Blue Donkey Restaurant
1669 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT, 05672
Blue Donkey Restaurant Menu
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Address :
1669 Mountain Rd
Stowe, VT, 05672 - Phone (802) 253-3100
- Website https://www.bluedonkeyvt.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
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betsy c.
I really wanted to like this place. My pal and I went based on the Yelps but our experience was very different than most others on here it seems. I have to give them credit for their fries (the hand cut type) and onion rings - both were good. Where the donkey failed me was the veggie burger. It was like the punchline to a joke that starts "What's grosser than gross?" Sadly we didn't get the last laugh. It seems as though they work with the black bean variety of veggie burgers but it was totally completely absolutely mushy inside. Like paste. Like ew. Seriously - we both peeled the "burger" off the bun and ate the bread. The final nail in the colorful donkey coffin for me was the young lady at the counter. Instead of greeting us she just looked at us. When I asked questions she looked at me like I was asking her to solve complex equations. The tough questions I was asking were things like - May I please have a box. So, it's hard to think the look I was getting was anything but boredom at best or rudeness at worst. Anyway - maybe the other burgers are good and maybe the other staff isn't apathetic or really easily confused. Unfortunately we won't be back to find out.
(2)C. C.
Cute little place with great food... a little pricey though.
(4)Sarah K.
I have to admit, I don't really know why, but I was kind of sketched out to try a place called "the blue donkey" BUT HOLY SH** these are some damn good burgers. I just got a plain cheeseburger and it was on point. Cooked to perfection. The side of fries were huge. Go here. Awesome burgers
(5)Mrs. M.
Wow, some of the lower ratings almost scared us off but we gave it a try anyway. the 4 & 5 star ratings I did read had me thinking we'd like it. Happy we tried, great experience. The menu isn't huge but you don't need a big menu if you make good food. They have burgers, sandwiches and a few different types of fries. My husband and I both got burgers and they were cooked to our specifications. We prefer medium rare and medium and we got what we asked for. Big pet peeve when I get an overcooked well-done burger (blah!). The meat had great flavor and tasted like very good quality. The toppings we had were delicious and perfect compliment. These are big burgers too! My husband ordered the double burger and his eyes bugged out when he first saw it, but he finished it! The hand cut french fries were spot on and I'd get them again but would love the try their spicy or sweet fries too. Great atmosphere. It was a nice day so they had all the large garage doors open. There is a fireplace in the dining area. Plus they have a bar and some picnic tables. I like their addition of the beach volley ball court too. It wasn't too busy the day we went but I bet this place gets hopping on a warm summer night. Very cool and a must try if you're in the area and like a good burger.
(4)Megan S.
Great burgers!
(4)Fabian P.
For a hole in the wall place, the food was pretty good. Right off the bat the burger was cook as ordered so that is always good. The fries were hot, and the burger was juicy. It was worth the money and would probably go back.
(4)Arnold L.
Check out this burger joint if you are in Stow for skiing or hiking. Little cozy place with a fireplace. Order the MACK if you are absolutely starving since it's a BIG burger or maybe share with somebody.
(3)Wesley C.
Great burger and beer need I say more!!!
(4)Nick F.
I never go to Stowe without visiting the Blue Donkey at least once, either for their great burgers after skiing or their even greater breakfast sandwiches for the drive home.
(5)K B.
Great atmosphere and the food is just as good. Staff was great!
(5)Rick S.
Dig the name, the concept and simplicity of this place. Burgers were cooked right and were juicy. Fries were great.
(4)Liz C.
Good food, good service. Sat outside at the first come first serve tables and was able to sit as long as we liked. Great for families and we even had the dog sitting table side.
(5)Karen W.
we will go back, good burgers
(4)Riaan V.
Great burgers. Mystified by their hours/days open. This changes all the time even though their Website/FB states 11-8. Cannot tell you how many times over the last year I have been in the mood for a burger and then they were closed.
(3)Megan P.
Went here today to give this place another shot after kayaking. We had been once before, but during our last experience most of the village lost power due to a wicked storm. Today, our food was really great. I had a turkey burger with guac, horseradish, LT, cheddar and it was excellent. We had curley fries which were ok, but the hand-cut fries looked excellent! My boyfriend had a beef burger and was equally impressed. The size of the burgers was quite impressive and the burger rolls were absolutely amazing (seemed to be whole wheat and lightly toasted). We ordered at the counter, grabbed a seat outside at un umbrella table, and our burgers were brought out by the cashier. The place still seems to be undergoing renovations.. so the seating is somewhat limited and it was a bit dusty. On a side note, we also were at this place on Sunday afternoon when they had a tent set up with beer, tacos, and live music. While I didn't try a taco, the beer and music were excellent. Definitely a great place.
(4)Scott P.
Great burger ! great staff ! Great fries! Great location! we are coming back soon!
(4)Rich R.
I did take out at the Blue Donkey on Mountain Road in Stowe VT once last year and twice last week. My bacon, cheddar, medium-well burger was excellent every time. The burgers are big, the buns are delicious and the price is right. Definitely try the hand-cut fries and donkey chips too. The staff was always pleasant too.
(5)Peter S.
This place has the best burgers in VT! Other than Shake Shack, this is the only place I would rather buy a burger than make my own. Regarding service and selection...its basically a really nice burger stand with a fireplace and efficient service. The focus is the burger and bun not 101 combinations. That's just the way I like it.
(5)Mohamed S.
I would have given Blue Donkey 3 or 4 stars, but I just can't after eating there. Let me say up front that the food was really good. My sliders were moist and delicious; my hand cut fries were great. My fiancé's pulled pork sandwich and curly fries were good too. The problem was with the dirty environment. We ordered at the counter then went to find seating. Everywhere we went, both inside and outside, we were met with dozens of huge flies. It was really disgusting. We're not talking one or two; we're talking a swarm of them. And where there are flies, there's some filth they're breeding off of. Probably not cleaning food debris from the dining area. I thought their food was OK but really after seeing all those flies I doubt I'd go back, it really grossed me out.
(2)J J.
Good burgers, very slow service. We decided to finally give The Blue Donkey on a weekday for lunch in the height of the season. Off season the place looks dead, which always had us worried it wasn't too great. (Going on the belief, it you build good burgers, they will come.) Well, we really wanted burgers and weren't in the mood for our usual at Sunset Grille up the road. The place was busy, but we timed it with just about 4 people in front of us in line. We also easily found a table. That means - they had customers, but they were not overwhelmed. The menu is kinda small, but plenty of options if you like standard burgers. We each got the Rodeo Burger (Bacon/BBQ/cheese/Ranch sauce) and split an order of Hand Cut Fries. It was good. REALLY good. Not the best burger ever, but better than what we usually get at Sunset Grill. However, it was also much more pricey (over 30 dollars for 2 burgers, 1 fries, and 2 medium sodas) - we can get that and more for about 25 dollars at Sunset Grille. In addition, even though they were busy, they were not swamped. But they still held up the reputation we had heard - slow service. We got our burgers about 35 minutes after we ordered. It seemed one guy was stuck taking orders, working the register, taking phone orders, and delivering food to tables. There seemed to be two guys on the grill and one other hopping around doing miscellaneous stuff, so can't really see the hold up. At any rate, it was a great burger and perfectly cooked. The fries were good, but nothing special. With the price and the long wait on what was apparently a relatively non-busy day, I would probably hesitate to go there again if really hungry and just shoot down the road to Sunset Grille. But, for an occasional treat, we will likely be back at least once more this year. Curious to see if the service is faster in the off-season when we never see more than a few cars in the lot. OVERALL: Food = A-; Service = B-
(3)J P.
Food was good. Right on the bike path.
(3)Karen W.
we will go back, good burgers
(4)J P.
Food was good. Right on the bike path.
(3)Kim S.
Excellent service, food and great got kids! I had the chicken quesadilla wrap, it was delicious! Curly fries were good as were Delish too! All employees were very gracious!!!
(5)Vanessa A.
Fast and friendly service. Location: close to Stowe Ski Resort. We enjoyed the 4 oz. mini burger and sweet potato fries. Recommended!
(5)Jerry W.
My wife and I stopped here after climbing Mansfield. Ordered regular cheeseburgers (with VT cheddar, of course!). Received juicy, flavorful burgers on toasted, pillowy brioche buns with crispy fries. Quite satisfied with our meal!
(4)Krystle H.
I like that you pay first and the atmosphere was nice. Love the Mac and cheese and the Rodeo burger was very tasty. Good service too, very friendly. Definitely will stop by the next time I am in Vermont! (From NYC)
(5)Brenda D.
Visited during a rain storm. The place lost power and the chef still made a perfect burger!
(4)Tess G.
I was hoping that this place would serve burgers like it was the best thing ever but I was wrong. Their burgers aren't bad at all but I've tasted better ones. However I do give them four stars because their customer service is superb. They certainly know how to multitask and handle customer problems very well.
(4)Marius V.
Owner of the restaurant parked his Mazda Miata on the only available handicap spot (vehicle did not display a handicap tag) and I had to struggle with my cane up and down a gravel incline from the lower parking area to and from the restaurant. Ordered the "famous" Blue Donkey Burger - had better burgers before, it was really not that remarkable. To see the owner and his spouse nonchalantly walk over to their vehicle ruined the experience for me.
(1)Steven G.
Ordered the brisket. What a mistake. More than 60% of each slice was just fat. Meat had no flavor .Taste more like pot roast. Bad pot roast. When I complain to the manager he told me that's how brisket is. I told him he was wrong. They did however offer me something else.
(1)Bob B.
This was my first visit to the Blue Donkey and I would definitely go back. The Carolina Burger, with its sweet BBQ sauce, tender pulled pork and crunchy slaw, was very good. While not quite cooked to the requested medium rare, it was not far off. The fresh cut fries were very good and to "top" the meal off with a Heady Topper was a nice treat for RI'lander who has never really seen it available. The rest of my family enjoyed there choices as well except for my wife and daughter who felt their meals (Patty Melt and a Bacon Burger) were just ok. The one larger complaint were the flies in the open air dining area. They were annoying as heck and far too numerous to just pass off as part of the charm when eating somewhat outside. All in all, I really enjoyed it!
