Dinner at Fire & Ice was a highlight of our month-long sojourn in New England. Housed in an old farmhouse just outside of Middlebury, Fire & Ice features locally sourced fresh and natural ingredients in an ambitious menu that will satisfy most palates. The restaurant has been around for more than half a century and has an eclectic decor with walls covered in black and white photos, hundred year old Hackercraft motorboat, biplane propellers, and wooden skis that likely were used to carve up Stowe and Killington. We started with a watermelon margarita and an extra dry Hendricks Gibson up. The drinks were perfectly chilled and hit the spot after a long day touring Fort Ticonderoga. We were told that their prime rib was the belle of the Fire & Ice ball so we made that our dinner. Roasted slowly overnight, the meat is perfectly medium rare inside with a delectable crust. Served with a range of sides and a generous dollop of freshly grated horseradish, we could not have been more pleased with the quality and quantity of the prime rib. They have an interesting dessert cart but, after 40 ounces of delicious prime rib, we gave the sweet course a miss. Fire & Ice is a compelling option for those spending time in Middlebury. We highly recommend this venue. read more

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Best prime rib I've had including Tennessee and Texas. Love the staff. Mashed potatoes creamy. Good selection of spirits for the area. Decor is utterly unique. Expensive but I never feel like... it wasn't worth it. Amazing filet mignon and chicken boursin is a stand out. read more

The food and drinks are always great here, as is the service. This is a reliable steakhouse.

Been coming to this restaurant for years, and absolutely love the ambiance, the knick knacks, the throwback in time. The restaurant was built around a 1921 Hacker Craft wooden boat, beautifully restored by friends of mine at Morgan Marine in Silver Bay, NY. The boat used to house an actual salad bar, pre-Covid. Now it's just a beautifully appointed mahogany boat in a big room just past the hostess station. The rest of F&I is a series of small and large rooms, some very intimate. There are artifacts everywhere (that you need to explore). Recently visited w best friend, Locomotive Breath (formerly known as Zagbolt). Sat at the bar. Seemingly lots of locals. Very capably waited on by bartender Andre. He was effective, efficient, and gregarious. Perfect young man for the job. We split a dozen wings (one of the specials which were smothered in an orange, peppery glaze). Delicious! I also had a cheeseburger w bacon. Perfectly broiled on a substantial bun. And onion rings. Plentiful. LB had a mesquite chicken panini w mashed. He loved it. Large selection of tapped and bottled beer, wine, alcohol of all kinds. One thing that kind of caught my attention was another patron's prime rib. Very fatty, on the thin side, $39. Did not think it was a good presentation or value. F&I is still one of the best restaurants around. Museum-like, and good food. Curtailed hours compared to years past, and looking for help (of all kinds). 4 stars read more

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On July 30, my family gathered for a celebration to honor my brother who is turning 80 years old. There were six of us at the table and we all ordered Marius's items and each of us really enjoyed the service, the ambience and the food was out of this world. We were very satisfied with everything and the next time I come to the Middlebury area I will definitely go back to enjoy, in particular, more of their New England chowder. It was wonderful. Hadn't had New England chowder as good since I left Nova Scotia! I also ended up having a nice salmon entrée which was delicious indeed.! read more

I loved how nicely decorated it was here. It was like stepping into someone's home. Very comfortable waiting area with lots to look at. I thought it was cute that they have a newspaper clipped on the wall in the bathroom. The atmosphere is homey and inviting. We waited about 10 minutes and then we're taken to a table. Our waitress arrived soon after. She was so sweet and checked in often. Oddly, we were opposites this time and I ordered a strak and hubs ordered a burger. I asked for it well done. It was a bit dry but the flavor was delicious! Hubs said his burger was good, not great. The rolls we got before the meal were delicious! I would come back again. The desserts sounded really good, too, but I was to full to try them. read more

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We stopped by today for a usual great dinner. We were underwhelmed by the English Dale cut my wife got. You could see thru it and it was not a solid piece of meat. Super thinly sliced and a big let down. My Middlebury cut was great. For the price of the English cut I should have sent it back. They no longer have the great salad bar, soup station,cheese board or bread station. And Sunday brunch is gone also. The decor and service was great as before. We are not likely going to have it as a destination anymore. Very disappointing indeed. We have been customers for over 15 years and made the long trip because it was so good. Sorry for the poor review but we dine many places and we get much more from other establishments. read more

