Delish cocktails, fantastic service, cute little cocktail bar that also serves a few small plates…read more Tucked away and outside seating. Highly recommend!

Au Comptoir kept popping up on lists from local travel influencers, so I figured we'd give it a…read moretry. Honestly, if you don't make it here, you're not missing much. The biggest issue was the lack of hospitality. When we arrived, there was no one at the host stand, so we walked a little farther in to find someone. The host abruptly told us he would seat us, which was what we expected, but we simply hadn't known he was the person to approach since no one was at the stand. His attitude was unnecessarily abrasive, and he then greeted the people behind us and appeared ready to seat them ahead of us, seemingly as a way of making a point. Fortunately, they wanted a different area, so the situation worked itself out and we were seated. Once seated, the service was acceptable in terms of how long it took for someone to come over, but we were barely checked on until closer to the end of our visit. The cocktails were also underwhelming. I'd give the Old Fashioned a 3 out of 10. Nothing about the drinks made me want to order another. The space itself is cute, but atmosphere alone can only take a place so far. Between the abrasive welcome, lackluster attentiveness, and average cocktails, the overall experience just wasn't worth the hype. Au Comptoir is cute, but it's not all that. There are plenty of other places where you can get a better experience, better drinks, and genuine hospitality. I wouldn't go out of my way to return.

Fantastic food. My wife and I went there twice during our trip and had a fantastic time…read more The bartenders are super friendly and helpful, cannot say enough about the service.

Update: went back for another trip a year later. Worthy burger was just as delicious and the fries…read morewere on point. One of my favorite finds in my time around VT and NH! The hostess was incredibly personable and sweet. I'd had a crap day and really just wanted a beer. It was 5 minutes to close. I figured it wasn't going to happen, but I figured I'd look at their draft menu for the next day and get an idea of what I'd want to eat when I come back. Not only did they take great care of me and get me a MUCH needed beer, but when I came back to eat the next day it got even better! I couldn't decide which beer I wanted. The girl was SO nice and gave me half of each. Good call, because I definitely liked one more than the other! Now HERE is the BEST PART: the worthy burger. Sweet Jesus. I heard angels. Seriously one of the best burgers I've ever had. Ever. The bun was perfect and THOSE PICKLES! The cheese was perfectly melted. Just the right amount of secret sauce. Did I mention the pickles were amazing? I also ordered truffle fries with Parmesan and a kid size order of the Mac and cheese. Because real cheese. They weren't bad. The truffle fries were on the milder side, but tasty. Maybe a little soft. Pro tip: get the pesto aoli to dip! I like homemade Mac and cheese and I hardly ate more than a few bites. I had heard great things but eh. Maybe I was just in love with the burger! I didn't get a picture. My phone died and I couldn't wait do yourself a favor- get the worth burger with some extra pickles on the side!

Loved this place! Innovative menu, farm to table. The cheese plate was delish! Sadly the ravioli…read moredish I had was not great, was pretty but not a lot of flavor, however the steak frites was great. Service was friendly and excellent. Resys are a must here, it's small and books up fast. One of only 2 in Woodstock that I would classify as fine dining.

My wife and I ate there the other night and was not a great experience. We were looking forward to…read moresupposedly the best dinner in the surrounding area. We made reservations at the bar as they did not have availability anywhere else in the restaurant. Ambiance 1/5 (pictures attached): when sitting down it was warm which was nice because it was cold outside. However, meanwhile little bugs surrounded us before every bite and every drink of wine. The entire time we were swatting away these little gnats. Food 2/5: the kale Cesar was the only thing we tried that was worth the try. The steak was around $60 and was not even worth $20. It was covered in a wine sauce which I think was to mask the chewiness of the steak. The steak was just the opposite of appetizing unless you were absolutely starved. Meanwhile the ravioli was a hodge podge of corn, cream, and veggies which truly made no sense in combination. In addition, the peppers were incredibly spicy, which the server remarked was due to that specific pepper. At the end of the dinner, the steak got comped, but if you are coming to dinner in this area, I would look elsewhere. We were so hungry after and we still did not eat and resorted to running to the nearest gas station that was open just to grab a few snacks and protein bars. Overall the atmosphere and food was below sub par.

I have been going to Babes for the past three years. It's a dive bar in an old train station in…read moreBethel, Vermont. The food is solid. I had a chili dog and a Chicago dog today, and they were good. But that's not really why I keep coming back. What makes this place special is Owen and his husband. They run it with real care. They know the people who come in. They know their families, their stories, where they've been. When I walked in today, Owen said "Hey, it's been a long time. Welcome back." This is the kind of place that holds a community together. People show up regularly because they belong there. They see the same faces. Someone knows them. We need more places like this. Places where people aren't alone. If you're in the area, support it. Thank Owen and his husband for showing up and keeping the doors open.

Good service. Friendly local bar with a twist. ...............................................read more

What a delightful surprise. The menu was diverse and consistently excellent and the service was…read moregracious.