(4)Ann C.
This was our first visit and the setting and the delicious smells from the grill enticed us to stop for lunch on Friday 9-11-2015. Counter help was friendly and there are really interesting burger combinations. We ordered a Carolina BBQ burger and a bacon bleu cheese burger, one with their hand cut fries and the other with onion rings. The smoked BBQ pork on top of my burger was absolutely delicious, however the actual burger had almost no taste at all. My husband's burger was cooked perfectly, medium rare. The cheese that came on it tasted like the bleu cheese was missing and it was actually a sauce and not the cheese he was expecting. The sauce was just too much and too messy. His burger was pretty much tasteless as well when we tasted that without the sauce and bacon. The fries were scrumptious but there were way too many really little pieces that had been overcooked. The onion rings were just so-so despite looking like they would be delicious. The outdoor seating was great and it is a fun setting. Perhaps we hit it on an off day because the other reviews sound much better than our experience here.
(2)Lynsey H.
Heady topper beer slam dunk 5/5 Food 3/5 We came here purely to try to obtain the seemingly impossible - Heady Topper beer from Alchemist Brewery after visiting several places in the area and being unsuccessful. My husband was overjoyed! And impressed that he also got a free sticker! We ordered a brisket sandwich with fries. The food was average and we left a lot of it, the meat was quite fatty and dry but the sauce helped. The outdoor area was nice, with a play area for children. Lots of parking spaces are available as well.
(4)Kirk F.
Very good smoked meats and burgers. The burgers are really worth 4 stars but the great atmosphere, the alternative music and parking along with the smoked meats and BBQ sauces raise it to five stars! Compared to Burger Barn, the tables at the Blue Donkey are much cleaner, and the seating and parking are better as well! However, we still like the burgers from Burger Barn better than those at Blue Donkey. We had the southwest, the wop-er, pulled pork and smoked brisket along with sweet potato fries and regular fries. Yummy! Also, Hard Cider in draft! Definitely worth a stop!
(5)Heng T.
Blue Donkey is a restaurant that specializes in burgers. When you walk into the establishment, you pay first at the counter and place your order. Then you can go sit wherever you like in the restaurant. They have a couple tvs inside so you can watch some sort of sporting event while you eat. I decided to order the Rodeo Burger which was a burger with swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, and ranch. I opted out for the ranch sauce though. All the burgers come with regular fries but they do have sweet potato fries as well for an additional charge. They are priced at a little over $10 so a little expensive for a burger and fries. After I ordered, I went to go sit near a tv to watch a NCAA conference championship final game. My food came out pretty quick within 10 minutes of me ordering it. The burger tasted decent but nothing out of the ordinary. The cheddar cheese seemed like it was a cheap cheese square that you can get at the store. The rest of the burger seemed fine. The fries were good and freshly cut with just enough salt. Overall, the food was average with the price being a little high for the quality of the food.
(3)Cathy W.
The Blue Donkey was an oasis of smoked meats after descending the muddy Long Trail from Mansfield's peak. My Reuben-like smoked turkey sandwich was generous and served hot off the grill. The accompanying sweet potato fries were a bit mushy and uniformly shaped - they didn't seem "homemade." My daughter enjoyed a Heddy Topper with her burger, which was smothered in mushrooms and other delicious toppings. The bill for two of us, including two sandwiches and fries, an ice tea, and the Heddy was $38, not a cheap eat. I think the fries were $5. The vibe is really casual, the Blue Donkey is a good place for muddy hikers to sit without condemnation. We'd had our fill of the heat so we sat in the dark and cool interior. It would be enjoyable to sit outside under one of the umbrellas with a cold drink and bbq on a different day. The guy who took orders was not fast, unlike the hustlers working in the kitchen and delivering meals. Maybe he was in training, but it seemed more like a personality idiosyncrasy. With eight people in line, I was surprised he wasn't trying to move people along more efficiently. After we'd ordered our food was delivered in about ten minutes.
(3)Amber W.
Fat kids paradise!! Great messy burger... I did the rodeo without the sauces... yum! Awesome handcut fries with legit salt chunks. Lots of flies but delicious none the less!
(4)Emily B.
Charred--and I mean blackened--buns, overcooked burgers, blah fries and $$$. The sweet potato fries were good though.
(1)Jules N.
A casual atmosphere, and that delicious taunting smell if you were playing mini golf next door. The food is pretty awesome, good portion sizes, very tasty. Just remember to put your order in at the counter inside, or you'll be sitting and waiting and looking confused for a while.
(4)Christina G.
We waited a long time for food (an hour) only to find out it was not rung in. After approaching the overwhelmed register attendant they put the order through and gave us our lunch for free after some prodding. The food is good, but dare I say the inmates are running the asylum...
(3)Joan M.
Burgers aren't bad but the wait is beyond ridiculous. You order at the register and then sit yourself down. Tables were dirty and we waited 60 minutes for 2 hamburgers. They aren't that great for waiting that long but you pay first so you have no choice but to wait. Would recommend finding another spot unless you have tons of time to kill.
(1)Michael C.
Not impressed. The burger was pretty good (rodeo burger), but the service was lacking. Wrong food delivered to the table. Girl taking my beer order at the "beach bar" walked away after taking it to deliver food (2 orders!) only to come back and ask if I was being helped. Also, toppings on my wife's burger were scarce, a few mushrooms and a couple of grilled onions. I find it hard to believe it's the bset burger in Stowe as they advertise. If so I can't imagine the others! Will probably skip on our next trip to the area.
(2)Mack D.
My kids and wife really enjoyed their burgers, so I made a trip there. My burger was good, but a bit soggy and fries were average. Prep time was a reasonable 10 minutes with very light traffic. I'm going to need to visit again since my impression was so different from what my family experienced.
(3)Vlad C.
Small menu. Awesome. Doesn't make my life harder than it already is! Just finished hiking Mt Mansfield and needed some food. Normally stay away from burger joints because I cook a real mean burger. However decided to try this place out and I am glad I did. Price was fair for a scrumptious burger. It was cooked to my liking and was juicy mouth watering goodness. If I am in the area again I would definitely come back to this place if I was looking for a burger again. Fries were yummy as well(though separate). Yum.
(4)Dave B.
The burger was really good, but I'm not a fan of the customer experience. I don't really see why "laid back" can't include table service. We arrived near closing (8:00pm) and were told the dining room was closed so we couldn't sit at a table, but we could sit at the bar. I'm not sure what the point of that is because it's the same room anyway, and no matter where we sit we still have to order at the counter anyway. And then five minutes after we sat at the bar a group arrived and all got tables. So I guess the dining room was open for them, but not for us. And I really would have liked a PLATE, not some tiny little basket. I still thought it was a fantastic burger, although my onion rings were a little overcooked. Impressed that they serve Heady Topper. But I would only come back for takeout. If I wanted to go out for a beer and a burger I'd pick another place with a more enjoyable customer experience.
(3)Erin R.
Great burgers and friendly staff! We stumbled upon this place on their last open day of the season. We were a bit worried when they named the long list of things they were out of, but decided to try it out anyway. I got the Rodeo burger and my boyfriend got the Patty Melt. They were both equally delicious! We also split an order of onion rings and they were great too. This place is definitely the go to for a burger in Stowe!
(5)Clarence W.
Fantastic Burgers. They seemed to be conscious of the less than great reviews and appeared to me to be stepping up and making it better.
(5)Alex H.
This place was great! I was able to get the rodeo burger with a turkey burger and it was really enjoyable. The cook even came out after to ask if I enjoyed it. We sat by the fire and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Food came out pretty quickly and was a huge burger and very filling! Prices are reasonable and I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ben R.
Love the atmosphere. Laid back young people making burgers. Unfortunately, the burger was undercooked, bulky, and lacking taste. Good place but if this is the best in Vermont, I am concerned.
(3)john n.
I love their burgers. Cooked properly with quality ingredients. 3 stars as their prices are getting up there. 3 burgers and 3 iced teas..... Close to $50 bucks?!! For that kind of dough I would have to think twice about going back.
(3)Laura B.
this place is a fantastic burger stop. cool burgers, local beer, and cozy chill atmosphere. I had the mac, their version of a Big Mac, which was phenomenal. definitely stop here for a post skiing bite.
(5)Brandon H.
A++. Good is phenomenal! Great burgers and dogs. My pulled pork sandwich was great! Service is top notch as well.
(5)J. N.
Fantastic burger, horrible experience. Stopped after a lovely bike ride feeling wonderful and relaxed. Ordered our 3 burgers and one grilled cheese, paid our $50 (not a typo) and sat down to wait. And wait. When I inquired as to the whereabouts of our three burgers, the 18 year old loudmouth behind the cash responded "if you've waited 20 minutes it'll be another 10 to 15. This isn't a fast food restaurant, MA'AM." Dear little girl who takes orders behind the counter: it's not fine dining, either. Little tip for you. Clearly this girl has no future in customer service even as an order taker. To the owner: clearly the amount of time it takes to Get food to customers is an issue based on reviews and the chatter we heard around us. I've made a burger from scratch; it does not take 40 minutes. Like I said, awesome burger, great hand-cut fries. But when paying $50 for burgers at a roadside stop, attitude is unacceptable and a deal-breaker. One and done.
(2)Jon S.
