The Bench
492 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT, 05672
The Bench Menu
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Address :
492 Mountain Rd
Stowe, VT, 05672 - Phone (802) 253-5100
- Website https://www.benchvt.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Ben H.
If there's a better restaurant in Stowe, I haven't found it. We liked it so much, we went back for dinner the second night. Over those two days, I got the half duck meal and salmon tacos. Both were fantastic. (Duck came in a skillet, as it was in the wood fired oven.) My girlfriend got a burger and a pizza. Both were outstanding. The beer list features the big Vermont breweries along with other top brews (goose island bourbon brand stout, maine lunch and mo) and they get focal banger along with their heady topper shipments. Great place to eat and drink.
(5)Joanna D.
Thoroughly impressed with Bench. I'm sure much of it was due to our ninja server, Jessie. Anything we needed, asked, or even thought about - she was on it. The mussels were delicious - not too much heat. The fries were average, but the hanger steak that was on special was legitimately the best hanger steak ever. Juicy, tender, flavorful - I had no idea it could be so good. We also had the kale Caesar with scallops. Was a huge portion - needed to take half of it home. Definitely definitely will come back to Bench.
(5)Erin S.
I hope to go back next year and write a better review to give this place the 5 stars that I think it can be. We were there 3 weeks ago as a party of 2. We were pleased to be accommodated at the "brick oven bar" without too much of a wait. Our waitress was pleasant and we decided on a couple appetizers and entrees. We knew something was wrong when we saw a plate of poutine sitting under a heating lamp, and we had a feeling it was ours. Then we saw them walking back and forth looking at tickets. Finally the people next to us got their entrees before we got our appetizers....40 minutes later. We knew what happened, and about 5 minutes later so did the staff. However, they brought us our entrees and we explained we never got the appetizers. My husband still wanted his, but I didn't at that point. You would think we were angry, right? No, because here is where they at least saved themselves for the night. The food was actually delicious. My husband raved over his duck entree and scallop appetizer. My ravioli was absolutely superb. The manager, waitress, and head chef all came over and apologized. They didn't charge us for the apps, and we even stayed for an after dinner drink. The Bench is proof that even if there is a bad service moment, its how you redeem yourself. We WILL go back to The Bench when we return to the area, and I again hope to give them a much higher rating :)
(3)Jeff D.
I was lucky enough to stay less than a mile down the road from the Bench on my visit to Vermont. It was here that I tried my first Heady Topper of the trip as well as some other great Vermont beers on tap. The bartenders are attentive, knowledgeable about the beer, the food is fresh, and place is clean. I ended up coming here a total of three times which says a lot because I stayed in Vermont for four nights. I was lucky enough to learn some great info about the Alchemist while I was here including the fact that their new brewery is going to be right down the street! I was able to try some great beers by Zero Gravity, Foley Brothers, Finback, and Frost Beer Works. On my 3rd night here, the manager even gave me a couple of free samples. My only minor complaints are that the bar is small and the food was pretty average for the prices but still good nonetheless. For a tiny bar in Stowe, you can't beat the beer selection and who knows? You might just get lucky and find some Heady Topper and Sip of Sunshine if you come at the right time.
(4)Dawn A.
We decided to try this place when someone we were chatting with at our hotel suggested it. We are so glad we tried this place. The food was excellent. We loved the Poutine. I had the burger with a side of kale Caesar salad. My boyfriend got the half duck- very large portion and very tasty. My boyfriend was excited to try the Heady Topper beer, which is impossible to get at the liquor stores without stalking the delivery truck. We loved everything we ate here and look forward to trying other things in the future.
(4)Kimberly M.
Probably the best restaurant we went to on our honeymoon. Best pizza and burger I've ever had. Just go here...you will leave full and very happy!!
(5)Ces A.
Came in again tonight during our vacation here in Stowe and it did not disappoint. Tonight I had their Meatloaf. It was definately not your average meatloaf and the potatoes that came along with it were delicious. It is a very hearty portion, so bring your appetite. For dessert I order their HUGE chocolate chip cookie with homemade whip cream. It was so big I had to take most of it home. The restuarant decor is rustic yet very modern with a beautiful pizza oven as the center of attention in theain dining room. The bar is off to the side with its own seating area and really cool wall of 27 regional beers. If you are ever in town please stop by and enjoy great food, drinks and company.
(4)Julie Z.
This place is awesome-4.5 stars! After a very long drive from Philadelphia my friends and I were in desperate need of a good meal and a tall cold beer. Our server was excellent, she was the perfect amount of attentive without being overbearing. The tap list is pretty good, not the most extensive I've seen, but I was pleasantly surprised for small town Vermont. Bench serves up a lot of local brews and there is plenty of variety to choose from. We ordered an appetizer of poutine, so tasty. Most of us ordered burgers, which definitely hit the spot. All in all a wonderful meal, good beer, and great service. If I find myself back in Vermont I would definitely return.
