Folly Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant in Wilmington, VT. This Fall, we visited Folly with family who have a house in the area. They had been raving about it for weeks. For good reasons. Our family informed us that the husband and wife owners of Folly used to be based in New York City. I believe they are the only two people operating Folly. The wife is front of house and the husband is the chef. They are able to manage this because the upscale dining room is small, and because they're good at what they do. We shared a very well curated cheese plate and I also tried some of my wife's Folly Salad, with arugula, spinach, dried cranberries, thin-sliced pears and a Poppy Seed dressing. Well presented and simple, but balanced flavors. I ordered a strip steak with truffle leek cream, which was served with al dente green beans and fried farm potatoes. The steak was sliced in large strips to display a perfect medium rare. It was tender and delicious. The sides were on point too. I also tried a bite or two of the ricotta gnocchi with vodka sauce and Misty Knoll bone in chicken with wilted spinach, shiitakes and bacon. Both looked and tasted great. I doubt that there is a better fine dining experience in the area. Be sure to make reservations. There aren't many tables and the food is reasonably-priced for this level of experience. 5 Stars read more

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I don't really understand the hype around this place. Everyone raves about the food, but to me, it felt like a lot of other pricey farm-to-table spots in the area--nothing particularly special. It's clearly a husband-and-wife operation, and while some might find that charming, I found it frustrating. As someone who works in the industry, I have no problem waiting or understanding when someone's busy. But it was hard to get her attention, and she seemed annoyed even pouring us a second glass of wine. The food took forever, and it honestly felt like they used the "intimate experience" as an excuse for the slow pace while charging whatever they want. It's one of those places people like the idea of more than the actual experience. I don't usually write reviews, but I left feeling pretty annoyed. For the time and money, there are definitely better options around. read more

Feels like an old school, eat in someone's home in Europe vibe....with great food and service. Will definitely come back, but make sure you book well in advance as there's limited seating. We got lucky because it was in between leaf peeping and ski seasons. read more

Great food, great service. Nice owners! I went twice last week. Try the Halibut and the Rack of Lamb. Tasty dessert choices too. read more

Visiting Dover/wilmington for the weekend and happened to overhear the chef/owner of this place talking about a restaurant he owned while standing in line at a market. With a little digging I found it! At first glance online I knew it would be a small, quaint place because you have to email for reservations. Lucky for me they had a two reservations available so I scooped up one! After booking I purposely told my husband to remind me - phone eats first because I knew it would be review worthy! We first had the cheese & meat board. The duck prosciutto, though small, was so good (and new for me!). Typically I'm not a huge fan of Brie but this Brie was wicked good! Wasn't too watery OR too mushy, it was perfect. With the board came a grain mustard, strawberry jam & honey. Honestly, worth it. And little breads. Love little breads. For our main meals I got the filet and my husband got the rack of lamb. Both plates were all but licked clean so we didn't look like crazies! One of my top fav things about this place is the way they present the bill! How unique and cute! I think there are 7 tables of two, so definitely by reservation! Timing of food took a little bit longer than a bigger restaurant but rightfully so as it's only two people working; worth the wait. Don't skip this place if you're looking for a nice night out! read more

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Had an absolutely delicious dinning experience at Folly. A wonderful way to end a Fall Vermont weekends. Making reservations In advance is advised and make sure to slow down and enjoy a wonderful dining experience. Wonderful wine selection and make sure to try items you might have not otherwise have experienced before. We had the Foie Gras Mousse, Sea Urchin, Thai Scallops and Coq Ai Vin finished off with a delicious Pot de crème. We absolutely loved everything, I've not had Foie Gras before, it's was so elegant, simple and delicious without being pretentious. We can't recommend the sea urchin enough, served with excellent French fries, the urchin hollandaise was amazing. Folly is wonderful date night/anniversary/ a rainy Vermont Sunday night experience. We can't wait to come back and make sure we make reservations in advance to ensure a wonderful time with our family/friends. read more

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We were at Folly for New Year's Eve. The first thing to know is that this restaurant is TINY! It has about 5 tables and one waitress served the entire place. Our food and drinks were good--this is a higher end restaurant in Wilmington. The downside was that it was extremely slow. Considering how few people were there, it was surprising how long it took to get our food. The vibe is intimate and candlelit. We didn't have trouble finding parking in downtown Wilmington right outside the restaurant. read more

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We had a really lovely meal at Folly! I highly recommend. Food - Service - Ambiance - The details: small restaurant where they are just doing everything really well. Not a lot of choice on the menu but it was thoughtful, seasonal and everything was delicious. We eat out a lot in our home town of NYC and this meal was one of the best meals I have had in awhile! They also space courses out so you have time to really enjoy your meal and your date. I will definitely come back the next time I am in Wilmington! If you are traveling with kids, head to Dot's down the street. Save Folly's for a date night! read more

Folly - a glass of wine and a glass of wine on a table - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Hubby and I had a lovely candle light dinner at Folly during our snowboard trip at Mt Snow, what a great find! This small intimate restaurant offers limited seatings, reservation is highly recommended. I like the ambience, it's cozy and quiet, definitely perfect for date night. Jade who works in the front was really nice, welcoming and pleasant. Everything we ordered was good. Refreshing Folly Salad, delicious Maine Diver Scallops, and the tasty Vermont Wagyu steaks were perfectly cooked. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed our meal. If you are looking for a quiet/romantic night out with fine dining and not being rush out, this is the place to go in Wilmington/Dover/Mt Snow area. read more