I'm not much of a burger guy. I eat about 5 a year on average. Make no mistake, I like them, but it's just not worth the caloric intake for what is usually either greasy or dried out meat with all the fixins. So it was that I was on vacation with my family and we were driving through Stowe in the middle of summer when we were looking for a place to stop and get lunch on Yelp. The ratings looked pretty good for the Blue Donkey, so we stopped there. Boy, I'm glad we did. This place is a glorified summer shack, with a small walkup counter in from of the kitchen and a large adjacent seating area/bar that opens up to a nice patio and picnic tables. The menu isn't huge - just a few basics burgers and a few specialty ones. Went with the Rodeo Burger - their take on the bacon BBQ burger with BBQ sauce, an onion ring, cheddar and onions, served on a toasted bun. I got the ranch sauce on the side. I thought it would make a mess, and I'm glad I held off on it. Simply put, this was one of the best burgers, if not THE best, I've ever had. The burger was cooked perfect. Just on the rare side of medium, evenly pink throughout. Juicy without being messy. Normally, a BBQ burger is a dripping mess, but this one held together unlike any other I've ever had. The bacon was crispy and thick enough not to shatter into a mess when biting it. The cheese was melted perfectly and the sauce was tangy without being cloyingly sweet. And the bun was awesome, just toasted enough and the perfect size for the sandwich. Got a side of fries that could have been slightly crisper, but were seasoned well and not greasy. Washed it all down with a Long Trail Belgian White. Service was friendly and somewhat quick. Long story short, if you're looking for a great burger, this is a place you show go to.
(5)John P.
Tasty burgers, but they are not the "specialty burgers" like the sign said. There are a total of three burgers on the menu, and one is just lettuce and tomatoes. The other two, Ranch burger and Southwest burger were good but the topings were nothing special. The Southwest had very little heat to it like I'd expect. Also I asked for my burger to be medium and I got no pink at all. If you are going to ask, get it right. Very good fries. The waitress had no personality and didn't know what beer she had on tap.
(3)Beth M.
Total rip off! They are under new management and now charge $12 for a simple burger and a picnic table. There are much better places in Stowe for a burger. Fries were just average bordering on soggy. There were no people when we went early on a Sunday afternoon and it took them 15 minutes to make 2 burgers. They also charge $8.50 for a kids meal.
(1)Libby H.
By far the best burger I've had in a long time. Don't understand all the bad rap about service. They couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. You should Definitely try this place if you want a great burger.
(5)Sumeet B.
Yummy burgers, very fresh (had the southwest burger)!
(4)Angie C.
Whether it's for a bite after hitting the mountain or a quick pick-up at the end of the day, Blue Donkey always seems to hit the spot. You order when you walk in, then, if you're eating in seat yourself and they'll bring food to you. Menu has a few customized burger offerings - I am fond of the rodeo burger, with its sauteed onions, onion rings, american and cheddar cheeses and bacon. Mmm. You can also customize any burger, can sub in a turkey patty or a chicken breast. The service isn't especially quick as everything is cooked to order, so I recommend calling ahead if you're gonna do takeout. I have found the service very friendly every time I'm in - admittedly I am a local and have at least face value recognition with most employees, but I'm honestly surprised to hear people had negative experiences.
(4)Laura W.
all around poor experience. service is terrible. burger gave both of us heartburn and it took forever to actually receive our food. will not be back.
(1)Diffy D.
Expensive. Very slow service. It took over an hour after ordering to get our food. The burgers, fries, and sweet potato fries were good, but not great. The grilled cheese sandwich was sub-par. Much better burgers are available in Vermont; for example, Five Guys.
(1)X X.
The Blue Donkey is a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint that really packs a punch! Best burgers I have ever had, hands down. Better than I make at home, better than Mom's and she agrees :) Staff is great, ambiance is great, and food is delicious. If you are in Central Vermont, make a trip to Stowe and treat yourself to a great meal!
(5)Scott B.
Outstanding burgers. Great vibe. A little pricey. Wish they'd do something about the flies
(4)Ken C.
This place is awesome!!! Stowe needs more FUN places like this. Amazing burgers, big local beers (get the Alchemist's Headytopper) and a place to stare and enjoy the good weather. Vacations were made for places like this (though I'm a local).
(5)Britney G.
Food was fine, but the experience was absolutely awful. After placing our food, we waited outside. Was about 30 minutes before we realized how long we've been waiting. Went in to check on status and were told that it would be at least another 15 minutes. We didn't get out food until 50 minutes after placing it- which I'm sorry, is ridiculous for our order: southwest burger, grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken wrap, and clam strips. the chicken sand came out as a wrap(incorrect) and the burger was medium well instead of medium. took about 10 minutes to scarf down and won't be coming back willingly.
(2)Sarah K.
I have to admit, I don't really know why, but I was kind of sketched out to try a place called "the blue donkey" BUT HOLY SH** these are some damn good burgers. I just got a plain cheeseburger and it was on point. Cooked to perfection. The side of fries were huge. Go here. Awesome burgers
(5)C. C.
Cute little place with great food... a little pricey though.
(4)K B.
Great atmosphere and the food is just as good. Staff was great!
(5)Rick S.
Dig the name, the concept and simplicity of this place. Burgers were cooked right and were juicy. Fries were great.
(4)betsy c.
I really wanted to like this place. My pal and I went based on the Yelps but our experience was very different than most others on here it seems. I have to give them credit for their fries (the hand cut type) and onion rings - both were good. Where the donkey failed me was the veggie burger. It was like the punchline to a joke that starts "What's grosser than gross?" Sadly we didn't get the last laugh. It seems as though they work with the black bean variety of veggie burgers but it was totally completely absolutely mushy inside. Like paste. Like ew. Seriously - we both peeled the "burger" off the bun and ate the bread. The final nail in the colorful donkey coffin for me was the young lady at the counter. Instead of greeting us she just looked at us. When I asked questions she looked at me like I was asking her to solve complex equations. The tough questions I was asking were things like - May I please have a box. So, it's hard to think the look I was getting was anything but boredom at best or rudeness at worst. Anyway - maybe the other burgers are good and maybe the other staff isn't apathetic or really easily confused. Unfortunately we won't be back to find out.
(2)Megan P.
Went here today to give this place another shot after kayaking. We had been once before, but during our last experience most of the village lost power due to a wicked storm. Today, our food was really great. I had a turkey burger with guac, horseradish, LT, cheddar and it was excellent. We had curley fries which were ok, but the hand-cut fries looked excellent! My boyfriend had a beef burger and was equally impressed. The size of the burgers was quite impressive and the burger rolls were absolutely amazing (seemed to be whole wheat and lightly toasted). We ordered at the counter, grabbed a seat outside at un umbrella table, and our burgers were brought out by the cashier. The place still seems to be undergoing renovations.. so the seating is somewhat limited and it was a bit dusty. On a side note, we also were at this place on Sunday afternoon when they had a tent set up with beer, tacos, and live music. While I didn't try a taco, the beer and music were excellent. Definitely a great place.
(4)Riaan V.
Great burgers. Mystified by their hours/days open. This changes all the time even though their Website/FB states 11-8. Cannot tell you how many times over the last year I have been in the mood for a burger and then they were closed.
(3)Scott P.
Great burger ! great staff ! Great fries! Great location! we are coming back soon!
(4)Rich R.
I did take out at the Blue Donkey on Mountain Road in Stowe VT once last year and twice last week. My bacon, cheddar, medium-well burger was excellent every time. The burgers are big, the buns are delicious and the price is right. Definitely try the hand-cut fries and donkey chips too. The staff was always pleasant too.
(5)Peter S.
This place has the best burgers in VT! Other than Shake Shack, this is the only place I would rather buy a burger than make my own. Regarding service and selection...its basically a really nice burger stand with a fireplace and efficient service. The focus is the burger and bun not 101 combinations. That's just the way I like it.
(5)Mrs. M.
Wow, some of the lower ratings almost scared us off but we gave it a try anyway. the 4 & 5 star ratings I did read had me thinking we'd like it. Happy we tried, great experience. The menu isn't huge but you don't need a big menu if you make good food. They have burgers, sandwiches and a few different types of fries. My husband and I both got burgers and they were cooked to our specifications. We prefer medium rare and medium and we got what we asked for. Big pet peeve when I get an overcooked well-done burger (blah!). The meat had great flavor and tasted like very good quality. The toppings we had were delicious and perfect compliment. These are big burgers too! My husband ordered the double burger and his eyes bugged out when he first saw it, but he finished it! The hand cut french fries were spot on and I'd get them again but would love the try their spicy or sweet fries too. Great atmosphere. It was a nice day so they had all the large garage doors open. There is a fireplace in the dining area. Plus they have a bar and some picnic tables. I like their addition of the beach volley ball court too. It wasn't too busy the day we went but I bet this place gets hopping on a warm summer night. Very cool and a must try if you're in the area and like a good burger.
(4)Megan S.
Great burgers!
(4)Fabian P.
For a hole in the wall place, the food was pretty good. Right off the bat the burger was cook as ordered so that is always good. The fries were hot, and the burger was juicy. It was worth the money and would probably go back.
(4)Arnold L.
Check out this burger joint if you are in Stow for skiing or hiking. Little cozy place with a fireplace. Order the MACK if you are absolutely starving since it's a BIG burger or maybe share with somebody.
(3)Wesley C.
Great burger and beer need I say more!!!
(4)Nick F.
I never go to Stowe without visiting the Blue Donkey at least once, either for their great burgers after skiing or their even greater breakfast sandwiches for the drive home.
(5)Liz C.
Good food, good service. Sat outside at the first come first serve tables and was able to sit as long as we liked. Great for families and we even had the dog sitting table side.
(5)Mohamed S.
I would have given Blue Donkey 3 or 4 stars, but I just can't after eating there. Let me say up front that the food was really good. My sliders were moist and delicious; my hand cut fries were great. My fiancé's pulled pork sandwich and curly fries were good too. The problem was with the dirty environment. We ordered at the counter then went to find seating. Everywhere we went, both inside and outside, we were met with dozens of huge flies. It was really disgusting. We're not talking one or two; we're talking a swarm of them. And where there are flies, there's some filth they're breeding off of. Probably not cleaning food debris from the dining area. I thought their food was OK but really after seeing all those flies I doubt I'd go back, it really grossed me out.
(2)J J.