(4)Sandy C.
Walking in, you could tell this place was new. We could still smell the fresh paint in the bathrooms. We hard a large party at prime dinner time and was told the wait was 35-45 mins, however we waited about an hour. The host and hostess were pleasantly calm and nice and we got free dessert. It was definitely worth the wait. The appetizers that were wood oven fired; scallops and prosciutto asparagus were delicious! Our table mostly got duck, duck, duck, goose. The duck was awesome! We all enjoyed it and it was simply devine! We got so much duck, a huge breast and a large leg, it was about half a duck! The steak was also a large perfectly cooked portion. They seem to serve everything on cast iron skillets. The waitresses are getting a work out delivering and removing all the platters from our table. Then onto the desert, the most amazing part. They had a trifle special made of brownie, chocolate mousse, peanut butter mousse, and then another layer of brownie. The panna cotta's were also large and perfectly jiggly. If I'm ever back in Stowe, I'd come back again. It's a casual place to go, loved the lighting decor, and the service was friendly and accommodating.
(4)Kathleen M.
Honestly, this could be the BEST place to grab some grub while hiking/biking/drinking your way through the Stowe/ Waterbury area. They are relatively new to the area and bring some much needed fresh air. The beers on tap are local (Hill Farmstead, Lost Nation, Shed, Zero Gravity, etc) as well as most of the food on the menu. You even find some Quebecois influence in the Poutine app! I am very impressed by the price point of this place for how dedicated they are to using local ingredients. All entrees are under $20, including the WILD salmon and local duck. They have a wood fire oven to bake their pizzas which are great for sharing. For a lighter lunch or dinner option, most sandwiches and burgers are under $12. I recommend the BBQ pulled pork sandwich or the Misty Knoll turkey burger with a Lost Nation gose to cool off from a hike up Mansfield.
(5)Sara J.
4.5/5 stars. We dined here twice during our stay in Morrisville. 1. Rezitarian burger ($9.99) burger made out of Tofu, Cannellini Beans, Portabella, Basmati Rice, Panko and topped with Leaf Lettuce, Onion, and a Cilantro Lime Mayo. I added Cheddar cheese. Came with tons of crispy delicious fries! The burger wasn't as dense as a regular burger or a morning star/ boca burger.... But still held up very well as I ate it. 4/5. 2. Salmon burger ($12.99) topper with Citrus Dill Aioli, lettuce, and Onion. I substituted the fries with Mac and cheese, so glad I did. The burger 4.5/5. The Mac and cheese 4.5/5. 5/5 if it was baked so that the top is crispy and crunchy. 3. Ice tea: nothing special... 2/5. 4. Root beer: 4.8/5. The best I have ever had so far. Refills are not free. 5. Coffee. 3/5. Not hot at all. Warm I can't wait to come back for that salmon burger and Mac and cheese!
(4)Lisa L.
Just go. Best food on the mountain road. The kale Caesar with shaved parm is delish- this dish illustrates the attention to detail the kitchen gives its food- chopped perfectly, completely stemmed, and massaged to soften the texture (expertly done). So good we went twice in one week. First time had a pizza with sausage, caramelized onions and mozz, which was fantastic. Next time tried the fish tacos- perfect. My son had chicken tenders and they actually looked freshly prepared from real chicken breast- not the gross frozen ones you find everywhere. Added bonus: the cocktails were strong and the servers were really relaxed and friendly.
(5)Bob B.
I went there for dinner with my wife and son. The menu has a nice variety of items ranging from sandwiches and pizzas to salads and more traditional dinners. I went very basic with strip steak which was perfectly cooked to a glorious medium rare...far from basic when coupled with the mushroom butter on top. They both had the fried chicken dinner. The chicken was crunchy with a generous serving of dark meat. All of our meals were served with yukon mashed potatoes and mixed veggies. I particularly liked the the later which had sautéed kale, summer squash and zucchini. Very fresh and went well with the rich meals. There are plenty of other tempting items on the menu so we will have to save the pizza and poutine for another day. And if you are a beer junkie, the 28 taps will certainly impress.
(4)Louis U.
Simply high quality wood fired pizza and craft burgers. Amazing beer selection. Very fair pricing. I left feeling like we received high value for our spend.
(4)Amy W.
One of my favorite new restaurants in Stowe. Anything I've ever ordered has been great! The service is good and the bar is nice. Their menu is constantly offering something new and I love that they have lots of choices for a pescetarian like myself.
(5)Greg H.
For Stowe, this is among the very best ( Phoenix being the other ). A hit from day one. Now taking reservations which makes it more user friendly than the days one would have to stand in line to get in. A bit noisy but very, very good. I even tried the roast chicken on one occasion which is not something I would normally order on a night out---best I have ever had.
(5)Jason H.
