pairings with the food and very charismatic. Happy to come here

I had read this place was good but wow! So happy we got a reservation (it wasn't easy). I began planning places to stop in and knew a couple of weeks out that I wanted to go here, but the books were full. I was able to set a notification on Resy (the reservation app) and it alerted me when I time became available so we made it in. Got the pork belly appetizer which we liked, but what really made an impact was the shareable ribeye that we got! It was buttery and delicious, served with blue cheese crumbles sprinkled on top and in a pan alongside some hen of the woods and brussel sprouts. I'll be thinking about this dish for awhile...