Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup

I appreciate the spirit and effort of Zabby & Elf's - but I did not like it. I did not like any of the food I tried. The entire hot bar, the turkey reuben - none of the flavors hit for me. The vegetarian items on the hot bar were very bland. The curry was decent. The reuben had this bizarre sweetness to it... It was a miss. Nice people but I would not recommend it.

About 16 per sandwich but they were big sized. Probably could’ve shared! Nice inside of the restaurant and big open window for nice days

Love this place. My only complain is it’s pretty expensive at 15 dollars per pound at the buffet but the food is good and has a lot of diversity. Ask for bread because it’s free.

Delicious food! They offer a Hot bar & cold bar with the option for Z&E to create your meal for you based on your dietary choice (vegan, vegetarian, etc.) great Vegan options. Seating was a little too intimate for my liking so we sat outside but do not let that deter you! will definitely be back anytime we visit!

I can’t say enough about how amazing this place is. The food was so good and was served extremely fast. The atmosphere was really cool. What really drove this home to beyond five stars was the service all day. They were extremely friendly and funny. Pretty much wanted to be friends with everyone who worked there. We got lunch and then sampled some desserts. Go here go here go here.

I hope the owner(s) of this restaurant reads and corrects the problems that we encountered on May 27 2025. The food and atmosphere of the restaurant is not the issue. The staffing is. Yesterday was the second time we encountered poor customer service and ridiculously long wait times . Not because the restaurant was particularly busy but because of inattentive and neglectful staff. From not taking an order correctly to waiting for over 35 minutes for a simple sandwich to being charged incorrectly, this restaurant needs more competent staff. People who can actually take an order properly, prepare it and serve a lunch sandwich in a timely manner before it’s time for dinner.

Very wide variety of vegan and vegetarian food. They also have a few meat options. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very comfortable and laid-back with friendly staff. Judging by the amount of people who came in after me, this place is very popular. I came for the chicken liver sandwich, which had a lot of flavor and different elements to it. I could tell that this was a well thought out sandwich. Unfortunately, I really couldn’t taste the chicken liver, which was the main draw for me, so I was disappointed. I also tried the butternut squash and brown rice soup. It was a pretty basic butternut squash soup, not a lot of flavor though.

My husband and I had a great experience at this restaurant. He got the vegan club and I got the self serve hot bar/salad bar. The food was delicious. I loved how many vegan options were offered. Definitely recommend the duality iced tea as well. The man who was working the counter was very friendly and helpful too. We will definitely come back next time we visit Burlington.

Amazing staff. Delicious Reuben and the blueberry crumble in the world. Split pea soup was solid and clam chowder was an A-. Homemade bread out of this world. Great vibes.

i've been coming to this restaurant for 20 some years. The salad bar is exquisite, the buffet is awesome every single time. I'm not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but I love this place. They have the tastiest and healthiest wings I've ever had. Highly recommend. My daughter and I have been going here since she was small, and we keep coming back...

Check out this place in Burlington whenever you get a chance. It's for sure one of the best restaurants in town, and it's not crazy expensive. Zabby And Elf's is a long time favorite around here for healthy good stuff, and at a good price. A lot of choices on the buffet. There's also lots to get for vegans, including salads, and sandwiches. As the name of it implies, soup is on the menu. It's got a lot more than just that obviously. There's a lot of salads and sandwiches. Also they have a big salad bar. It's about $12 for a full sandwich. Among these is the Vegan Club. This is made with vegan mayonnaise. Looks a lot like a regular club. This replaces bacon with tempeh, and replaces chicken with tofu. It's about $15 for the salad bar. The choices on this include beans, pasta, and many other things. For sure it's one of the healthiest places in the area to eat. It's closed Sundays and Mondays. There's a ton of options for vegans and vegetarians.