We came here on a Sunday night after a day at Stowe and were very happy. The staff were nice and attentive, and the decor was rustic-chic (really!). Here's what we had for food: Mussels Fra Diavolo - Excellent! Really really good, especially with the great cheese garlic bread. Dip it in the sauce, do whatever, just get two of these and chow down. Great fresh mussels and great sauce. Poutine - Pretty good, the gravy was nice - not too salty. Wood Oven Duck - pretty tender, could use a little more salt. The veggies were good too. My friends had burgers and the salmon tacos - everything looked pretty great, came with a lot of sides (fries and corn salsa, respectively), and everyone seemed to really enjoy their food. Will come back here again when I return to Stowe.
(4)Minty M.
Well-seasoned and perfectly prepared farm to table dishes. Nothing ground breaking in terms of combinations, but they do the basics very well. Our only complaint is that the lights are very bright, making the atmosphere feel a little like a chain restaurant.
(3)John M.
Excellent restaurant. Good food and service. Creative menu with basics done very well.
(4)Mike R.
We were a party of seven, 3 of which rambunctious youngsters, looking for a decent dinner after a long day of sightseeing. Though we were initially told that our wait would be about 30 minutes, we were seated within 15...which is awesome. The Bench is located where Pie In The Sky used to be in Stowe (the doors still say "No Ski Boots"). It has a very clean feel, with a modern woodsy interior and bright, purposeful lighting. The place was packed at 7pm on a Tuesday in August, which may be a fairly good indication of quality for a ski resort town. Our server (I believe her name was Jess. I hope her name was Jess) was very friendly and patient, which might be difficult with such a large party, let alone a wide age range. She juggled indecision, crayons, and kids' cheeseburgers with grace, and an easy smile. Above all, she kept the waters filled and checked in regularly. The menu was pretty impressive with lots of choices for everyone. Appetizers, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and entrees. The food was pretty good. No one was really thrilled with their dishes...The poutine was a terrific starter and spoiled at least a couple appetites. I chose the Chicken Banh Mi. I should know better than to order a Vietnamese dish outside of such a restaurant, but...in that moment, it sounded better than anything else. I just thought that Banh Mi was more than Cajun chicken with pickled carrots. The bread was hard, but the sauce saved the sandwich. My fiancee had the salmon burger, also rated "Okay". It is a huge patty with a little sauce, served on a local brioche bun. The bun was awesome (I ate the top), so I think she probably would have loved the burger if she ate it like a burger! She raved about the Kale Caesar side salad. It did look awesome. In other news, other diners ordered fish tacos, also rated as "Eh" (fish was dry, too heavy on the greens). There is a satisfying kids menu. For me, the main drawback of The Bench was the music. What is the purpose of loud classic rock/R&B in a packed restaurant? The Bench is not a sports bar. Having classic rock playing that loud (we were seated next to a speaker) brings my rating down to a 3. It's tacky. Not sure what you're in the mood for? Head to The Bench. It's affordable and satisfying while continuing the trend of supporting the local economy.
(3)Lila B.
Great location, lots of tables, good burgers, limited wine by the glass options, but the things in abundance were the.....flies! OMG. Really, OMG. Take a swatter if the hostesses suggest an outside table. If you are a manager or owner of the restaurant and reading this, please, dear sir/madam, make an intervention. There were about eight tables of us all swatting away...definitely left us all challenged and the kids were beside themselves. Did not and could not stay for dessert.
(1)Scott S.
Exactly what we were looking for! We came here on a recommendation from our airbnb hosts, who listed this in their top three for places to get dinner locally. We opted to sit outside on the deck, cozying up to the excellent hard cider they had on tap. Lots of happy people around us, and conversations in English and French (all the Quebec folks from up North!). After dithering over the menu, the server told us, "I get the 'bench burger', because it's amazing." She was right: a burger with pork belly and other fixings, with more fries than I could finish, apparently cooked in a wood-fired kitchen. Soooooo good. We'd spent the day hiking and swimming in a waterfall and were more or less starving, and this hit the spot. Would most definitely come back, and try more of their awesome menu!
(4)Martha D.
One of the noisiest restaurants I've ever been in. Maybe it was the Saturday night crowd, maybe the music? not sure. I am sure, however, that no where on this planet except The Bench, does anyone poor vinegar on pulled pork and call it BBQ. Call it whatever else you want but don't call it BBQ! And stop "blaming" it on North Carolina. They don't poor vinegar on pulled pork there either! Ugh.
(1)Heidilauren d.
We had the gorgeous hangar steak special, the spinach salad, two glasses of red and two manhattans. We had a great time. Lovely staff and beautiful warm atmosphere. And there's this one waitress with a jaunty step and long braid. Tip her big.
(5)Elizabeth P.
Not only does The Bench have one of the best beer lists I've ever seen, but it also has amazing food. Some good damn shit right there!
(5)Chuck R.
Awesome home made pasta wood fired grilled pizzas, truffle fries, craft beers, craft cocktails. What else could u possibly want?!,!
(4)Marilu F.