Good burgers, very slow service. We decided to finally give The Blue Donkey on a weekday for lunch in the height of the season. Off season the place looks dead, which always had us worried it wasn't too great. (Going on the belief, it you build good burgers, they will come.) Well, we really wanted burgers and weren't in the mood for our usual at Sunset Grille up the road. The place was busy, but we timed it with just about 4 people in front of us in line. We also easily found a table. That means - they had customers, but they were not overwhelmed. The menu is kinda small, but plenty of options if you like standard burgers. We each got the Rodeo Burger (Bacon/BBQ/cheese/Ranch sauce) and split an order of Hand Cut Fries. It was good. REALLY good. Not the best burger ever, but better than what we usually get at Sunset Grill. However, it was also much more pricey (over 30 dollars for 2 burgers, 1 fries, and 2 medium sodas) - we can get that and more for about 25 dollars at Sunset Grille. In addition, even though they were busy, they were not swamped. But they still held up the reputation we had heard - slow service. We got our burgers about 35 minutes after we ordered. It seemed one guy was stuck taking orders, working the register, taking phone orders, and delivering food to tables. There seemed to be two guys on the grill and one other hopping around doing miscellaneous stuff, so can't really see the hold up. At any rate, it was a great burger and perfectly cooked. The fries were good, but nothing special. With the price and the long wait on what was apparently a relatively non-busy day, I would probably hesitate to go there again if really hungry and just shoot down the road to Sunset Grille. But, for an occasional treat, we will likely be back at least once more this year. Curious to see if the service is faster in the off-season when we never see more than a few cars in the lot. OVERALL: Food = A-; Service = B-
(3)Sarah K.
I have to admit, I don't really know why, but I was kind of sketched out to try a place called "the blue donkey" BUT HOLY SH** these are some damn good burgers. I just got a plain cheeseburger and it was on point. Cooked to perfection. The side of fries were huge. Go here. Awesome burgers
(5)betsy c.
I really wanted to like this place. My pal and I went based on the Yelps but our experience was very different than most others on here it seems. I have to give them credit for their fries (the hand cut type) and onion rings - both were good. Where the donkey failed me was the veggie burger. It was like the punchline to a joke that starts "What's grosser than gross?" Sadly we didn't get the last laugh. It seems as though they work with the black bean variety of veggie burgers but it was totally completely absolutely mushy inside. Like paste. Like ew. Seriously - we both peeled the "burger" off the bun and ate the bread. The final nail in the colorful donkey coffin for me was the young lady at the counter. Instead of greeting us she just looked at us. When I asked questions she looked at me like I was asking her to solve complex equations. The tough questions I was asking were things like - May I please have a box. So, it's hard to think the look I was getting was anything but boredom at best or rudeness at worst. Anyway - maybe the other burgers are good and maybe the other staff isn't apathetic or really easily confused. Unfortunately we won't be back to find out.
(2)Megan P.
Went here today to give this place another shot after kayaking. We had been once before, but during our last experience most of the village lost power due to a wicked storm. Today, our food was really great. I had a turkey burger with guac, horseradish, LT, cheddar and it was excellent. We had curley fries which were ok, but the hand-cut fries looked excellent! My boyfriend had a beef burger and was equally impressed. The size of the burgers was quite impressive and the burger rolls were absolutely amazing (seemed to be whole wheat and lightly toasted). We ordered at the counter, grabbed a seat outside at un umbrella table, and our burgers were brought out by the cashier. The place still seems to be undergoing renovations.. so the seating is somewhat limited and it was a bit dusty. On a side note, we also were at this place on Sunday afternoon when they had a tent set up with beer, tacos, and live music. While I didn't try a taco, the beer and music were excellent. Definitely a great place.
(4)Riaan V.
Great burgers. Mystified by their hours/days open. This changes all the time even though their Website/FB states 11-8. Cannot tell you how many times over the last year I have been in the mood for a burger and then they were closed.
(3)Scott P.
Great burger ! great staff ! Great fries! Great location! we are coming back soon!
(4)Rich R.
I did take out at the Blue Donkey on Mountain Road in Stowe VT once last year and twice last week. My bacon, cheddar, medium-well burger was excellent every time. The burgers are big, the buns are delicious and the price is right. Definitely try the hand-cut fries and donkey chips too. The staff was always pleasant too.
(5)Peter S.
This place has the best burgers in VT! Other than Shake Shack, this is the only place I would rather buy a burger than make my own. Regarding service and selection...its basically a really nice burger stand with a fireplace and efficient service. The focus is the burger and bun not 101 combinations. That's just the way I like it.
(5)Wesley C.
Great burger and beer need I say more!!!
(4)Nick F.
I never go to Stowe without visiting the Blue Donkey at least once, either for their great burgers after skiing or their even greater breakfast sandwiches for the drive home.
(5)K B.
Great atmosphere and the food is just as good. Staff was great!
(5)Rick S.
Dig the name, the concept and simplicity of this place. Burgers were cooked right and were juicy. Fries were great.
(4)Liz C.
Good food, good service. Sat outside at the first come first serve tables and was able to sit as long as we liked. Great for families and we even had the dog sitting table side.
(5)Mrs. M.
Wow, some of the lower ratings almost scared us off but we gave it a try anyway. the 4 & 5 star ratings I did read had me thinking we'd like it. Happy we tried, great experience. The menu isn't huge but you don't need a big menu if you make good food. They have burgers, sandwiches and a few different types of fries. My husband and I both got burgers and they were cooked to our specifications. We prefer medium rare and medium and we got what we asked for. Big pet peeve when I get an overcooked well-done burger (blah!). The meat had great flavor and tasted like very good quality. The toppings we had were delicious and perfect compliment. These are big burgers too! My husband ordered the double burger and his eyes bugged out when he first saw it, but he finished it! The hand cut french fries were spot on and I'd get them again but would love the try their spicy or sweet fries too. Great atmosphere. It was a nice day so they had all the large garage doors open. There is a fireplace in the dining area. Plus they have a bar and some picnic tables. I like their addition of the beach volley ball court too. It wasn't too busy the day we went but I bet this place gets hopping on a warm summer night. Very cool and a must try if you're in the area and like a good burger.
(4)Megan S.
Great burgers!
(4)Fabian P.
For a hole in the wall place, the food was pretty good. Right off the bat the burger was cook as ordered so that is always good. The fries were hot, and the burger was juicy. It was worth the money and would probably go back.
(4)Arnold L.
Check out this burger joint if you are in Stow for skiing or hiking. Little cozy place with a fireplace. Order the MACK if you are absolutely starving since it's a BIG burger or maybe share with somebody.
(3)Mohamed S.
I would have given Blue Donkey 3 or 4 stars, but I just can't after eating there. Let me say up front that the food was really good. My sliders were moist and delicious; my hand cut fries were great. My fiancé's pulled pork sandwich and curly fries were good too. The problem was with the dirty environment. We ordered at the counter then went to find seating. Everywhere we went, both inside and outside, we were met with dozens of huge flies. It was really disgusting. We're not talking one or two; we're talking a swarm of them. And where there are flies, there's some filth they're breeding off of. Probably not cleaning food debris from the dining area. I thought their food was OK but really after seeing all those flies I doubt I'd go back, it really grossed me out.
(2)J J.
Good burgers, very slow service. We decided to finally give The Blue Donkey on a weekday for lunch in the height of the season. Off season the place looks dead, which always had us worried it wasn't too great. (Going on the belief, it you build good burgers, they will come.) Well, we really wanted burgers and weren't in the mood for our usual at Sunset Grille up the road. The place was busy, but we timed it with just about 4 people in front of us in line. We also easily found a table. That means - they had customers, but they were not overwhelmed. The menu is kinda small, but plenty of options if you like standard burgers. We each got the Rodeo Burger (Bacon/BBQ/cheese/Ranch sauce) and split an order of Hand Cut Fries. It was good. REALLY good. Not the best burger ever, but better than what we usually get at Sunset Grill. However, it was also much more pricey (over 30 dollars for 2 burgers, 1 fries, and 2 medium sodas) - we can get that and more for about 25 dollars at Sunset Grille. In addition, even though they were busy, they were not swamped. But they still held up the reputation we had heard - slow service. We got our burgers about 35 minutes after we ordered. It seemed one guy was stuck taking orders, working the register, taking phone orders, and delivering food to tables. There seemed to be two guys on the grill and one other hopping around doing miscellaneous stuff, so can't really see the hold up. At any rate, it was a great burger and perfectly cooked. The fries were good, but nothing special. With the price and the long wait on what was apparently a relatively non-busy day, I would probably hesitate to go there again if really hungry and just shoot down the road to Sunset Grille. But, for an occasional treat, we will likely be back at least once more this year. Curious to see if the service is faster in the off-season when we never see more than a few cars in the lot. OVERALL: Food = A-; Service = B-
(3)J P.
Food was good. Right on the bike path.
(3)Karen W.
we will go back, good burgers
(4)E B.
Whatever you do, don't complain to whoever's running The Blue Donkey - about anything. They have a menu item called the "WOP-ER" - it's an Italian-style hamburger. Anyone with even a smidgen of social sensitivity realizes that the word "WOP" is an ethnic slur. To Italians, it's the equivalent of the "n word." So I asked (on Facebook) what the deal was with their use of the word on the menu (the menu is absent of slurs to other ethnicities, thankfully), and I was met with zero respect or understanding and a slew of sarcasm and insults from various Blue Donkey employees. They justify the ethnic slur by saying that their Italian employees think it's funny, and so should we. Tell that to my grandparents who were discriminated against from the moment they arrived in America. Sure, that discrimination is over, but it doesn't mean we should joke about it and be completely insensitive to hardship and bigotry. The word WOP is still used as a rotten insult. My family and friends who commented were also met with angry insults. The Blue Donkey employees and the establishment itself have shown their character (or lack thereof) in more ways than one. It was a terrible and disappointing customer service experience.
(1)Frederick G.
Best burger joint in stowe, can't go wrong.
(5)Peter A.
Best burgers in town hands down! Whenever I'm in Stowe I make sure to stop in and grab a bacon burger with a side of curly fries. The food is always great and fair priced. The staff is super friendly and helpful, right on mountain Rd a perfect stop if your heading in or out of town. With their wide selection of burgers or sides everyone will find something for them.