This is such a gem of a find in Burlington! it was the perfect cozy spot to grab some hot food on a freezing day in February. Service was polite and fast. Relatively healthy dining out with plenty of vegetarian options. It's cafeteria style, and you can mix and match between creating a plate using their hot/cold bars of ready made foods ($15.99/lb of food) and ordering off their ala cart menu of soups, sandwiches, and baked goods. I had a tuna melt (pretty tasty, they did add some kind of curry or turmeric to the tuna salad which I wasn't expecting but liked) and a bowl of lentil soup (so hearty but light and full of veggies). I sampled my husband's plate of hot foods (really liked the chickpeas on rice and brussels sprouts). The carrot cake cookie was a real winner too. They do have a deal for $13 of half a cold sandwich and a bowl of soup which seems like the cheapest way to get full here. Overall would return, expect to pay $15-25 per person for a counter service meal, but high quality healthy and filling food.

Stone soup is our favorite brunch spot for the past 20+ years. We typically go there for the delicious scones and quiche, but decided to branch out today and get the BLT and vegan Tomato Soup and were thrilled with our selection! One of the charms of this unique café is everything is made from scratch and the staff is always gracious to have you. The open garage-style window gives one the feeling of eating outside while still being in the comfort of the atmospheric inside.

My first time visiting Vermont and I came across this place while shopping. The place smelled so good upon entering and I love the autumn harvest decor. I appreciated the delicious choices of vegan buffet food and the staff were very friendly. High recommend this place

Cool and delicious restaurant in downtown Burlington. Got the buffet hot plate & sandwich & soup combo. Everything was good. Took a star off since it's definitely a bit overpriced.

Stone Soup is a convenient way to get a delicious, healthy meal. Their buffet is fresh and constantly changing. Check out the iced tea innovations and baked goods. Great challah!

Amazing! I tried the vegetarian reuben and it was SO SO good! I also tried their baked goods and that was very good too. Lots of veggie options and laid back atmosphere. Friendly staff!

On a cold day in Vermont, two adults sat down to a steaming bowl of soup. The warmth from the soup spread through their bodies, providing much-needed relief from the chill outside. The rich, savory flavor of the soup filled their mouths and satisfied their hunger. As they ate, they were grateful for the simple pleasure of a hot meal on a cold day. Despite the harsh conditions outside, they were able to find comfort and enjoyment in each other's company and the hearty soup that warmed them from the inside out. Yes, this place is solid, give it a try if you are in the area

I love every single thing about Zabby and Elf's Stone Soup. It is a very wonderful place.

At first glance, Zabby and Elf seemed a little all over the place. They had a short menu, a small hot and cold buffet, lots of pastries and breads, and soup. But we were so pleasantly surprised it was amazing! My husband and I shared a large soup of the day- which was sweet potato, bacon, and corn chowder. Kind of an odd combo, but it totally worked. We each also got a plate from the hot bar. Everything was delicious and flavorful. Especially the wings! I would absolutely go back.

Unfortunately, I had an incredibly negative experience here. I was very excited to try Zabby and Elf's because it had been highly recommended to me, but I was quickly disappointed with the terrible service. My partner and I came into the restaurant and stood behind a woman who was ordering. We were looking at the menu and were ready to order. However, a group of people came in after us and their orders were taken before ours. None of the staff working said a single word to us. Two different staff members saw us come in and made eye contact with us, but ignored us to take the order of the group that came in after us. A simple "we will be right with you" or "please line up over here" would have sufficed. However, I re-emphasize that not a single staff member said a word to us, despite making eye contact. If the woman before us had ordered at the counter and we lined up to do the same, why were we ignored? I would strongly recommend going elsewhere if you're visiting Burlington; skip this restaurant in favor of one with better organization and decent customer service.

Best food in the city. Hands down. One of the few places that's quick (buffet). Burlington has no grab n' go food (minus city market). Stone soup is fresh, always vibing, and has the best chicken wings in the entire world. The owners are the nicest people you'll meet, too. Sandwiches are also absurdly good... and, of course the soup is

Never got the hype for this place. Crunchy hipsters talk it up way too much. Just seems like you could easily head over to city market and make anything they have available here in 30 minutes. I'm not a vegetarian or a vegan so I can see the appeal for people with food restrictions. Daily Planet is basically a better version.