I actually really love this place. Everything I had was phenomenal. From the Mac and Cheese to the Mashed Potatoes to the Meatloaf and Pasta. Perfectly portioned and prepared. Good win for a Date night.
(4)Claudia R.
The edamame hummus was fabulous. Had the salmon special of the day. Was very tasty! Cool interior and awesome drink menu with a huge assortment of beers.
(4)Ted W.
This place had probably the best beer menu I've ever seen - including Heady Topper, Lunch, Fiddle head and more. The food matched - especially the wood fired pizzas, the Poutine and the Kale Caesar salad. This place has it all.
(5)Pat B.
Went here tonight for the first time. They bring water to the table without ice:-( The service was just ok. Our waiter never asked us if everything was ok. I had a pizza which was pretty tasty. My husband's burger was ok but his salad was WARM. We would not recommend this place. Just par.
(3)M F.
Excellent food for a very good price. Duck cooked twice, the breast left overnight in the duck fat. Delicious and perfectly cooked. Will be back as couldn't eat all the options. Seafood scallops were a delicious start on curry cauliflower sauce. Bench burger was superb and perfectly cooked as well.
(5)Deb S.
They offered a coupon on Localvore. We figured we would try it out for lunch. Lots of beers on tap, the staff was really nice and the food was good. I am really glad we tried someplace new.
(5)David S.
25th anniversary dinner. Lot's of pressure, right? Nah, just a Tuesday work night where we got a pass on haying to celebrate a bit. I usually avoid Stowe unless its off season and wanted to go to Positive Pie in Hardwick so we did not have go by the family slaving in the hay field. Fortunately looked at Yelp and found out they were closed so decided to head for The Bench, my wife sporting her new bling courtesy of Barry at Stowe Gems, with my sponsorship. We rolled into a parking lot full of mostly non-green tags on the kind of cars your insurance company would hate for you to accidentally graze. Fine by me, flatlanders have to eat too. Any hoo, we were seated out doors and greeted quickly and pleasantly by our server, who was quietly competent. Nice martini and nice pour of wine. Should be for $12/per, but I have learned to look at the total value proposition. We had very nice salads, and my bride (who has put up with me for 25 years, that is almost masochistic) had a ravioli entree and I had the wood fire roast duck. My blingster really enjoyed her dinner though it was too much food for a normal human being. My duck was excellent. Duck is a funny dish, it always sounds good, but it takes finesse to execute well. This duck was just perfectly done. So. we will certainly be back, and won't wait until our 50th. Oh, yeah, back to the value prop, all in with drinks $90 before tip. For the quality a bargain, and lots of less expensive options for those less seasoned (younger) folks. Service was excellent, friendly yet unobtrusive.
(5)Alisa H.
Amazing fries, salmon burger, kale ceasar salad and cocktails. Mac and cheese wasn't that great, but I have extremely high standards for that dish. Service was warm and friendly. Loved it and hope to return tomorrow.
(4)Claire M.
The beer was great and the service excellent. We enjoyed the salad which was very fresh and the sauce was excellent too. The only disappointment was the wood fired salmon which came in a frying pan and was obviously pan fried. It was rather oily, we were expecting a more wood fired taste and less grease. The vegetables were very good.
(3)Michael V.
This is a cool restaurant and pub... They have a cool wood fired Adobe style oven front and center on display when you enter... There are timber beams and planks everywhere making it rustic yet cozy... Should be awesome come winter. The bar is great... 28 taps plenty of heady topper on hand and lambics if you enjoy the fruitier beers. We didn't try the food since we stopped in for a beer after prior dinner reservations. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgable. And the music is always good. Definitely will be back.
(4)Jason G.
Great beer list, especially in IPA's. Nice food mix. Good looking place and nice people. Well done.
(5)Shevlin P.
Finally decent food - actually pretty darn good I must say. Best poutine I've ever had and a place that serves coca cola thank the heavens! We ordered a burger which was named after the spot and was good! The flatbread was so-so. Everyone looked impressed with their meals and service was good. The ambiance was phenomenal and lighting fixtures were beyond cool. Great selection and by far the best food I tasted In Vermont!!!
(4)Zoila T.
Went to the bench for a late lunch on a day off. My boyfriend and I used to frequent Pie in the Sky, which was a pizza joint where the bench is now located. Right off the bat Walking in I felt like I was taken to a completely different place. They keep the wood oven. Which makes sense specially because they also make amazing pizza. I had some local root beer that they serve on tap, the poutine and the bench burger. Quite amazing. My significant other grabbed a pepperoni pizza and I was lucky enough to take a few bites.. Love this place will keep going back.
(4)Nathalie H.
Exciting new addition to the Stowe restaurant bar scene. Beer snobs rejoice. 25 lines of beer! And no shortage of Heady Toppers in the can. Restaurant and bar have a great vibe. Food is excellent. Tried the wood oven asparagus and prosciutto as an app; great choice the bartender said, and it was. Salmon burger was perfect, meaty with not too much filling; french fries were fresh cut, served piping hot. Wood oven pizzas to be tried next. This may be our new favorite spot.