We got very lucky to get a same-day 5pm reservation in the garden. We took our two young children…read moreand it was such a beautiful and delicious meal. The drinks were wonderful and the food was so fresh and well-done. This was a 10/10 experience! Thank you to the kind and attentive staff who were so lovely to our children. If you are considering booking here, just do it!!

Absolutely LOVED this place. It is inside their glass blowing store, so before we got our table we…read morewere able to see beautiful glass pieces. Once inside, all looked perfect but the outside seating has the waterfall view and it's just beautiful. Service was amazing, fast friendly and professional. They bought us a bread plate with maple butter, and our drinks. The menu has a lot of delicious options so it was hard to decide but finally we had to have the Cheese Soup, which I have to recommend, regardless of the weather. This was excellent. And as my entree I went with the Fish and Chips. That fish tasted so fresh, the batter was not overwhelming the fish, and the tartar sauce was on point, It was a nice portion, that I was able to share with my Fiancée. He had the quiche that also tasted very fresh and the side salad it came with was divine. The food was so impressive we wished we had left room for dessert. But hopefully we get the chance to try some another time. Definitely a must visit.

I'm so sad to have to write a negative review of Simon Pearce (although there are plenty of them…read moreout there). It was our first time there, celebrating our son's 21st birthday. Not sure what happened between the kitchen and our server, but 2 of 3 main courses came out cool. One was my crab-stuffed sole and the other was our son's $85 filet mignon. We had to let the server know. She brought over the manager who said they would "reheat" our dishes. I questioned him, um, "reheat" not remake? He said he could redo them but the steak will take 25 minutes (son's father had already dug into his duck by this point). Manager said if we try reheating it and it's not to our liking he'd take the steak (no mention of the sole) off the bill. We said fine, let's try reheating so as to resume eating asap. Of course the steak was no longer medium-rare and my fish was pretty awful. The most annoying thing is that he/manager NEVER acknowledged my meal being cold and removing it from the bill. Only my son's steak. Why? I don't know. In general, I think the food here is overpriced and very underwhelming. Now I know and I don't need to go back.Food did not have the flavors outlined in the descriptions. Our Waitress was very good though (not her fault the food was not to par for the price). The bread and whipped butter was excellent

I'm not sure there's enough room here to express how much we enjoyed our meal at Richardson's…read moreTavern. Getting the reservation was a bit challenging but after that, our experience was amazing. Bruce was able to move our reservation time around to suit our ever-changing plans. Our server John was excellent, and the look and feel of the Tavern itself - within the magnificent Woodstock Inn - was comfortable yet refined. We started with the Cast Iron Focaccia from the For Grazing section of the menu, which was lovely. Then my wife ordered the Miso Cod (Farm + Field), which is always a favorite for us and we order it wherever we see it. The server noted it is a new option here so he asked for feedback after the meal, which was very positive, of course. My 16 y.o. son had the $40 Vermont Wagyu Burger (Land + Sea), which was insanely priced ($40 for a burger?!?!?) but also, according to him, was one of the best he's ever had. My daughter ordered the Flat Iron Steak (Land + Sea), which was also excellent. I had hoped for a legitimate vegetarian entree option but there were none (!!!) so I ended up ordering both the Corn Ribs AND the Cabbage from the Farm + Field section of the menu - both were shockingly good. The beans that. Are with the cabbage were literally the best I've ever had - probably because they were swimming in butter, but wow were they great. We finished up with the Maple Cake with candied pecan ice cream on top and it was ridiculously good too. Kitchen had its A game going. Excellent meal.

We arrived a few minutes early to enjoy this beautiful restaurant. We were greeted by a wonderful…read morewoman ( wish I remembered her name) who welcomed us graciously. The appetizers we selected were the tomato salad that has pickled watermelon and a base of cheese. Interesting combo. We both selected the Hog Chops which was recommended by the waitress. So happy we did. It came pre-cut which allowed the juices to absorb all the flavors. It was the highlight of the dinner. Bravo.

Staff was so accommodating, kind and helpful! Drinks were delish and vibes were perfect. Drink…read moreprices were reasonable and we had a wonderful time.

There is no place in the Upper Valley that has seen more of a revitalization than downtown White…read moreRiver Junction. What used to be a sketchy area is now filled with boutique shops, bustling businesses of tech and industry, arts, culture, and restaurants. One such upscale craft cocktail bar is Wolf Tree. If you didn't know it, you might feel as if you'd stepped into a hipster cocktail lounge in Brooklyn as you walk into Wolf Tree. They offer a variety of playful and inventive drinks. My friend was able to get a virgin cocktail but I just wish they had more than one single cocktail on the menu with vodka. With my choices somewhat limited, I went with a drink called "Friday I'm In Love": vodka, citrus, strawberry, mint, and bubbles. It looked beautiful when it arrived to the table and was a palate pleaser with sour, sweet, and minty flavors. They have weekly specials, classic-type cocktails, and what they call "happy meals" - a beer and shot combination. Don't fear, though, they still have Budweiser, Bud Lite, Miller High Life, and other draft beers for those feeling more traditional Upper Valley. We also ordered one of their charcuterie boards that featured local selections of cheese and meats, olives, pickled vegetables, cured mustards, and a baguette. A great selection but like most of Wolf Tree, a little on the expensive side. Overall I enjoyed my first trip to Wolf Tree and I'm glad hip places like this exist in the Upper Valley.

