Molly T.
Yelp
What a delightful first dinner in Killington. Upon looking at our options for meals during our stay here, the Foundry looked to have the most potential. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I know how to pick 'em. The Foundry has a little bit of everything and does it all well. A diverse food menu with some serious standout items, a solid draft list and some decent cocktails if that's your thing, plus some terrific live music featured near the bar area. The staff is so wonderfully kind (always a bit jarring to experience small town charm after spending many years in NYC) and seem to genuinely enjoy working here. It's easy to tell when staff just tolerates customers in big tourist spots like Killington, but I felt the good vibes here. Great for families and couples alike, I'd highly recommend the Foundry for dinner and sounds like it's a solid brunch options here too.
We came here at around 8:30pm on a Saturday night. The Foundry has two different rooms with two very different vibes: the front is a traditional dining room, lots of white tablecloths and small children, whereas the back has more of a relaxed, adults-only chill sesh thing going on. We were first seated in the front space, but I heard some music wandering out from further back and decided to take a gander. They had a cover band playing that was surprisingly good -- both vocalists were super talented -- so we asked to be moved back there and got to enjoy our dinner with a show.
We'll start with drinks, because after a long day of travel and the physical and emotional pain that comes with extreme sciatica at 28 years old, drinks are what we were after first. We started with cocktails, which were decent but nothing too exciting. The bf got a dark & stormy, while I opted for a gin/luxardo drink. Both were just okay. But I'm coming from the snobbiness of Manhattan speakeasy culture so I'm both spoiled and biased. Still, I think the beer/cider menu here is far more impressive. I'm gluten-free so stuck with cider, and was pleased to learn that two of my favorite cider brands are actually local here! Downeast (Boston) and Citizen Cider (Burlington) are both featured on the menu here, and the Foundry had a few types I hadn't yet tried. I always appreciate when bars offer more than one cider option (especially if it's an upgrade from Angry Orchard) and I got to try two new tasty ones here. Our waitress recommended trying one with a shot of whiskey added (her personal favorite) and while I considered it, ordering a cider for me means *not* ordering a strong drink, so I passed. There's always next time!
Food-wise, we attempted to sample the entire menu but the list of dishes is vast and the portions big, so we only skimmed the surface. Still, the surface was pretty darn tasty, so I'd say it's probably representative of the rest of the menu. I'd recommend doing what we did and ordering a good selection of plates from their "tapas" section, but I'm sure their mains are delightful too. We got a mix of proteins and veggies, a well-balanced meal I'd say. Eats, below:
Tuna Tartare w/ wasabi soy vinaigrette, cucumber, avocado, sesame seeds, scallion, fried wontons: A-
Solid preparation, very safe but not looking for adventurous takes on classics here, so it fit the bill. Fish was fresh, nice texture added by the seeds and fried wontons.
Lamb Lollipops w/ arugula salad, grapefruit supreme, Citizen Cider glazed lamb: A+
These were the star of the night. Perfectly cooked and juicy, very flavorful, very decadent. The arugula and grapefruit added some nice bitterness and citrus to balance out the protein, very well-executed.
Grilled Octopus w/ fried wakame, black garlic: A-
Just so-so on the cook of the protein (though I'm very picky when it comes to octopus), too soft but not tender really. That said, the fried wakame and black garlic did a lot as far as texture and flavor were concerned, so still an enjoyable dish.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts w/ blistered grapes, 8-year-aged balsamic: A
I like my brussels a little crispier than these but they were still seasoned nicely and the grapes were a nice touch. Warming and seasonal, the balsamic adding some extra earthiness to the palette.
Roasted Baby Carrots: A-
Nothing special in terms of preparation but cooked well and gave us some extra veggies for the night.
Vermont Cheese Board: A
Okay just keep in mind they give you a lot of cheese here. I mean, certainly more bang for your buck but it's larger than many cheese plates you'll receive elsewhere. A nice sampling of local milks, everything delicious.
One last shoutout to the music and our waitress. We felt taken care of there and snuggling up to good food, comfy seating and a couple of powerhouse vocalists was the perfect way to arrive in Killington.