Been to Fire & Ice a few times and really liked it. Had the Moraccan Stew this time. It was tasty but a little disappointed that there was no liquid/gravy which I would have liked better. Over all a good place to eat. We will go again. read more

Went for date night on a Friday night, did not disappoint!! Our first time ever here as Vermonters, and we absolutely loved it. Our server was attentive and very thoughtful, the service was fast for how busy they were. The food was delicious, I got the most amazing bacon onion jam with my steak that was to die for. Dessert was amazing- mudpie is my favorite!! The drinks were good, the bar did get quite busy so it was a little wait, but we were happy!! read more

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Such a fun spot! Filled with memorabilia from the area and abroad. Very comfortable atmosphere and quite welcoming. Our food and drinks were very very good and nicely priced. Our party of three really enjoyed lobster rolls and fries. Delish and very reasonably priced. We had beer, a craft cocktail and a mocktail - all great! Service was lovely and attentive. Highly recommend. read more

The food here is very good and the service is great have been here many times and will continue to do so

Churn 'em and burn 'em. That's the mantra at Fire & Ice. We were seated quickly (a good thing) but then the server started moving us along pretty quickly. We wanted to settle in a bit and we watched the host whisk folks by us rather hurriedly. Sort of disconcerting. We ordered drinks and they were pretty rough. The bartender doesn't seem to have much of a hand at it. When our meal came it was not really cooked so another ding there. All in all, it feels like the Sysco truck pulled up, sent our meals through whatever directions were written on the box, we were fed, then sent out. If I'm going to spend good money for a meal, I'd really like a good meal. This wouldn't be the place I'd recommend. read more

I recently met friends at Fire and Ice for dinner. The ambiance is still wonderfully eclectic and nostalgic, but I miss the salad bar.

Look, there isn't that many restaurants out in Middlebury so if you're in the area, or visiting for a few days, this restaurant is an absolute must. The reviews about the inside decor being wild and fun to look at? Absolutely true. Do they have plenty of patio space during the summer months out back? Yup. Could they easily host large groups? Probably one of the only restaurants in the area that can. Fire & Ice is reasonably priced, and the quality is good. It reminds me of a better American chain restaurant (kind of like Cheesecake Factory) with it's eclectic menu choices but I wasn't disappointed with any of the items. This restaurant will always be a stop for me when I come visit Middlebury! read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - Two Lobster Rolls with Sweet Potato Fries - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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We were quite impressed with this restaurant in Middlebury VT. A large place with good parking and several choices of seating inside and outside. It is extensively decorated with VT memorabilia including a beautiful old Chris Craft lake boat in the lobby area. The menu is quite diverse and has many options including petite servings of several dishes. We enjoyed the warm bread and our entrees. Didn't have room for dessert! Pricing is quite reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. read more

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Was visiting the area for the weekend and we decided on fire and ice. The interior was really cool and clearly curated over several decades. I was blown away by how good this prime rib was. When they say they slow cook it for hours on end, it isn't just marketing. The medium rare prime rib was edge to edge perfection. On top of that, slow roasting it that long clearly breaks down the fat and any collagen in a way that turns a choice cut into what *feels* like a prime cut. The au jus was great and the only thing I was left wanting for was flaky salt and horseradish (which I probably could have asked for but I'm a shy little baby wah wah. 5 stars! read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - Medium rare prime rib - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

I really wanted to like this place but our food took way too long. A burger, a wrap and two kids meals is not complicated. The table of five across from us got there right before us and was done eating before our food came. Server spent ten minutes talking to the table next to us while we waited for our food without her checking in. She was nice but not assertive. I won't come back even though my daughter loved the chicken fingers. We asked for the check and it came right away but we were not even offered the "special dessert" that comes with kids meals. Overall disappointing experience. PS Meat runs rare, medium burger was red not pink. read more