Happened upon this place by accident, and it ended up being the only place open while everything…read morearound it was closing up for the day. Tried some cocktails made with alcohol from the distillery next door. First of all, the smoothest vodka I've ever had. The cocktails were fantastic, and bartender Wendy (I think was her name) was great to talk with and indulged my lemon habit. Will be back! Also, bathrooms were super clean, and I take bathrooms very seriously.

Located at Vermont Spirits Distilling Co, Harry's Cocktail Lounge opened in a separate building…read moreserving craft brews, wine, signature cocktails and mocktails, most elements sourced locally. This space is very cozy which has seating at the bar, regular table seating, high top tables, and soft armchairs in the back corner. It is mostly standing room when it's busy. They also feature live music in here and there is more seating outside next to fire pit tables. There was also a food tent outside where you could buy some hot food, separate from Harry's, but enjoy your food with your drink. I stop by Harry's Cocktail Lounge during their grand opening. They were giving out gift bags with samples for 21yo+ customers. I also got drinks at the bar, which was extremely busy earlier in the evening and waits close to 10 minutes for drinks. Had the 1791 ($12 plus tax): Rye whiskey, Eden's Orleans herbal cider, raw honey, cranberries, club soda and the Lavender Haze ($6 plus tax): Lavender syrup, fresh lemon juice, club soda. I enjoyed some live music by a great regional musician as I sip on my drinks. After I was done, I headed over to their other main building to enjoy some live bluegrass music.

had the best experience went with friends kid friendly grate for going to read or relaxread more

You're in the very suburban town of Lebanon, New Hampshire. You've got everything that you need at…read moreyour fingertips but maybe you're looking to enjoy wine or sip a cocktail at a place with more of an urban edge. Drive 5 minutes over the state line to Putnam's in White River Junction, Vermont for that sommelier-staffed experience. Love the ambience and rigorous focus on elevated, quality ingredients, at Putnam's. They have a corkboard-covered 3-ring binder menu which is aptly named a Field Guide. Trust me, this name is earned by the Tasting Notes alone. The field guide is like a thesis for advanced Upper Valley sippers, Vermont or not. If you forgot your book or paper, just saddle up to the Putnam's Field Guide. You'll find an elaborate offering of editorial descriptions of beverages from wine to martinis (6 kinds) to beer and whiskey (one from Japan). Btw, it's rare to find a wine bar that doubles as a gorgeous coffeehouse serving pastries, espresso-based drinks, teas and breakfast sandwiches on weekends. I'm looking forward to enjoying them sometime if I'm back. The offering at Putnam's Vineyard rotates seasonally, so I will describe what was there on my visits. Visit their website for updated menu surprises. As for the evening and weekends Fall menu, they call their offering Picnic Food. It's a modest title for an extensive offering of appetizers and a few sandwiches. Think fancied-up olives, pretzels, Brazilian cheese puffs, a craft beer mix, 2 melty sammies with Vermont cheeses (1 with turkey, the other veggies), beet and chevre arancini, dips and a vast selection of desserts. Vermont cheeses, apricots, Marcona almonds, dried apricots and crostini are looking divine on the cheese board. Oh, and there's also Superbon Madrid potato chips with Osetra caviar and a mini spirit of Gaston Chiquet champagne. Just saying. There is also a weekend brunch menu with bagels and egg sandwiches. As for the wine, I recommend a flight at Putmam's. In the fall season, these flight offerings were named: the Bella Blanca Wine Flight, the Falling Leaves Mixed Wine Flight, Fireside Reds Red Wine Flight, The Forgotten Bunches Mixed Wine Flight and the almighty and an unforgettable Sparkler Flight. In this flight, I slowly savoured 3 wine sparklers at $25 total. (And no, I cannot spell savour without a "u.") These wine flights are a true value. And here are the wines in the sparkler flight: 1.) Cava 2021 by Avinyó 2.) Crémant de Bourgogne Sparkling Brut Rosé NV by Albert Bichot 3.) Lambrusco by Villa Castellazo ROTA The Cava is everything. All three were delightful and I showed up needing warm fuzzies on an evening where there was live music so the total experience was extra lovely. There is also a whiskey flight! The coffee and craft beverages selection for the fall/winter menu includes a nitro cold brew, a brown butter latte with Maldon sea salt and biscotti and a FROLA New Orleans style cold brew slushie with maple syrup and coconut cream. To any craft and coffee beverage you can add Vermont Ice Cream Coffee Liqueur or Whistle Pig Piggy Back Bourbon. Yes, please. If you are making a trip of it, catch the local bbq joint across the way from Putnam's at lunch and then visit the wine bar for drinks. Layer up, because I've been nippy there twice, and then linger over one delightful beverage after the next. Oh, and there is a charming wine shop at Putnam's with handmade gifts to peruse, as well.