(5)Mrs. E.
Had a delicious meal here. Pizza was good and New York steak was too. They no longer had Rib Eye that we had come for. Ambiance was beautiful. Good selections of beers on tap. Bar area has tables but you are not allowed to sit there without informing the hostess first. Several parties kept being kicked out of the tables at the bar. The tall and thin server (Michelle?) was very very rude. Guess she is over people. There was absolutely nothing cordial about her. She stood at our table with her book and pen and we were supposed to be the first to speak I guess. No hello, no good bye, no thank you, plenty of dirty looks because she was pissed. Other than that the food was good, not great.
(3)Steve S.
Very nice atmosphere and great decor. Staff was friendly and made you feel welcome. Sat at the bar on a Wednesday night and had a drink while we waited a fast 20 minutes. My wife an I split the asparagus appetizer wrapped in prosciutto - outstanding! We also got a nice side salad. She got the meatloaf which was quite large and came with mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini. The mashed potatoes were just okay and the meatloaf was good as well. The zucchini was the best part of her dish. I had the fish as chips. The fish was cooked perfectly and light but not greasy. The fries were good as well bit nothing to write home about. Overall, a great place to visit while visiting Stowe!
(4)Mike D.
Went here over MLK Day weekend...sat at the countertop style seats which allowed my girlfriend and I a direct view of the woodfire stove, awesome stuff. The Mac and Cheese appetizer is delicious and the perfect size to snack on before dinner. I order the meatloaf, and she ordered the salmon - one the of the best pieces of fish she said she'd ever had. Awesome drink menu and very fair prices, staff was very courteous and outgoing...can't wait to go back
(5)Mariah R.
Checked this place out due to the reviews we had read on the site! They did not disappoint! Great beer and wine selection. We got poutine as an app and it was a very generous portion for a decent price and was absolutely delicious! My boyfriend and I split a pizza as our meal and it was perfect size for the two of us! Love the wood fired taste! Service was average - it was a busy night and our server was a bit overwhelmed but she was pleasant and tried her best to be attentive! My favorite part was the ambience of the restaurant - rustic and welcoming. Would definitely come back the next time we are in the area!
(5)Charline W.
Great dinner the fish was awesome. The beer hit the stop. Everyone should give it a try
(4)Charu R.
Went there twice. Beer selection is great. Ordered arugla prosciutto pizza..beef burger..salmon..and all of them were great. Tuna tacos unfortunately were served on cold tortilla which wasn't upto the expectations.
(5)Mark L.
I don't want to take anything away from Bench, but most of the reviews may give the visitor the idea of perfection followed by disappointment. Its good. Not great, not amazing not fantastic. Good.
(3)Justine D.
Great atmosphere, excellent service, great beer selection, I got to have Framboise Lambic! Asparagus & prosciutto was so tasty. We had the arugula & balsamic pizza - very tasty, loved the dough! We also had the pulled pork. The cold slaw was amazing, perfect zing to the bbq saucy. Some of the best french fries I've had. So glad we made an unexpected side trip to Stowe!
(5)VT A.
Great vibe and wonderful food. Perfect portions and really well priced. A fantastic new addition to the Stowe food scene.
(5)Nancy W.
Stay away if you have food allergies or questions about ingredients, the staff doesnt care. I have allergies and eat out all of the time at many types of establishments and The Bench was THE FIRST place to tell me that "they didn't feel comfortable serving me anything but a grilled chicken salad" What cop-out! If you felt comfortable serving me anything at all then you could have done better than a salad (p.s. a salad has a HIGH risk for cutting board cross contamination. Poor choice.). The management and or chef might have well as said I am too lazy to care about you or your parties' experience. Citing not trusting your outside suppliers is making excuses. If I worried about the hamburger buns or outsourced balsamic reduction then I would not have chosen to eat there. I have gotten better service from the kitchens at Mexican and Indian establishments where the food is known to be full of peppers (my allergen). Congratulations you have the worst ranking for accommodating my allergy.
(1)Silvia A.
Dined here after seeing all the good reviews and we were extremely disappointed. The place was packed with 1h+ wait and not a good spot to stand unless you go to the bar (which was packed too and not a good spots for people with kids). After the long wait we were finally seated and the service was slow as if the waiting staff could not handle the crowd. We got a lamb burger and a pizza. The lamb burger was overcooked and honestly I could not taste of it was lamb or not. The pizza was terrible, I am amazed a restaurant with a wood fire oven can actually serve such a mediocre pizza. It was thick, soggy, full of chunks of tomatoes with a sweet taste which I usually encounter in very cheap pizza sauces. The mozzarella on top was little and not good enough to overcome the abundant tomato sauce. The locale is nice and beer selection is good but it is not worth 1h wait (and not even a 10 minutes wait)
(1)David C.