What kind of business doesn't give you a spoon with SOUP TAKEOUT????? I just assumed one would be in the bag. Of course it wasn't.

We were drawn in by their sign to be honest, but we got some delicious pastries! We tried the Pumpkin whoopie pie and a frosted sugar cookie and really enjoyed both. The whoopie pie in particular had an almost crispy crust, and was just the right amount of sweetness. They were quite busy so we didn't stick around for lunch but they had a really enticing buffet!

I really wanted to find a healthier place to grab lunch on one of the days my boyfriend and I were in town. Zabby and Elf's came up in my Yelp search so we decided to check it out. The exterior is really cute with open windows and lots of plants. The interior is cozy and earthy. We decided to split the reuben and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup, but the buffet was full of really yummy looking dishes. They also have lots of baked goods that looked amazing. The space is small and a bit cramped, but we were able to snag a table near the open window up front. The soup was piping hot and really tasty -- full of cheese flavor and it warmed us up on a sort of chilly day. The sandwich was definitely not as good, unfortunately. The meat is roast beef instead of a more traditional corned beef, and the sauerkraut was pretty sour. The meat was a little tough to bite through and overall it just wasn't what I was imagining when I think of a reuben. I really appreciate their use of local ingredients and would probably stop in again, but would try something from the hot bar next time.

Yum, Nice selection of sandwiches and soup. I had the 1/2 tuna curry sandwicwith soup. Everything was very fresh and flavorful. The servers were very nice and helpful. (They also had a hot/cold bar by the lb. ) Clean and the door open/ fresh air made for an overall enjoyable lunch. Would definitely eat here again if in the area!

WE were excited about this restaurant but.....the Reuben sandwich was SO disappointing!!! If you are expecting a beautiful rye with Swiss and corned beef...this is NOT it! The baked goods were delicious though....and the buffet was also good.... Sorry our experience wasn't a bit better .....

We had a light lunch here and enjoyed the soups, salad, and sandwiches with side of homemade bread .

Stopped here for lunch - 3 of us got a variety of items from the hot bar and one got tuna curry sandwich. Everything was delicious - especially the cauliflower chick pea curry. Will definitely be back!

I've eaten chocolate bobka cake at many delis and restaurants over the years. I have to say the these guys probably make one of the best cakes out there. This one was better than Zabar's in NYC.

What a find! Hot and cold food bar- take what you want and pay by weight. The cold food bar was soooo good. Amazing hummus, Muhammad's, pickled cabbage, greens, feta, spiced nuts. We also ordered a large lentil soup which came with a big slice of fresh baked break. Everything was delicious. Would come here all the time if I lived in Burlington. So glad we found it.

This is a fantastic lunch spot. Super homey and welcoming with delicious food. Had the cream of mushroom soup with half a roast turkey sandwich. We also enjoyed the apple butternut squash soup. Soups are clearly house recipes that are unlike any other soup I've ever had. The desserts are also delicious. As we were eating, the chef came over with some samples of the chocolate cake. This was so rich and wonderful, we had to get a slice to take home. Beautiful place and a must stop for any visit to Burlington.

Hot food bar had a number of good vegetarian options, and there was a good selection of soups. The bread and desserts also are good quality. Relaxed environment with minimal fuss.

My boyfriend and I come here at least once a week for a meal (and maybe a few more times throughout the week for a snack and a cold drink). The environment is fantastic and the food rarely disappoints. Some musts are the apple cake, the Mexican beans and rice, and the mac and cheese. Especially the mac and cheese. It's insanely good. I wish they had it more, but the hot bar changes daily. The employees are all so nice and the quality and freshness of all of the food is amazing.