(5)Joe S.
I know this place has gotten good reviews re" its hamburgers, but our visit was disappointing. First, the condiments, including mayonnaise are kept out all day. The Mayo had a watery consistency. When we complained the staff seemed a little dumbfounded and gave us another cup of Mayo- also unrefridgerated and watery. I had a Bar B Q sandwich. The Bar B Q was good but was served on what looked llike white bread toast and I couldn't pick it up due to the bread being wet from the BBQ sauce. There is no table service, ad for $15 a hamburger or sandwich I would like a bit more service. The ambiance is strange- the dining area looks like it was a garage as there were 1 or 2 garage doors. I believe the floor was a finished cement and the room was damp and on the cold side- it was winter. Staff was not very attached to the business this visit.
(1)Sherill D.
This was the worse restaurant experience ever! We waited for almost a half an hour and then someone came out and told us they were out of what we ordered. The tables were filthy, the staff was not friendly at all. Most of all, the food was disgusting. The fries were cold and burnt, the burger had nothing on it -not a scrap of lettuce or a tomato. I made the mistake of ordering the hummus wrap (ok- I know, don't order hummus at a burger joint- but still, it shouldn't be disgusting. Old tomatoes and cucumbers). The icing on the cake was when a woman walked in and stole the leftovers off the table my kids were sitting at next to us -plastic baskets and all. Too weird!! Honestly, there isn't a low enough rating for this place!!
(1)Vanessa A.
Fast and friendly service. Location: close to Stowe Ski Resort. We enjoyed the 4 oz. mini burger and sweet potato fries. Recommended!
(5)Jerry W.
My wife and I stopped here after climbing Mansfield. Ordered regular cheeseburgers (with VT cheddar, of course!). Received juicy, flavorful burgers on toasted, pillowy brioche buns with crispy fries. Quite satisfied with our meal!
(4)Joan M.
Burgers aren't bad but the wait is beyond ridiculous. You order at the register and then sit yourself down. Tables were dirty and we waited 60 minutes for 2 hamburgers. They aren't that great for waiting that long but you pay first so you have no choice but to wait. Would recommend finding another spot unless you have tons of time to kill.
(1)Bob B.
This was my first visit to the Blue Donkey and I would definitely go back. The Carolina Burger, with its sweet BBQ sauce, tender pulled pork and crunchy slaw, was very good. While not quite cooked to the requested medium rare, it was not far off. The fresh cut fries were very good and to "top" the meal off with a Heady Topper was a nice treat for RI'lander who has never really seen it available. The rest of my family enjoyed there choices as well except for my wife and daughter who felt their meals (Patty Melt and a Bacon Burger) were just ok. The one larger complaint were the flies in the open air dining area. They were annoying as heck and far too numerous to just pass off as part of the charm when eating somewhat outside. All in all, I really enjoyed it!
(4)Krystle H.
I like that you pay first and the atmosphere was nice. Love the Mac and cheese and the Rodeo burger was very tasty. Good service too, very friendly. Definitely will stop by the next time I am in Vermont! (From NYC)
(5)Brenda D.
Visited during a rain storm. The place lost power and the chef still made a perfect burger!
(4)Tess G.
I was hoping that this place would serve burgers like it was the best thing ever but I was wrong. Their burgers aren't bad at all but I've tasted better ones. However I do give them four stars because their customer service is superb. They certainly know how to multitask and handle customer problems very well.
(4)Ann C.
This was our first visit and the setting and the delicious smells from the grill enticed us to stop for lunch on Friday 9-11-2015. Counter help was friendly and there are really interesting burger combinations. We ordered a Carolina BBQ burger and a bacon bleu cheese burger, one with their hand cut fries and the other with onion rings. The smoked BBQ pork on top of my burger was absolutely delicious, however the actual burger had almost no taste at all. My husband's burger was cooked perfectly, medium rare. The cheese that came on it tasted like the bleu cheese was missing and it was actually a sauce and not the cheese he was expecting. The sauce was just too much and too messy. His burger was pretty much tasteless as well when we tasted that without the sauce and bacon. The fries were scrumptious but there were way too many really little pieces that had been overcooked. The onion rings were just so-so despite looking like they would be delicious. The outdoor seating was great and it is a fun setting. Perhaps we hit it on an off day because the other reviews sound much better than our experience here.
(2)Lynsey H.
Heady topper beer slam dunk 5/5 Food 3/5 We came here purely to try to obtain the seemingly impossible - Heady Topper beer from Alchemist Brewery after visiting several places in the area and being unsuccessful. My husband was overjoyed! And impressed that he also got a free sticker! We ordered a brisket sandwich with fries. The food was average and we left a lot of it, the meat was quite fatty and dry but the sauce helped. The outdoor area was nice, with a play area for children. Lots of parking spaces are available as well.
(4)Kirk F.
Very good smoked meats and burgers. The burgers are really worth 4 stars but the great atmosphere, the alternative music and parking along with the smoked meats and BBQ sauces raise it to five stars! Compared to Burger Barn, the tables at the Blue Donkey are much cleaner, and the seating and parking are better as well! However, we still like the burgers from Burger Barn better than those at Blue Donkey. We had the southwest, the wop-er, pulled pork and smoked brisket along with sweet potato fries and regular fries. Yummy! Also, Hard Cider in draft! Definitely worth a stop!
(5)Heng T.
Blue Donkey is a restaurant that specializes in burgers. When you walk into the establishment, you pay first at the counter and place your order. Then you can go sit wherever you like in the restaurant. They have a couple tvs inside so you can watch some sort of sporting event while you eat. I decided to order the Rodeo Burger which was a burger with swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, and ranch. I opted out for the ranch sauce though. All the burgers come with regular fries but they do have sweet potato fries as well for an additional charge. They are priced at a little over $10 so a little expensive for a burger and fries. After I ordered, I went to go sit near a tv to watch a NCAA conference championship final game. My food came out pretty quick within 10 minutes of me ordering it. The burger tasted decent but nothing out of the ordinary. The cheddar cheese seemed like it was a cheap cheese square that you can get at the store. The rest of the burger seemed fine. The fries were good and freshly cut with just enough salt. Overall, the food was average with the price being a little high for the quality of the food.
(3)Cathy W.
The Blue Donkey was an oasis of smoked meats after descending the muddy Long Trail from Mansfield's peak. My Reuben-like smoked turkey sandwich was generous and served hot off the grill. The accompanying sweet potato fries were a bit mushy and uniformly shaped - they didn't seem "homemade." My daughter enjoyed a Heddy Topper with her burger, which was smothered in mushrooms and other delicious toppings. The bill for two of us, including two sandwiches and fries, an ice tea, and the Heddy was $38, not a cheap eat. I think the fries were $5. The vibe is really casual, the Blue Donkey is a good place for muddy hikers to sit without condemnation. We'd had our fill of the heat so we sat in the dark and cool interior. It would be enjoyable to sit outside under one of the umbrellas with a cold drink and bbq on a different day. The guy who took orders was not fast, unlike the hustlers working in the kitchen and delivering meals. Maybe he was in training, but it seemed more like a personality idiosyncrasy. With eight people in line, I was surprised he wasn't trying to move people along more efficiently. After we'd ordered our food was delivered in about ten minutes.
(3)Amber W.
Fat kids paradise!! Great messy burger... I did the rodeo without the sauces... yum! Awesome handcut fries with legit salt chunks. Lots of flies but delicious none the less!
(4)Emily B.
Charred--and I mean blackened--buns, overcooked burgers, blah fries and $$$. The sweet potato fries were good though.
(1)Jules N.
A casual atmosphere, and that delicious taunting smell if you were playing mini golf next door. The food is pretty awesome, good portion sizes, very tasty. Just remember to put your order in at the counter inside, or you'll be sitting and waiting and looking confused for a while.
(4)Marius V.
Owner of the restaurant parked his Mazda Miata on the only available handicap spot (vehicle did not display a handicap tag) and I had to struggle with my cane up and down a gravel incline from the lower parking area to and from the restaurant. Ordered the "famous" Blue Donkey Burger - had better burgers before, it was really not that remarkable. To see the owner and his spouse nonchalantly walk over to their vehicle ruined the experience for me.
(1)Steven G.
Ordered the brisket. What a mistake. More than 60% of each slice was just fat. Meat had no flavor .Taste more like pot roast. Bad pot roast. When I complain to the manager he told me that's how brisket is. I told him he was wrong. They did however offer me something else.
(1)Christina G.
We waited a long time for food (an hour) only to find out it was not rung in. After approaching the overwhelmed register attendant they put the order through and gave us our lunch for free after some prodding. The food is good, but dare I say the inmates are running the asylum...
(3)Kim S.
Excellent service, food and great got kids! I had the chicken quesadilla wrap, it was delicious! Curly fries were good as were Delish too! All employees were very gracious!!!
(5)Michael C.
Not impressed. The burger was pretty good (rodeo burger), but the service was lacking. Wrong food delivered to the table. Girl taking my beer order at the "beach bar" walked away after taking it to deliver food (2 orders!) only to come back and ask if I was being helped. Also, toppings on my wife's burger were scarce, a few mushrooms and a couple of grilled onions. I find it hard to believe it's the bset burger in Stowe as they advertise. If so I can't imagine the others! Will probably skip on our next trip to the area.
(2)Mack D.
My kids and wife really enjoyed their burgers, so I made a trip there. My burger was good, but a bit soggy and fries were average. Prep time was a reasonable 10 minutes with very light traffic. I'm going to need to visit again since my impression was so different from what my family experienced.
(3)Vlad C.
Small menu. Awesome. Doesn't make my life harder than it already is! Just finished hiking Mt Mansfield and needed some food. Normally stay away from burger joints because I cook a real mean burger. However decided to try this place out and I am glad I did. Price was fair for a scrumptious burger. It was cooked to my liking and was juicy mouth watering goodness. If I am in the area again I would definitely come back to this place if I was looking for a burger again. Fries were yummy as well(though separate). Yum.