Three of us tried Fire & Ice for dinner, & overall it was great. Even if you don't eat here, it is worth stopping by to check out the one-of-a-kind restaurant decor. Every inch of wall space is covered with pictures & wall hangings of almost anything imaginable. It was a nice evening, so we opted to sit outside on the deck. Jordyn was our fantastic waitress & very personable. I ordered the Fish & Chips. What I loved was the coating was not ordinary. It was a seasoned panko that made the fish a standout. The fries were above average in flavor as well. The meal cost about $20. The basket it came in was filled with tons of fries, but sadly only two fish pieces. Admittedly I'd have preferred a 3rd piece of fish & less fries. read more

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Best all round, food, service and ambiance. We no longer live in Vermont, but we make a point of visiting Fire and Ice whenever we are in the area! read more

I got food pointing here from an undercooked burger. The server made a mistake on which entire I ordered and they brought out a "new one" very quickly. More quickly than a safe amount of time could be. Which means the meat was not cooked to safe temps. Look at the other reviews I'm not the only one getting food poisoning from this place!!! Someone needs to call the health department asap read more

Eating here was a real treat for me. I enjoyed every aspect of my dining experience. Fantastic service - all staff I encountered were attentive and friendly. I cannot recommend the lobster bisque and the lobster roll enough - both dishes are mouth-watering & absolutely delicious! Ambiance is unique and needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. I'll definitely dine here again whenever I'm in the area! read more

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We went to Fire & Ice last night. What a disappointment! The servers were very nice. The atmosphere and decor were cute and cozy. But the food was awful. I got the braised short ribs which were flavorless. My boyfriend got the lemon, peppercorn swordfish which was almost raw and slathered in a peppercorn sludge. We were both sick later in the evening. read more

Fire and Ice in Middlebury, VT is an American bar and grill serving generous portions and an unbeatable self-serve, fresh, VT-sourced chocolate milk station amid eclectic memorabilia. We came for dinner and had the fettuccine Alfredo made with local creamery cream, chicken tenders, lemon salmon, miso maple salmon, and chicken philly. For dessert we had the decadent, cakey brownie sundae. Fire and Ice is an enduring fixture of the Middlebury food scene and perfect for a family dinner read more

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Neat decor. Friendly bartender. I had the rib & shrimp scampi. The prime rib was excellent. I should have just ordered the prime rib by itself. The scampi sauce overpowered the meal and my shrimp were just a touch under (still just a bit grey). I would definitely come back, but I would order something else. read more