Had a nice meal at Bench this weekend with friends, Service was friendly and relaxed. Beer selection was excellent with Heady Topper available. I had a nice New York Strip which came with , very good mashed potatoes and braised carrots. The strip was ordered medium and arrived medium rare, my only complaint. The asparagus appetizer was delicious but six bucks for 5 stalks on a plate was a little unrealistic. The edamame hummus appetizer was devoured by all in our party? Three folks in my party had wood fired pizzas, finding them palatable but nothing special. My wife really enjoyed the black bean burger. Entree prices were very reasonable.
(4)Kelly B.
Attempted to get to this restaurant during holiday week and obviously wanted to make a reservation. Could not even get a live person to talk to over the phone, left voicemail, and no one returned my call. I understand it's a busy holiday week, but very frustrating that I could not get a live person to talk to. We were telling some people about this while in the gondola last week, and they told us not to bother anymore. They had been there the previous night and waited over an hour for their food after ordering.
(1)Sean D.
Awesome food and beer selection especially Vermont craft brews! The homemade French fries are so good here!
(5)Denny F.
Made our way in around 3:30 so there was not wait or fuss, but the dinner menu is not avail until 5p. Asparagus app was very well done. Chicken Bahn Mi sandwich was good, fries amazing. What stood out the most was the few bites of Mac and Cheese--best I've had in forever!! Salads looked amazing as they worked the room.
(4)whitney s.
One of the best meals out that I've had in a long time! Started with the wood grilled asparagus and then progressed to the steak entrée. So great. The steak was perfectly done, and flavorful. And the Cabernet that I had with it was fantastic as well. My husband had the ravioli, subbed with a red sauce instead of the white (which they had no issue doing) and it was very good as well. So, great service, lovely ambience, and great food. Yay! So rarely does a restaurant manage all 3 of these. It is very appreciated when it happens
(5)Andrew O.
Loved this place. Great food, great service and even better beer.
(5)J J.
As locals, we were sad to see Pie in the Sky close and anxiously waited to see what would take its place. The Bench opened without much fanfare, but it sure became popular in a very short period of time. For those coming from out of town, you will find this IS NOT your old favorite Pie in the Sky. The Bench is casual, but a bit more upscale (we compared it to The Crop and The Pheonix), with a comfortable vibe for those of us that would never qualify as hipsters or even wanna-be hipsters. The Food: We split an order of chicken finger appetizers with Jerk sauce that was outright great! I have become so tired of ordering appetizers to only get dishes that appear to be premade and frozen and just heated to order. These were very crispy, like a fried chicken, with a great blend of spices. We then split their roasted bell pepper and uncured pepperoni pizza. The dough was between a flatbread and a think crust pizza crust, making it a bit chewier than I would prefer for wood fired pizza. But the toppings were very yummy and the 12 inch pie would have been way too much for just me, but my boyfriend said he could have easily downed the whole thing on his own. We then finished with smores, made with the ooey-gooeyest homemade marshmallow. It was delicious, but a bit on the expensive side. Overall, the appetizer and pizza were well priced, but all the desserts seemed a bit overpriced. The Service: Our server was great. She was attentive without being intrusive. She was incredibly quick to bring us an extra small plate when requested, and was very knowledgeable about the menu as I heard her answer questions at the neighboring tables. The Atmosphere: The best I can put it is log cabin meets industrial chic loft. It is definitely noisy, just because the high bare ceilings bounce around alot of sound (no noisy bar crowd or parties when we were there). One thing to note - we were shocked how many people they can seat. We were worried as we saw a very full lot when we pulled up, but were immediately seated in a room with at least a half dozen additional free tables. They really seemed to do a great job of setting up the floor plan to fit in more tables while not making it feel crowded.
(4)Peter B.
Great service, drinks and food!! I've been four times with the same satisfaction each visit.. Pricing is fair and its kid friendly.. Acoustics are great!! Really well run restaurant.. I'll be going back. I'd have given it five stars but because of the small kitchen some dishes cannot be prepared if you go early for dinner and it can get really busy fast (crowded with not a lot of waiting area). Still it's my new favorite go to restaurant in the area..
(4)Saffron M.
Excellent veg options- substantial, creative salads and the option to add their very delicious veggie burger, among other things, to make the salad a really satisfying entree. Everything we had, from the margaritas to the appetizers, entrees, and fries (never seen a larger serving of fries, ever- and they are damn good fries!) was delicious and completely satisfying. Very casual atmosphere.
(4)Ben M.
Went here for lunch. We came during a big rush of people coming in so service was understandably not the fastest. I had a Burger and it was delicious. The homemade Mac & Cheese entrée is very good.
(4)Heather R.
Great spot for lunch or dinner. They have Heady Topper which is a score. Burgers are awesome. Ribs were good but a bit saucy. Truffle fries not great, too soggy. Definitely would come back for Heady Topper and burger.
(4)Julie T.