(4)Dave B.
The burger was really good, but I'm not a fan of the customer experience. I don't really see why "laid back" can't include table service. We arrived near closing (8:00pm) and were told the dining room was closed so we couldn't sit at a table, but we could sit at the bar. I'm not sure what the point of that is because it's the same room anyway, and no matter where we sit we still have to order at the counter anyway. And then five minutes after we sat at the bar a group arrived and all got tables. So I guess the dining room was open for them, but not for us. And I really would have liked a PLATE, not some tiny little basket. I still thought it was a fantastic burger, although my onion rings were a little overcooked. Impressed that they serve Heady Topper. But I would only come back for takeout. If I wanted to go out for a beer and a burger I'd pick another place with a more enjoyable customer experience.
(3)Erin R.
Great burgers and friendly staff! We stumbled upon this place on their last open day of the season. We were a bit worried when they named the long list of things they were out of, but decided to try it out anyway. I got the Rodeo burger and my boyfriend got the Patty Melt. They were both equally delicious! We also split an order of onion rings and they were great too. This place is definitely the go to for a burger in Stowe!
(5)Clarence W.
Fantastic Burgers. They seemed to be conscious of the less than great reviews and appeared to me to be stepping up and making it better.
(5)Alex H.
This place was great! I was able to get the rodeo burger with a turkey burger and it was really enjoyable. The cook even came out after to ask if I enjoyed it. We sat by the fire and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Food came out pretty quickly and was a huge burger and very filling! Prices are reasonable and I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ben R.
Love the atmosphere. Laid back young people making burgers. Unfortunately, the burger was undercooked, bulky, and lacking taste. Good place but if this is the best in Vermont, I am concerned.
(3)john n.
I love their burgers. Cooked properly with quality ingredients. 3 stars as their prices are getting up there. 3 burgers and 3 iced teas..... Close to $50 bucks?!! For that kind of dough I would have to think twice about going back.
(3)Laura B.
this place is a fantastic burger stop. cool burgers, local beer, and cozy chill atmosphere. I had the mac, their version of a Big Mac, which was phenomenal. definitely stop here for a post skiing bite.
(5)Brandon H.
A++. Good is phenomenal! Great burgers and dogs. My pulled pork sandwich was great! Service is top notch as well.
(5)J. N.
Fantastic burger, horrible experience. Stopped after a lovely bike ride feeling wonderful and relaxed. Ordered our 3 burgers and one grilled cheese, paid our $50 (not a typo) and sat down to wait. And wait. When I inquired as to the whereabouts of our three burgers, the 18 year old loudmouth behind the cash responded "if you've waited 20 minutes it'll be another 10 to 15. This isn't a fast food restaurant, MA'AM." Dear little girl who takes orders behind the counter: it's not fine dining, either. Little tip for you. Clearly this girl has no future in customer service even as an order taker. To the owner: clearly the amount of time it takes to Get food to customers is an issue based on reviews and the chatter we heard around us. I've made a burger from scratch; it does not take 40 minutes. Like I said, awesome burger, great hand-cut fries. But when paying $50 for burgers at a roadside stop, attitude is unacceptable and a deal-breaker. One and done.
(2)Jon S.
I'm not much of a burger guy. I eat about 5 a year on average. Make no mistake, I like them, but it's just not worth the caloric intake for what is usually either greasy or dried out meat with all the fixins. So it was that I was on vacation with my family and we were driving through Stowe in the middle of summer when we were looking for a place to stop and get lunch on Yelp. The ratings looked pretty good for the Blue Donkey, so we stopped there. Boy, I'm glad we did. This place is a glorified summer shack, with a small walkup counter in from of the kitchen and a large adjacent seating area/bar that opens up to a nice patio and picnic tables. The menu isn't huge - just a few basics burgers and a few specialty ones. Went with the Rodeo Burger - their take on the bacon BBQ burger with BBQ sauce, an onion ring, cheddar and onions, served on a toasted bun. I got the ranch sauce on the side. I thought it would make a mess, and I'm glad I held off on it. Simply put, this was one of the best burgers, if not THE best, I've ever had. The burger was cooked perfect. Just on the rare side of medium, evenly pink throughout. Juicy without being messy. Normally, a BBQ burger is a dripping mess, but this one held together unlike any other I've ever had. The bacon was crispy and thick enough not to shatter into a mess when biting it. The cheese was melted perfectly and the sauce was tangy without being cloyingly sweet. And the bun was awesome, just toasted enough and the perfect size for the sandwich. Got a side of fries that could have been slightly crisper, but were seasoned well and not greasy. Washed it all down with a Long Trail Belgian White. Service was friendly and somewhat quick. Long story short, if you're looking for a great burger, this is a place you show go to.
(5)John P.
Tasty burgers, but they are not the "specialty burgers" like the sign said. There are a total of three burgers on the menu, and one is just lettuce and tomatoes. The other two, Ranch burger and Southwest burger were good but the topings were nothing special. The Southwest had very little heat to it like I'd expect. Also I asked for my burger to be medium and I got no pink at all. If you are going to ask, get it right. Very good fries. The waitress had no personality and didn't know what beer she had on tap.
(3)Beth M.
Total rip off! They are under new management and now charge $12 for a simple burger and a picnic table. There are much better places in Stowe for a burger. Fries were just average bordering on soggy. There were no people when we went early on a Sunday afternoon and it took them 15 minutes to make 2 burgers. They also charge $8.50 for a kids meal.
(1)Libby H.
By far the best burger I've had in a long time. Don't understand all the bad rap about service. They couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. You should Definitely try this place if you want a great burger.
(5)Sumeet B.
Yummy burgers, very fresh (had the southwest burger)!
(4)Angie C.
Whether it's for a bite after hitting the mountain or a quick pick-up at the end of the day, Blue Donkey always seems to hit the spot. You order when you walk in, then, if you're eating in seat yourself and they'll bring food to you. Menu has a few customized burger offerings - I am fond of the rodeo burger, with its sauteed onions, onion rings, american and cheddar cheeses and bacon. Mmm. You can also customize any burger, can sub in a turkey patty or a chicken breast. The service isn't especially quick as everything is cooked to order, so I recommend calling ahead if you're gonna do takeout. I have found the service very friendly every time I'm in - admittedly I am a local and have at least face value recognition with most employees, but I'm honestly surprised to hear people had negative experiences.
(4)Laura W.
all around poor experience. service is terrible. burger gave both of us heartburn and it took forever to actually receive our food. will not be back.
(1)Diffy D.
Expensive. Very slow service. It took over an hour after ordering to get our food. The burgers, fries, and sweet potato fries were good, but not great. The grilled cheese sandwich was sub-par. Much better burgers are available in Vermont; for example, Five Guys.
(1)X X.
The Blue Donkey is a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint that really packs a punch! Best burgers I have ever had, hands down. Better than I make at home, better than Mom's and she agrees :) Staff is great, ambiance is great, and food is delicious. If you are in Central Vermont, make a trip to Stowe and treat yourself to a great meal!
(5)Scott B.
Outstanding burgers. Great vibe. A little pricey. Wish they'd do something about the flies
(4)Ken C.
This place is awesome!!! Stowe needs more FUN places like this. Amazing burgers, big local beers (get the Alchemist's Headytopper) and a place to stare and enjoy the good weather. Vacations were made for places like this (though I'm a local).
(5)Britney G.
Food was fine, but the experience was absolutely awful. After placing our food, we waited outside. Was about 30 minutes before we realized how long we've been waiting. Went in to check on status and were told that it would be at least another 15 minutes. We didn't get out food until 50 minutes after placing it- which I'm sorry, is ridiculous for our order: southwest burger, grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken wrap, and clam strips. the chicken sand came out as a wrap(incorrect) and the burger was medium well instead of medium. took about 10 minutes to scarf down and won't be coming back willingly.
(2)C. C.
Cute little place with great food... a little pricey though.
(4)E B.
Whatever you do, don't complain to whoever's running The Blue Donkey - about anything. They have a menu item called the "WOP-ER" - it's an Italian-style hamburger. Anyone with even a smidgen of social sensitivity realizes that the word "WOP" is an ethnic slur. To Italians, it's the equivalent of the "n word." So I asked (on Facebook) what the deal was with their use of the word on the menu (the menu is absent of slurs to other ethnicities, thankfully), and I was met with zero respect or understanding and a slew of sarcasm and insults from various Blue Donkey employees. They justify the ethnic slur by saying that their Italian employees think it's funny, and so should we. Tell that to my grandparents who were discriminated against from the moment they arrived in America. Sure, that discrimination is over, but it doesn't mean we should joke about it and be completely insensitive to hardship and bigotry. The word WOP is still used as a rotten insult. My family and friends who commented were also met with angry insults. The Blue Donkey employees and the establishment itself have shown their character (or lack thereof) in more ways than one. It was a terrible and disappointing customer service experience.
(1)Frederick G.
Best burger joint in stowe, can't go wrong.
(5)Peter A.
Best burgers in town hands down! Whenever I'm in Stowe I make sure to stop in and grab a bacon burger with a side of curly fries. The food is always great and fair priced. The staff is super friendly and helpful, right on mountain Rd a perfect stop if your heading in or out of town. With their wide selection of burgers or sides everyone will find something for them.
(5)Joe S.
I know this place has gotten good reviews re" its hamburgers, but our visit was disappointing. First, the condiments, including mayonnaise are kept out all day. The Mayo had a watery consistency. When we complained the staff seemed a little dumbfounded and gave us another cup of Mayo- also unrefridgerated and watery. I had a Bar B Q sandwich. The Bar B Q was good but was served on what looked llike white bread toast and I couldn't pick it up due to the bread being wet from the BBQ sauce. There is no table service, ad for $15 a hamburger or sandwich I would like a bit more service. The ambiance is strange- the dining area looks like it was a garage as there were 1 or 2 garage doors. I believe the floor was a finished cement and the room was damp and on the cold side- it was winter. Staff was not very attached to the business this visit.
(1)Sherill D.