Wow. WOW. If they publish a recipe book I'm buying it immediately. Everything was so delicious, notably the vegan gratin and peanut tofu curry were to die for, almond macaroon was also amazing. Lots of vegan options for baked goods. Friendly service, laid back staff joking with each other obviously at ease in a healthy work environment. I'm told the chicken wings were also fantastic. This place is almost worth the 4 hour drive to Burlington all by itself!

Stone Soup is a Burlingtonite's favorite place to get a healthy hearty meal. Filled with fresh pastries, and offering hot and cold buffet, it is a vegetarian's dream. The self-serve hot food and cold food buffet offered delicious self selected salads. I saw large dinner plates piled high with lettuce, sprouts, peppers and tofu. It looked delicious! And the jam filled thumbprints and the Russian wedding cakes looked so festive, crumbly and delicious! We had the special: 1/2 pound burger on rye bread with fried potato slices and blue cheese with beet salad. The burger was juicy, the beef was local. The sweet beets were tender cubes in a vinaigrette sauce. Neither of us liked the pungent blue cheese, so we left it to the side. We also order a sweet potato soup with bacon and corn. The soup came with a huge piece of fluffy bread. The soup was perfect for a cold December day: hearty, warm and chunks of bacon and kernels of starchy corn. They offer ever changing specials, $1 sale of day old cookies and bread. Definitely get a slice of pie or sweet zucchini bread. The cream cheese frosting on the bread was awesome! And I loved meeting my old college friend here with her hubby. Protip: No one takes your order, so you order at the register and if you order hot food or a special, the cook brings it by. Get here early because lunchtime gets packed. I saw several groups come in and leave due to lack of seating. We tried to finish up so other people can sit.

Was here in October, looking for vegan options. This place has amazing curb appeal! Planters and a big window that was opened like a garage door. The vegan reuben was delicious. Split pea soup was ok, much improved by two slices of fresh bread.

Bomb food, bomb pastries, cool staff, would go back.................... ................. ................. ................. .................

Vegan/vegetarian delight in the heart of downtown Burlington, VT! They have a wonderful hot buffet (sell by the weight) everyday, custom sandwiches, fabulous homemade breads, tasty soups, and great looking desserts (although I've always been too full to try any). The kitchen and counter help is friendly and food options are plentiful. Sturdy wooden tables. Get your own water and bus your own table. It is very popular but the tables turnover quickly. Great value.

I was in town for a training and I seem to be the only place that had food that I could eat with a restricted diet. I just called them up and they helped me with my order, cared about my dietary restrictions. Thank you!!!

Great food! I love self-serve style that way I could try what ever I want. Everything I had was very good. Great vegan options!

My 1st time in VT and I chose this restaurant for my lunch and I am so glad I did because the food and service were excellent!!!

Best chicken soup I've had. Apparently this place has been in Burlington forever and now I can see why. You can smell the fresh bread from a block away haha. Definitely worth checking out. I imagine in the winter it's even more satisfying.

Despite only having 50,000 people tops in Burlington, VT, they somehow pull off a tremendous landscape of creative eateries and especially those that cater to the vegetarian and vegan crowds. Stone Soup is no exception. I highly recommend checking this place out if you find yourself in downtown Burlington around lunchtime. Expect mouthwatering and rustic-looking desserts piled high on the counter, soups (whodathunkit), and a veggie-filled buffet (pay by the weight). The buffet boasts tofu and tempeh dishes along with simple veggies options like beets, build-your-own salads, wax beans, etc. All delicious. (a few could have used an extra wink of salt) One of my favorite features of Stone Soup is the cozy layout with tables tucked directly against the pull up garage door window on the front wall facing the street. I don't recall the soup I tried on my first visit but I do recall walking away with a smile pasted on my face.

My wife and I had a delicious lunch here today. She had a chicken salad sandwich that was just perfect. I had the curried tuna melt which was flavorful and light. The atmosphere was great and the service was prompt and delightful. We will definitely be back!