Restaurant Review: Fire and Ice - Middlebury VT -- This restaurant is a multi-generation family-owned restaurant that has made its staple in the Middlebury area. It has designed its restaurant to cherish the memories of the town and family. You can definitely see this in its eclectic, interesting decor, starting with the Sailing Boat Hull Shaped roof to the 10+ curated themed rooms that are filled with local treasuries and memories; you can see what families flock to this restaurant, big and small, to enjoy a fantastic family dinner. -- As a seasoned traveler, having explored 68 countries and 36 states, I approach restaurant reviews with a clear criterion: Taste, Presentation, and Service. My goal is to provide an impartial perspective, highlighting both the commendable and deficient aspects of dining establishments. -- The evening started with our amazing waitress - Michelle. She had a bubbly personality, constantly checking in with us, and was quick to answer questions, provide feedback and recommendations, and quickly resolve minor issues. She represented the restaurant well. -- Appetizers We started with the Fried Mozzarella. Since we were a party of 5, I decided to order 2 orders. Big mistake. They were surprisingly large, cooked perfectly, and served with an extraordinarily tasting thick creamy marinara sauce. -- Vietnamese Spring Rolls. I was very excited about this appetizer because, most of the time, you get deep-fried rolls that taste like oil. These rolls were wrapped in rice paper, served cold, and had the perfect combination of shrimp and vegetables - accompanied by a fresh cucumber salad and served with Ponzu (soy) and peanut dipping sauce. Very refreshing to the palette, especially before a hardy meal. -- Filet Mignon - this 8 oz filet was cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside with a buttery and soft interior, which you can top it off with bearnaise sauce or 2 amazing additional sides for the steak, a Bacon-Onion Jam, which was absolutely amazing, and pickled onions. My favorite was the combination of jam and pickled onions, which were savory, sweet, and tangy. Served with a baked potato. -- Shrimp Risotto - a special for the night was topped with a creamy chevre, green peas, and garnished with an amazing watermelon radish. I find that either you do risotto right or you fail miserably. In this instance, the risotto was cooked perfectly and presented with a velvety and creamy texture, great consistency, and the perfect combination of flavors to round the dish. I was impressed with the presentation by adding the spiraled watermelon radish, which added a great dimension to the dish. -- Classic Fettucine Alfredo - This is a tough dish for me to review as I had authentic original Fettucine Alfredo with Alfredo di Lelio's family in Italy. The founder of Fettucine Alfredo. This dish definitely stood up to the classic dish as well as it could, and in comparison to other versions I have eaten, it definitely ranks well. -- Whiskey Barrel Steak (not pictured) was my main entree. This dish was definitely amazing. I was a little nervous that the Whiskey and Vermont Maple Syrup Marinade was going to be overpowering. Still, alas, it was the perfect combination of rich, smokey notes and sweet undertones of the syrup. It really provided the perfect addition of sweetness to the dish while still allowing the flavors of the steak to really stand out. The twice-baked potato reminded me of the times my father twice baked potatoes as a kid. Hard top shell broke open with a creamy textured potato filling. -- Overall - This restaurant was excellent. It provides a space for the locals and visitors to get together and have a large selection of local flavors with twists along the way. The owner clearly takes pride in what he puts on the table, and the guests are treated with a great experience. Make sure you walk through the restaurant to see all the different dining spaces, which is a great conversation starter. read more

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Fire and Ice leaves me nostalgic for those happy moments we celebrate with families. I could go on for hours about Middlebury and F&I but I won't bore you with my college life. This restaurant has hosted me through new children, new friends, new step families, siblings , and illnesses! The little room for the children to tuck away and color is so thoughtful, and the decor is fascinating throughout. The food is always impeccable and delicious. I can't wait to go back. read more

The food is super good! The mozzarella triangles are awesome, the entrees are huge! My boyfriend and I come here for our anniversaries and it's so special! The ambience is the best! It's the cutest restaurant I've ever seen! It has such a fun vibe! The servers are all super nice! Everything is such great quality and locally sourced as well so even though it's on the more expensive side it's for a reason! The pub fare is more fairly priced the entrees are a little bit more expensive than average but everything is amazing quality once again! Love it here! Great for special occasions! And TO DIE FOR DESSERT! read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - AMAZING BROWNIE SUNDAE - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

We visit Fire & Ice annually on our way through town. The first few times, I was very impressed. However, the last couple years have fallen short. We've had some issues with slow service & mistakes with our food. The most recent visit we had a great server and food came out quickly & accurately. Hoping it stays this way. We loved the French onion soup & maple bourbon steak dinner. The mojo pasta tasted a little off, but it could have been a personal preference We love the decor here. There are so many unique rooms & lots of things to look at read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - French onion soup - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

This is the coolest restaurant I have ever been in! Service was great and food was delicious- great place to have a family dinner or just pop in read more

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The ambiance is kinda nice. The food was decent. I'd eat here again and can recommend it.

THE most delicious Lobster rolls I've ever had! Such a fun, cozy spot. Everyone loved their food! read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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I ordered the prime rib Sinatra (cooked medium), which comes with grilled shrimp. The original prime rib comes medium rare; I prefer my meats to be cooked medium. Nonetheless, I added a side of Cajun scallops. The meal came with complementary bread and butter. The ambiance is very tranquil, and the sever was very responsive and upbeat. The prime rib was fantabulous with the perfect flavor and seasoning. The accommodative shrimp and scallops had a phenomenal taste as well. read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - Scallops - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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I just had dinner at Fire & Ice this evening and it was fabulous! One of the best restaurants I have tried in years. I had the North Country Burger. That maple candied bacon on the burger was delicious. The burger patty itself was also exceptionally good aside from all the great stuff they put in it. I can't say enough good things about it. And the price was quite reasonable for its quality. I had the maple crème brûlée for desert and I thought it too was exceptionally delicious. There were a lot of other great looking things on the menu which I would love to try in the future too. I also really like the atmosphere here. The decor isn't just a kitschy collection of stuff on the walls. It actually feels like a collection of cool antiques deliberately chosen and carefully placed to create a wonderfully funky kind of place. And this may not be an important point to most people but to me it is really important that the place is not terribly loud. The noise level is actually quite reasonable. I can actually have a conversation with my date here. Of course the food was so good that I spent most of the time eating rather than talking, but we could talk easily. In summary, I will look forward to coming back here as often as I can to try more of their food. read more