This was the worse restaurant experience ever! We waited for almost a half an hour and then someone came out and told us they were out of what we ordered. The tables were filthy, the staff was not friendly at all. Most of all, the food was disgusting. The fries were cold and burnt, the burger had nothing on it -not a scrap of lettuce or a tomato. I made the mistake of ordering the hummus wrap (ok- I know, don't order hummus at a burger joint- but still, it shouldn't be disgusting. Old tomatoes and cucumbers). The icing on the cake was when a woman walked in and stole the leftovers off the table my kids were sitting at next to us -plastic baskets and all. Too weird!! Honestly, there isn't a low enough rating for this place!!
(1)Marius V.
Owner of the restaurant parked his Mazda Miata on the only available handicap spot (vehicle did not display a handicap tag) and I had to struggle with my cane up and down a gravel incline from the lower parking area to and from the restaurant. Ordered the "famous" Blue Donkey Burger - had better burgers before, it was really not that remarkable. To see the owner and his spouse nonchalantly walk over to their vehicle ruined the experience for me.
(1)Frederick G.
Best burger joint in stowe, can't go wrong.
(5)Peter A.
Best burgers in town hands down! Whenever I'm in Stowe I make sure to stop in and grab a bacon burger with a side of curly fries. The food is always great and fair priced. The staff is super friendly and helpful, right on mountain Rd a perfect stop if your heading in or out of town. With their wide selection of burgers or sides everyone will find something for them.
(5)Bob B.
This was my first visit to the Blue Donkey and I would definitely go back. The Carolina Burger, with its sweet BBQ sauce, tender pulled pork and crunchy slaw, was very good. While not quite cooked to the requested medium rare, it was not far off. The fresh cut fries were very good and to "top" the meal off with a Heady Topper was a nice treat for RI'lander who has never really seen it available. The rest of my family enjoyed there choices as well except for my wife and daughter who felt their meals (Patty Melt and a Bacon Burger) were just ok. The one larger complaint were the flies in the open air dining area. They were annoying as heck and far too numerous to just pass off as part of the charm when eating somewhat outside. All in all, I really enjoyed it!
(4)Ann C.
This was our first visit and the setting and the delicious smells from the grill enticed us to stop for lunch on Friday 9-11-2015. Counter help was friendly and there are really interesting burger combinations. We ordered a Carolina BBQ burger and a bacon bleu cheese burger, one with their hand cut fries and the other with onion rings. The smoked BBQ pork on top of my burger was absolutely delicious, however the actual burger had almost no taste at all. My husband's burger was cooked perfectly, medium rare. The cheese that came on it tasted like the bleu cheese was missing and it was actually a sauce and not the cheese he was expecting. The sauce was just too much and too messy. His burger was pretty much tasteless as well when we tasted that without the sauce and bacon. The fries were scrumptious but there were way too many really little pieces that had been overcooked. The onion rings were just so-so despite looking like they would be delicious. The outdoor seating was great and it is a fun setting. Perhaps we hit it on an off day because the other reviews sound much better than our experience here.
(2)Lynsey H.
Heady topper beer slam dunk 5/5 Food 3/5 We came here purely to try to obtain the seemingly impossible - Heady Topper beer from Alchemist Brewery after visiting several places in the area and being unsuccessful. My husband was overjoyed! And impressed that he also got a free sticker! We ordered a brisket sandwich with fries. The food was average and we left a lot of it, the meat was quite fatty and dry but the sauce helped. The outdoor area was nice, with a play area for children. Lots of parking spaces are available as well.
(4)Yelpie G.
Nutty insane crazy good burgers. And I mean that. Do not pass up the chance to dine here. Chill vibe and did I tell you the burgers are good? Follow the crowds because they aren't wrong.
(5)Kirk F.
Very good smoked meats and burgers. The burgers are really worth 4 stars but the great atmosphere, the alternative music and parking along with the smoked meats and BBQ sauces raise it to five stars! Compared to Burger Barn, the tables at the Blue Donkey are much cleaner, and the seating and parking are better as well! However, we still like the burgers from Burger Barn better than those at Blue Donkey. We had the southwest, the wop-er, pulled pork and smoked brisket along with sweet potato fries and regular fries. Yummy! Also, Hard Cider in draft! Definitely worth a stop!
(5)Heng T.
Blue Donkey is a restaurant that specializes in burgers. When you walk into the establishment, you pay first at the counter and place your order. Then you can go sit wherever you like in the restaurant. They have a couple tvs inside so you can watch some sort of sporting event while you eat. I decided to order the Rodeo Burger which was a burger with swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, and ranch. I opted out for the ranch sauce though. All the burgers come with regular fries but they do have sweet potato fries as well for an additional charge. They are priced at a little over $10 so a little expensive for a burger and fries. After I ordered, I went to go sit near a tv to watch a NCAA conference championship final game. My food came out pretty quick within 10 minutes of me ordering it. The burger tasted decent but nothing out of the ordinary. The cheddar cheese seemed like it was a cheap cheese square that you can get at the store. The rest of the burger seemed fine. The fries were good and freshly cut with just enough salt. Overall, the food was average with the price being a little high for the quality of the food.
(3)Cathy W.
The Blue Donkey was an oasis of smoked meats after descending the muddy Long Trail from Mansfield's peak. My Reuben-like smoked turkey sandwich was generous and served hot off the grill. The accompanying sweet potato fries were a bit mushy and uniformly shaped - they didn't seem "homemade." My daughter enjoyed a Heddy Topper with her burger, which was smothered in mushrooms and other delicious toppings. The bill for two of us, including two sandwiches and fries, an ice tea, and the Heddy was $38, not a cheap eat. I think the fries were $5. The vibe is really casual, the Blue Donkey is a good place for muddy hikers to sit without condemnation. We'd had our fill of the heat so we sat in the dark and cool interior. It would be enjoyable to sit outside under one of the umbrellas with a cold drink and bbq on a different day. The guy who took orders was not fast, unlike the hustlers working in the kitchen and delivering meals. Maybe he was in training, but it seemed more like a personality idiosyncrasy. With eight people in line, I was surprised he wasn't trying to move people along more efficiently. After we'd ordered our food was delivered in about ten minutes.
(3)Emily B.
Charred--and I mean blackened--buns, overcooked burgers, blah fries and $$$. The sweet potato fries were good though.
(1)Amber W.
Fat kids paradise!! Great messy burger... I did the rodeo without the sauces... yum! Awesome handcut fries with legit salt chunks. Lots of flies but delicious none the less!
(4)Jules N.
A casual atmosphere, and that delicious taunting smell if you were playing mini golf next door. The food is pretty awesome, good portion sizes, very tasty. Just remember to put your order in at the counter inside, or you'll be sitting and waiting and looking confused for a while.
(4)E B.
Whatever you do, don't complain to whoever's running The Blue Donkey - about anything. They have a menu item called the "WOP-ER" - it's an Italian-style hamburger. Anyone with even a smidgen of social sensitivity realizes that the word "WOP" is an ethnic slur. To Italians, it's the equivalent of the "n word." So I asked (on Facebook) what the deal was with their use of the word on the menu (the menu is absent of slurs to other ethnicities, thankfully), and I was met with zero respect or understanding and a slew of sarcasm and insults from various Blue Donkey employees. They justify the ethnic slur by saying that their Italian employees think it's funny, and so should we. Tell that to my grandparents who were discriminated against from the moment they arrived in America. Sure, that discrimination is over, but it doesn't mean we should joke about it and be completely insensitive to hardship and bigotry. The word WOP is still used as a rotten insult. My family and friends who commented were also met with angry insults. The Blue Donkey employees and the establishment itself have shown their character (or lack thereof) in more ways than one. It was a terrible and disappointing customer service experience.
(1)Steven G.
Ordered the brisket. What a mistake. More than 60% of each slice was just fat. Meat had no flavor .Taste more like pot roast. Bad pot roast. When I complain to the manager he told me that's how brisket is. I told him he was wrong. They did however offer me something else.
(1)Joe S.
I know this place has gotten good reviews re" its hamburgers, but our visit was disappointing. First, the condiments, including mayonnaise are kept out all day. The Mayo had a watery consistency. When we complained the staff seemed a little dumbfounded and gave us another cup of Mayo- also unrefridgerated and watery. I had a Bar B Q sandwich. The Bar B Q was good but was served on what looked llike white bread toast and I couldn't pick it up due to the bread being wet from the BBQ sauce. There is no table service, ad for $15 a hamburger or sandwich I would like a bit more service. The ambiance is strange- the dining area looks like it was a garage as there were 1 or 2 garage doors. I believe the floor was a finished cement and the room was damp and on the cold side- it was winter. Staff was not very attached to the business this visit.
(1)Sherill D.
This was the worse restaurant experience ever! We waited for almost a half an hour and then someone came out and told us they were out of what we ordered. The tables were filthy, the staff was not friendly at all. Most of all, the food was disgusting. The fries were cold and burnt, the burger had nothing on it -not a scrap of lettuce or a tomato. I made the mistake of ordering the hummus wrap (ok- I know, don't order hummus at a burger joint- but still, it shouldn't be disgusting. Old tomatoes and cucumbers). The icing on the cake was when a woman walked in and stole the leftovers off the table my kids were sitting at next to us -plastic baskets and all. Too weird!! Honestly, there isn't a low enough rating for this place!!
(1)Krystle H.
I like that you pay first and the atmosphere was nice. Love the Mac and cheese and the Rodeo burger was very tasty. Good service too, very friendly. Definitely will stop by the next time I am in Vermont! (From NYC)
(5)Tess G.
I was hoping that this place would serve burgers like it was the best thing ever but I was wrong. Their burgers aren't bad at all but I've tasted better ones. However I do give them four stars because their customer service is superb. They certainly know how to multitask and handle customer problems very well.
(4)Brenda D.
Visited during a rain storm. The place lost power and the chef still made a perfect burger!
(4)Christina G.
