Matt K.
Yelp
The Pticher Inn is a Relais & Chateaux property, of which there are maybe 20 in the northeast USA, including the Inn at Little Washington, Per Se, and Daniel. Judging the Pitcher Inn against its peers is perhaps unfair, since it is in the backwoods of Vermont, and yet, it is an oasis of satisfaction in any setting.
So how to judge the Pitcher Inn? Darned if I know, but it is a fantastic experience. The only complaints I had are 1: it is expensive, and 2: it is not Michelin 3 star urban-chic-inventive-sous-vide cooking. It is, however, top-notch cuisine, and served in a convivial setting, very casual, as true to Vermont as is possible while being high-end but casual, and the wine list puts most restaurants to shame. Lasting for several pages, it makes you drool, and although it contains many expensive wines, many are priced more fairly than the typical 3 times retail markup. But in spite of all this, the service is friendly, warm and eccentric Vermont. Get them going on almost any topic and they will engage you as much as you want!
The food is sublime, we had the duck confit salad with bacon and greens, the cauliflower soup with tiny meatballs done 3 ways, the squash-filled ravioli with sage brown butter sauce, but it had a fresh (cold) farmers cheese, lemon zest and hazlenuts to round it out, which made it unlike any other squash-filled ravioli with sage brown butter sauce that we ever had. A duck dish with more squash, kale and a beautiful sauce, and a veal chop with brussels sprouts and crispy potatoes was divine.
We moved on to the cheese cart, and then dessert, which we had to split. A panna cotta with figs, and the panna cotta was done to perfection, not too soft, not too hard, with figs soaked in a berry sauce that I can't quite remember. We were stuffed to the gills, and quite happy.
And now the best for last, do not tell anyone this randomly (this is why we all read and write for Yelp), but your host, Ari, loves Monty Python, and if you can quote it, and show an appreciation for wine, he will take care of you, and you will have the most wonderful time imaginable. Wink wink nudge nudge, know what I mean, say no more!