3 stars for the food, but 5 stars for the service/atmosphere. My boyfriend ordered a burger, which he thought was good but not spectacular. I ordered a caprese panini, which was extremely difficult to eat as it was pretty greasy & stuffed to the brim. The mashed potatoes were pretty dry, fries were mediocre, and bread was nothing to rave about. I ordered a margarita, which was fine, but a little watery and nothing special. Dessert was good-- maple creme brûlée! The interior is kitschy and a lot to look at; the chain restaurant that comes to mind for comparison is Buca di Beppo where there's photos, artifacts, etc all around the dining area. The porch looked nice but we opted to eat inside. Our service was fantastic; the waitress was extremely kind without being pushy or overly attentive. She took care of us and didn't mind our questions/substitutions. We really appreciated the level of service she gave, which is why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 3. read more

This is a long-standing "graduation dinner" restaurant, that of course is not only for Middlebury College, but also lots of area high school graduations. It's a great family restaurant in old New England tradition. The prime rib is still excellent, or was for me anyway. The salad bar boat is no more, due the COVID19 pandemic, but I didn't often bother with salad bars anyway, so not a loss for me. For a good meal, especially a romantic one or a special occasion, it is still a great spot. read more

The restaurant is very quaint and cute! Lots of decorations and a warm environment. The food is delicious. We had the French onion soup, salad, prime rib and Alfredo. The word we kept using throughout the meal was "fresh". The salad tasted as though they went out back and picked the lettuce for my plate right before serving it! Our server Lynn was very attentive and had great recommendations (although you can't wrong with anything served here). Really great place overall. They also have complimentary chocolate milk from the local dairy farm! read more

Fire & Ice Restaurant - Prime rib with mashed potatoes - Pubs Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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t is with the heaviest of hearts that I report the latest casualty of the Covid. The salad bar at Fire & Ice. For 20+ years the spectacular salad bar room with mahogany motorboat in the middle of the room was the absolute highlight of any trip to Middlebury Vt. The selection on salad bar elevated Fire & Ice to be one of the preeminent restaurants in New England. But alas it has been removed. Sigh. Thank you for the good times and the excellent meals. It feels like a death in the family. Now I will need a new restaurant in Vermont. If you have a suggestion private message me. read more

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I went here for dinner with a friend and her daughter. There is so much history and memorabilia inside. It takes multiple minutes to tour the whole place and see at all. They have several different rooms were small or large group can be seated. In our booth, we were surrounded by lots of pictures of celebrities in their heyday, mostly from the 40s and 50s. I was glad to be impressed with everything we ate. The salad bar is super. They have lots of options. Several different fresh baked breads that you slice yourself. Various toppings that you can put on your salad. They have sushi, and fresh fruit. Terrific carrot cake. You can make multiple trips. It cost $14, or you can add the salad bar onto any entrée for $7. I liked that the serving portions are sizable. The food is not exactly inexpensive, I spent a lot of money. It was $95 for two people and that doesn't include drinks. The service all around, wasn't stellar, but they try hard and are attentive. I would go back again for their happy hour. Where the á la carte appetizers are 40% off. I recommend this place for occasions that are special, like an anniversary or a birthday party. read more

I love their food and miss their wonderful salad bar which included all-you-can eat shrimp!! And breads, olives, roasted garlic, lots of salad vegetables and dressings!! read more

Outstanding selection of American style standards. Nice selection of local beers. Meatloaf was excellent.