We waited a long time for food (an hour) only to find out it was not rung in. After approaching the overwhelmed register attendant they put the order through and gave us our lunch for free after some prodding. The food is good, but dare I say the inmates are running the asylum...
(3)Kim S.
Excellent service, food and great got kids! I had the chicken quesadilla wrap, it was delicious! Curly fries were good as were Delish too! All employees were very gracious!!!
(5)Vanessa A.
Fast and friendly service. Location: close to Stowe Ski Resort. We enjoyed the 4 oz. mini burger and sweet potato fries. Recommended!
(5)Jerry W.
My wife and I stopped here after climbing Mansfield. Ordered regular cheeseburgers (with VT cheddar, of course!). Received juicy, flavorful burgers on toasted, pillowy brioche buns with crispy fries. Quite satisfied with our meal!
(4)Joan M.
Burgers aren't bad but the wait is beyond ridiculous. You order at the register and then sit yourself down. Tables were dirty and we waited 60 minutes for 2 hamburgers. They aren't that great for waiting that long but you pay first so you have no choice but to wait. Would recommend finding another spot unless you have tons of time to kill.
(1)Michael C.
Not impressed. The burger was pretty good (rodeo burger), but the service was lacking. Wrong food delivered to the table. Girl taking my beer order at the "beach bar" walked away after taking it to deliver food (2 orders!) only to come back and ask if I was being helped. Also, toppings on my wife's burger were scarce, a few mushrooms and a couple of grilled onions. I find it hard to believe it's the bset burger in Stowe as they advertise. If so I can't imagine the others! Will probably skip on our next trip to the area.
(2)Mack D.
My kids and wife really enjoyed their burgers, so I made a trip there. My burger was good, but a bit soggy and fries were average. Prep time was a reasonable 10 minutes with very light traffic. I'm going to need to visit again since my impression was so different from what my family experienced.
(3)Vlad C.
Small menu. Awesome. Doesn't make my life harder than it already is! Just finished hiking Mt Mansfield and needed some food. Normally stay away from burger joints because I cook a real mean burger. However decided to try this place out and I am glad I did. Price was fair for a scrumptious burger. It was cooked to my liking and was juicy mouth watering goodness. If I am in the area again I would definitely come back to this place if I was looking for a burger again. Fries were yummy as well(though separate). Yum.
(4)Dave B.
The burger was really good, but I'm not a fan of the customer experience. I don't really see why "laid back" can't include table service. We arrived near closing (8:00pm) and were told the dining room was closed so we couldn't sit at a table, but we could sit at the bar. I'm not sure what the point of that is because it's the same room anyway, and no matter where we sit we still have to order at the counter anyway. And then five minutes after we sat at the bar a group arrived and all got tables. So I guess the dining room was open for them, but not for us. And I really would have liked a PLATE, not some tiny little basket. I still thought it was a fantastic burger, although my onion rings were a little overcooked. Impressed that they serve Heady Topper. But I would only come back for takeout. If I wanted to go out for a beer and a burger I'd pick another place with a more enjoyable customer experience.
(3)Erin R.
Great burgers and friendly staff! We stumbled upon this place on their last open day of the season. We were a bit worried when they named the long list of things they were out of, but decided to try it out anyway. I got the Rodeo burger and my boyfriend got the Patty Melt. They were both equally delicious! We also split an order of onion rings and they were great too. This place is definitely the go to for a burger in Stowe!
(5)Clarence W.
Fantastic Burgers. They seemed to be conscious of the less than great reviews and appeared to me to be stepping up and making it better.
(5)Alex H.
This place was great! I was able to get the rodeo burger with a turkey burger and it was really enjoyable. The cook even came out after to ask if I enjoyed it. We sat by the fire and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Food came out pretty quickly and was a huge burger and very filling! Prices are reasonable and I would recommend this restaurant.
(4)Ben R.
Love the atmosphere. Laid back young people making burgers. Unfortunately, the burger was undercooked, bulky, and lacking taste. Good place but if this is the best in Vermont, I am concerned.
(3)john n.
I love their burgers. Cooked properly with quality ingredients. 3 stars as their prices are getting up there. 3 burgers and 3 iced teas..... Close to $50 bucks?!! For that kind of dough I would have to think twice about going back.
(3)Laura B.
this place is a fantastic burger stop. cool burgers, local beer, and cozy chill atmosphere. I had the mac, their version of a Big Mac, which was phenomenal. definitely stop here for a post skiing bite.
(5)Brandon H.
A++. Good is phenomenal! Great burgers and dogs. My pulled pork sandwich was great! Service is top notch as well.
(5)J. N.
Fantastic burger, horrible experience. Stopped after a lovely bike ride feeling wonderful and relaxed. Ordered our 3 burgers and one grilled cheese, paid our $50 (not a typo) and sat down to wait. And wait. When I inquired as to the whereabouts of our three burgers, the 18 year old loudmouth behind the cash responded "if you've waited 20 minutes it'll be another 10 to 15. This isn't a fast food restaurant, MA'AM." Dear little girl who takes orders behind the counter: it's not fine dining, either. Little tip for you. Clearly this girl has no future in customer service even as an order taker. To the owner: clearly the amount of time it takes to Get food to customers is an issue based on reviews and the chatter we heard around us. I've made a burger from scratch; it does not take 40 minutes. Like I said, awesome burger, great hand-cut fries. But when paying $50 for burgers at a roadside stop, attitude is unacceptable and a deal-breaker. One and done.
(2)Jon S.
I'm not much of a burger guy. I eat about 5 a year on average. Make no mistake, I like them, but it's just not worth the caloric intake for what is usually either greasy or dried out meat with all the fixins. So it was that I was on vacation with my family and we were driving through Stowe in the middle of summer when we were looking for a place to stop and get lunch on Yelp. The ratings looked pretty good for the Blue Donkey, so we stopped there. Boy, I'm glad we did. This place is a glorified summer shack, with a small walkup counter in from of the kitchen and a large adjacent seating area/bar that opens up to a nice patio and picnic tables. The menu isn't huge - just a few basics burgers and a few specialty ones. Went with the Rodeo Burger - their take on the bacon BBQ burger with BBQ sauce, an onion ring, cheddar and onions, served on a toasted bun. I got the ranch sauce on the side. I thought it would make a mess, and I'm glad I held off on it. Simply put, this was one of the best burgers, if not THE best, I've ever had. The burger was cooked perfect. Just on the rare side of medium, evenly pink throughout. Juicy without being messy. Normally, a BBQ burger is a dripping mess, but this one held together unlike any other I've ever had. The bacon was crispy and thick enough not to shatter into a mess when biting it. The cheese was melted perfectly and the sauce was tangy without being cloyingly sweet. And the bun was awesome, just toasted enough and the perfect size for the sandwich. Got a side of fries that could have been slightly crisper, but were seasoned well and not greasy. Washed it all down with a Long Trail Belgian White. Service was friendly and somewhat quick. Long story short, if you're looking for a great burger, this is a place you show go to.
(5)John P.
Tasty burgers, but they are not the "specialty burgers" like the sign said. There are a total of three burgers on the menu, and one is just lettuce and tomatoes. The other two, Ranch burger and Southwest burger were good but the topings were nothing special. The Southwest had very little heat to it like I'd expect. Also I asked for my burger to be medium and I got no pink at all. If you are going to ask, get it right. Very good fries. The waitress had no personality and didn't know what beer she had on tap.
(3)Beth M.
Total rip off! They are under new management and now charge $12 for a simple burger and a picnic table. There are much better places in Stowe for a burger. Fries were just average bordering on soggy. There were no people when we went early on a Sunday afternoon and it took them 15 minutes to make 2 burgers. They also charge $8.50 for a kids meal.
(1)Libby H.
By far the best burger I've had in a long time. Don't understand all the bad rap about service. They couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. You should Definitely try this place if you want a great burger.
(5)Sumeet B.
Yummy burgers, very fresh (had the southwest burger)!
(4)Angie C.
Whether it's for a bite after hitting the mountain or a quick pick-up at the end of the day, Blue Donkey always seems to hit the spot. You order when you walk in, then, if you're eating in seat yourself and they'll bring food to you. Menu has a few customized burger offerings - I am fond of the rodeo burger, with its sauteed onions, onion rings, american and cheddar cheeses and bacon. Mmm. You can also customize any burger, can sub in a turkey patty or a chicken breast. The service isn't especially quick as everything is cooked to order, so I recommend calling ahead if you're gonna do takeout. I have found the service very friendly every time I'm in - admittedly I am a local and have at least face value recognition with most employees, but I'm honestly surprised to hear people had negative experiences.
(4)Laura W.
all around poor experience. service is terrible. burger gave both of us heartburn and it took forever to actually receive our food. will not be back.
(1)Diffy D.
Expensive. Very slow service. It took over an hour after ordering to get our food. The burgers, fries, and sweet potato fries were good, but not great. The grilled cheese sandwich was sub-par. Much better burgers are available in Vermont; for example, Five Guys.
(1)X X.
The Blue Donkey is a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint that really packs a punch! Best burgers I have ever had, hands down. Better than I make at home, better than Mom's and she agrees :) Staff is great, ambiance is great, and food is delicious. If you are in Central Vermont, make a trip to Stowe and treat yourself to a great meal!
(5)Scott B.
Outstanding burgers. Great vibe. A little pricey. Wish they'd do something about the flies
(4)Ken C.
This place is awesome!!! Stowe needs more FUN places like this. Amazing burgers, big local beers (get the Alchemist's Headytopper) and a place to stare and enjoy the good weather. Vacations were made for places like this (though I'm a local).
(5)Britney G.
Food was fine, but the experience was absolutely awful. After placing our food, we waited outside. Was about 30 minutes before we realized how long we've been waiting. Went in to check on status and were told that it would be at least another 15 minutes. We didn't get out food until 50 minutes after placing it- which I'm sorry, is ridiculous for our order: southwest burger, grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken wrap, and clam strips. the chicken sand came out as a wrap(incorrect) and the burger was medium well instead of medium. took about 10 minutes to scarf down and won't be coming back willingly.
(2)