Im sorry! I really was excited about this new place and wanted it to be our new favorite. However, its hit or miss. the bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, mixed great drinks and of course had many local great beers on tap. But, the food was really hit or missaapps just ok, the fried chicken was just ok, the pizza was good. The lamb burger ok. Arugula salad very good. The waitstaff could step up their game a bit- at least our server anyway. Some kinks to work out , and some dishes need some attention...But great location and could have great potential.
(2)Richard M.
Excellent addition. I know it's not brand-new, but new to me. Well worth a taste. The cuisine, team, and ambience nicely compliment the Notch region.
(5)Steve M.
So glad to see the owners of Waterbury's Reservoir restaurant expand and bring their awesomeness to Stowe. Our meal at the Bench tonight was exceptional. I had the ribeye. It and the mashed potatoes were perfection. I can't recall ever having a ribeye as good as this, without paying at least $10 more! And in Stowe it's more like $20 and its still not as good. My date had a pizza and she was very pleased. I had a bite and wanted more. It reminded me of Lombardi's of NY...only better because it's all local Vermont ingredients! I'm going to be a regular here!
(5)Katherine V.
Went to the bench during our ski trip in Vermont. This place is superb. It was a little crowded but we didn't have to wait too long for a table maybe 15 min max.. Waited by the bar and had couple of drinks. My boyfriend had the oven roasted duck and I had the oven roasted salmon everything cooked to perfection!! Oh and for dessert we had their special cheesecake! Whole experience was very rewarding! If you are thinking about going don't hesitate you won't be disappointed!
(5)Erin G.
The beer selection is awesome and the food is delicious. My boyfriend ordered a Mexican style pizza and we enjoyed it very much.
(5)Stephanie Wales C.
Perfect service and food. Insanely fresh kale salad-it tasted like it was picked that day. Our waitress was on point-she was there before we could ask. Incredible burgers. This place will last and thrive in Stowe!
(5)James G.
We really enjoyed the beer selection and food choices. The atmosphere was casual and comfortable- and service was good. The wings were good and people enjoyed the pizza.
(4)Jess H.
Excellent drinks and food. Lovely space and lighting. I recommend the poutine! I've eaten here with friends, and gone for drinks a few times, and every time, the staff were attentive and helpful. If you're visiting Stowe, consider The Bench as one of your dinner options. I personally love the Liftline drink, delicious!!
(5)Jeanna M.
A must go to while in Stowe. Stopped in later on a Friday night and cha ching they had Heady Topper. FYI the header topper delivery to Stowe occurs on Fridays, plan accordingly. 28 taps and a fantastic selection with lots of locals, As a Philly gal I excited to see one of ours (Monks) on rotation. When we checked in the over estimated the wait as ~30 min, 10 min later they told us our table was ready. Cool but we were enjoying our seats at the bar. I should mention the bartenders were fantastic and attentive. For apps we grabbed the scallops (delish) and asparagus. On their own both were fantastic. Together the scallops stole the show. For entrees I enjoyed the spinach salad with salmon on the side and the bf had the bench burger. Exceptional salad, salmon was on the plain side but done perfectly. Plain works for some taste buds better than others. He loved the bench burger and I loved stealing this fresh cut fries. This is a must go to in Stowe. The locals and tourists both swear by this place for good reason. Its a new joint to Stowe but I would guess its hear for the long haul.
(5)Carl Z.
Packed, packed, packed. Been up to Stowe a couple of times this season. Each time we drove by The Bench the parking lot looked the local mall during the holidays. Finally made it in this time (5pm) to check it out. No resy's which stinks, but the ambiance, food and service was great. VT is the craft beer state, so pleased to see so many to choose from (very cool draft spout wall in bar). Tried the grilled salmon as my entry and it was cooked perfectly. One of the best places on Mtn Road for certain. If in the area you should definitely put on your list.
(5)Shannon K.
Came here twice during our visit to Stowe and we were not disappointed. Great beer selection, especially if you are looking for something local. The food is good...your typical gastropub food. I do recommend the truffle fries though!
(4)Terry E.
Best Pizza Ever! We chose The Bench based Yelp reviews. The dining room was warm and welcoming. The staff was very pleasant and attentive. The food was amazing. We ordered the standard fare of burger and pepperoni pizza. The burger was delicious, fries and pizza were awesome. If you like thin crust, this is the place to go. We are very impressed with The Bench. This is a definite must in Stowe.
(5)Nina C.
This place was amazing!! We walked in and immediately loved the decor and ambiance. We stopped in for lunch and had amazing service. They had a large selection of local beers. The food was so good, I got a hamburger and it was delicious and juicy. One of the people I came with had a veggie burger and she said it was probably the best veggie burger she ever had.
(5)David C.