The vegan food here is yummy! Good options in the buffet and on the menu. Praise especially for vegan potatoes au gratin, seitan stew, and super tabbouli. Daily soups also looked good, as did their selection of baked goods. However, the buffet is priced really high. I made a salad thinking it would be light and not cost much, and it ended up being $17. The day I went, they also had no menu options that were both vegan & GF. In my opinion, the food isn't worth the price, but they do have good options for veg-based individuals.

The BLT was great... But I was jealous of my wife's meal, the "Z&E's Choice" where the staff chooses for you. She is vegetarian and she said it was the best meal on our trip which includes Boston and Portland. The curry potatoes in particular stand out. We already want to go back!

We are at Stone Soup today and it was amazing. Awesome hot bar/salad bar options for all kinds of dietary desires and needs. Wings are fantastic. We decided to go for the chef's plate (they choose and serve instead of us), which came out beautifully and was DELICIOUS. Most surprising component? Carrot and mango salad: Outstanding. But really, everything. Definitely eat here. Every. Day.

This review has nothing to do with the food, as we ended up leaving after 5 minutes of standing in one of the most confusing setups for a restaurant that I've ever seen. We stood for a while trying to figure out what they had for soup and sandwiches (to me it was far from clear), but mainly I was trying to figure out how on earth to order anything. It appeared that the process was to wait in the salad bar line if you didn't want salad. Other people seemed confused as well. And people at salad bars are slow and there were 10 people waiting to make salads. The staff seemed happy to ignore the confusion and chat away with the salad bar people. If this is really how the process is supposed to work, then it's just plain crazy. If it isn't the way it's intended to work, then shame on the staff for being clueless and creating unnecessary and frustrating confusion.

Great little place. Felt like we were at a close friends house watching them prep the meals. All fresh and made from scratch...at least that I could tell ;). Lots of vegetarian options. We all had the hot and cold salad bar, everything was fantastic. Don't forget the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!!

This place is awesome. Flavourful vegterian dishes, hot and cold choices. Popular cozy place, cafeteria style self serve style eatery. Will visit again next time I m in town. Awesome meal.

The food here is so good and I love all the vegan food options. They have a range of sandwiches, soups and a hot food bar daily. Definitely recommend the trying the Vegan Ruben or a soup. There is also always at least one vegan baked good which I highly appreciate, love the Thumbprint and the brownie is pretty good too. I've been here a few times now and I love the food, the staff and the atmosphere. Not the cheapest place around though, and they don't have wifi so it's not the kind of place you can really hang out to get work done. Overall, really happy to have place like this in Burlington!

Good hearty wholesome food!! The flavors were so good! One star down because it can be pretty pricey!

Stone Soup is one of my favorite little food shops in Burlington. Featuring delicious pastries and other bakery items, a hot & cold buffet with an awesome rotating seasonal selection, and soups and sandwiches. They also have a small 'baked the day before' section where you can get loaves of bread or other baked goods and a discounted price. The food is always fresh, the color and presentation is great, and I always leave feeling like I was truly nourishing my body (and mind) by eating here. The physical space is also a huge plus, with its rustic-cafe style and charm -- lots of exposed wood, plants, and just a general atmosphere of warmth. Speaking of which, In the summers they roll up the windows facing the street and makes for excellent people watching! I would highly recommend coming here to just about anyone - they are vegetarian conscious, offer gluten free options, and are always healthy!

Lived here for 25 years and have wanted to try this place but never have. I just had a spiced Indian lentil soup and a tuna melt and I am in heaven. Whatever you do don't wait like I did. I will be back often

Simple, healthy food. I appreciate this on so many levels, especially since I'm here for work and it's so easy to eat crappy on work trips. Grabbed a soup and half sandwich here and it was yummy and filling. Make sure to grab a house-made tea. I got 'duality', a ceylon-lemon-mint hybrid that was absolutely refreshing and complimented my roasted turkey sandwich and chopped mushroom soup-of-the-day.