I took my family to The Bench mid-week after skiing at Stowe. There was thankfully no wait for a table and plenty of parking. The food was a bit hit or miss for us, but it has good potential. If not for one dish, I would have given it four stars (explanation below). Overall, it's a good, comfortable tavern with good drinks and food. We shared the Edamame Hummus Dip: Delicious and fresh with plenty of veggies and focaccia for dipping. My wife had the Wood Oven Roasted Mussels, which were plump and tasty. My kids had the wood fired pizza, which was good, but not great. I had the Bench burger, which is topped with pork belly. It would have been a fantastic burger except that they drastically overcooked the burger. I ordered medium rare and it came out well done. It was too late to have them make a new one, and I was too hungry and unwilling to waste food. The rest of it tasted great though. Our server was attentive and efficient, but not that friendly. When I informed her about the burger being overdone, she was very quick to resolve it. Since I told her I would just eat it as is, she insisted on not charging for it.
(3)R L.
The veggie burger was one of the better ones I've had. The pizzas looked really good, but we didn't order that. The ambience is nice, but service was a bit on the slow side.
(3)Steve S.
Good selection of beers, food was fairly good (duck,veggie sautee, and haddock special (though thick cut of fish was a little undercooked). The burgers and fries going by looked good, but that was not what we ordered. It was summer and hot inside (cool in the entry way though) and very loud and busy. So loud it was very hard to hear the waitress. The drinking water tasted and smelled like it was taken from a swimming pool. I imagine it is like this in general in Stowe, but a restaurant really needs to filter Stowe drinking water if they are going to serve it to customers, and if not, at the least add lemon and ice (nothing worse than warm city tasting water). Yes they brought ice when it was requested). The four of us agreed it would be very unlikely we would return.
(2)Chris R.
Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Beer list. Worth a visit! Had the mussels and the Gluten Free pizza and they were both amazing. Real cozy inside with the open stove.
(5)KaidashRoy W.
Burger is pretty fantastic, but whatever you do...do not skip out on the mac and cheese. Also lots of great beers, really good atmosphere and great service. Be ready for complete food coma.
(5)Jennifer P.
Been once and not going again. It was packed (with tourists) so loud and hard to move around. The tomato sauce is a test at a place like this and all I tasted is tomato paste..... too harsh and bitter. I had the mussels and they had a very strong garlic/tomato/? couldn't taste the mussels!
(2)Jessica V.
Great atmosphere, delicious food, and good service! My husband and I stopped here for lunch on our first day in Stowe. The food was delicious and there were lots of vegetarian and gluten-free options, as well as traditional fare. There's an extensive drink list. Everything was so good that we returned the next evening for dinner. It got pretty busy in the evening, so you'll either have to wait (totally worth it) or arrive early. I don't think they accept reservations.
(5)Patrick M.
The Bench was busy with the après ski crowd and the hostess suggested it might be 50 minutes for a table for two even at 5:30. Luckily, we were able to snag a table in the bar area after less than 15 mins. The copper grease board above the bar listed the many draught beers and we sampled many of the VT brews. For apps we had delicious scallops on roasted beets and grilled asparagus with melted slices of prosciutto. The duck entree was delicious and came out in a hot cast iron pan that was not just for show. My wife's kale Caesar salad was really good too! The wait staff expertly kept waiting crowds happy and eating groups served quickly. If you can get a seat, this place is where it is at!
(5)Olivia T.
Such a great spot! You can tell there was a lot of money put in and it was certainly worth it. With 29 taps and other options such as the oh so great heavy topper, the bench has the perfect selection for a night out. That being said, it does not disappoint food wise. I had a mozzarella and tomato sandwich and the ingredients were all so fresh and delicious.
(5)Ben W.
Came here for dinner and was immediately impressed with the atmosphere and overall ambience with the wood. Had the bench burger which was delicious although the pork belly was a little too fatty for my taste. The pulled pork sandwich was good but lacked a smokey flavor that I would have liked. Fries were delicious and they had a good beer menu. Good was very fairly priced, beers were a tad pricey. I would go back and am looking forward to trying their pizza, it smelled great.
(4)David B.
The poutine was okay and the pizza was good. The service was not bad but could have been friendlier.
(4)Craig S.
Really great food, beer selection, and service. Plus, the restaurant is warm and cozy. Highly recommend it.
(4)Frank L.
Bench burger and salmon Burger are pretty close to perfection. Beautiful place , great selection of beers on draft, and very good service too. Will be back tomorrow! !!
(5)Caitlin H.
I cannot say enough good things about this place. We heard that there can be a long wait so we went at around 4:30 on a Sunday after skiing. The place was basically empty and we got a seat right away. We started with two local beers (great beer list) and the poutine, it was delicious. I've had my fair share of poutine but this was my favorite. The ale gravy was a unique touch, and the cheese curd was delicious. Following the poutine I got the bench burger and my husband got the lamb burger. Both were very good, though the lamb was slighly overdone the flavor was delicious. Friendly servers and very hip atmosphere, can't wait to go back!
(5)Kyle B.
Great food, great craft beer selection and a warm atmosphere. When it's 2 degrees out, what more can you ask for?!?
(4)