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The meal was perfectly quaint and delicious. This restaurant is very small and gives the vibe of intimate candlelit dinner. The whole operation is run by a married couple, the husband cooking the dishes while the wife serves the front. Because of this small and mighty team the meal will take you 2.5 or 3 hours from wine through all three courses. We didn't complain as this provided my group ample time to drink wine and have excellent conversation. We were the last to leave the restaurant so the husband took time to offer us dessert and coffee while the wife went upstairs to tend to their child. Although we didn't partake that last bit of hospitality went a long way for us. Thank you for an incredible night! read more

This was the perfect dinner location for my girlfriend and me. The restaurant itself only seats about a dozen guests, making it a very intimate and personal setting, and for much of the evening it felt like it was our own private dinner! We started with the folly salad with strawberries and pistachios, which was delicious. My girlfriend really enjoyed the saffron fettuccine as an entree, and my NY strip steak meal with the truffled leek cream sauce and potatoes was the absolute best NY strip steak I've ever tasted. It was cooked perfectly, and while I typically prefer my steak relatively plain, the cream sauce was incredible and really elevated all the elements of the dish. read more

The best meal I've had in a long time! The ambiance was adorable, all the art on the walls was lovely to look at and the music playing reminded me of 1940's NYC or something haha. The food was fantastic, my boyfriend and I couldn't stop complimenting everything- lots of "mmm"s and head nodding. We had the butternut squash soup which was one of the best I've ever had, the texture was very soft, not heavy at all, almost whipped. Next we had the latkes, nice crunch on the edges and soft on the inside. The fruit sauce was delicious too, can't remember if it was apple or not. The shrimp in coconut lime broth was insane I couldn't stop drinking that broth! Finally we shared the steak with potatoes and brussels sprouts- the steak was perfectly cooked and soft, not chewy at all, and the truffle sauce was so good. My favorite part were the brussels sprouts, though... I could've eaten an entire bowl of that with the sauce. And the owners were so sweet! The hostess/waitress was carrying a baby the whole time it was so frickin cute. I didn't realize this place was a two person operation, so if you're not a late person make a reservation for when they open. Our meal ended up lasting around 2.5 hours, which was honestly really nice for conversation and the pacing of the dishes was good since we ordered a lot, but we did have a long-ish drive home so we were so tired and full afterwards haha. I usually don't write reviews but I fell in love with this place :) Too bad I live in MA, I wanna go back already! read more

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We had the most incredible dinner here last night. We were savoring every single bite of our meal and almost couldn't believe how scrumptious everything tasted. They use quality ingredients and the flavor is just so well balanced. We also loved the slower pace of the meal. We travel a lot and both agreed this was our favorite meal of the year. This is a real gem in this town/state/the whole northeast lol and we can't wait to come back! read more

Had a lovely dinner at Folly last night. It's a small place with a handful of tables. The vibe is cozy and comfortable and the food is excellent. We had the salad and a Japanese inspired salmon dish to start. The tangy mango and ginger in the salmon was very delicious. . We shared the Thai Scallops, which had a creamy coconut sauce with all the right hits of lemon, lemongrass and chili oil. The Coq au Vin and Rack of Lamb were perfect. I loved the cous cous with the chili sauce on the lamb. I am looking forward to the leftovers today! Also, the service was excellent. I believe it's a two person/husband and wife team at this restaurant so it's not a rushed dinner, though I found it to be the perfect pace to enjoy the food. read more

We were celebrating our anniversary, but Folly would have made any occasion special. The service is warm and personal as it's an intimate and small space. Reservations are required, email inquiries are promptly answered. Our favorite dish was the diver scallops- we've never had them prepared in such a way and we were so impressed. My husband had the ribeye and I had the duck which we both loved as well. Highly recommend if you're looking for a hidden gem in Wilmington. read more

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Folly is a fantastic spot for an intimate night out. The two owners run the restaurant soup to nuts and do a phenomenal job. The best way I can describe it is world class fine dining in a little classy house. Their menu is small but full of amazing choices. Everything we had from salads, to apps, to dinner and of course desert was an absolute top notch experience. My wife and I have been coming here for years and I'm so thrilled Folly has survived the pandemic and maintained its classy yet quaint and comfortable vibes. read more

What a wonderful restaurant! A little pricey, but worth it! Run by. Husband and wife. Romantic with real candles and the maximum seating is 2 people per table. Very Cozy! read more

This is a small slow food gem that I'd like to keep to myself. The menu is inspired and the tiny dining room is romantic, candle light (real tapers) and lovely. Genuine 1960s jazz just adds to the vibe. Loud pretentious bores just don't belong, so look for some boorish chain steakhouse.my sincere best to this two-person chef/hostess team. A great find. read more

Folly - Hanger steak (Prime) with truffled cream sauce, blistered cherry tomatoes and asparagus. - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

More like 3.5, but I really think it could turn into a 4. I wanted to love this place, I really did. It is incredibly warm and inviting, with dim light and a small, intimate space. We were greeted warmly and taken to our table. When we asked, we were told the story behind the name - basically that they try what they want and play around as they like - which I loved. Now onto the meal itself. The wine was okay, but priced more like NY than Vermont. The oysters were outstanding. I thought the octopus was good, but my friend wasn't impressed. The root vegetables were very interesting. The fish stew was good, and the boiled salmon was terrible. Completely bland and with a slightly weird texture, I'd definitely skip it. The maple creme brûlée was a solid brûlée, but there wasn't even a hint of maple that we could taste. All in all, it's a lovely space with great potential, and perhaps it's just our NY foodie snobbiness, but we were sadly not blown away. read more

Folly - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

On a snowy New Year's Eve after a day of skiing we ventured to Folly for dinner. Located in the quaint town of Wilmington, Folly is a wonderful addition to the fine food restaurants (only a handful exist) in Southern Vermont. It is a small establishment that seats approximately 14 guests and it is only open on the weekends. It is simply but beautifully decorated- the tables were made out of solid wood, I suspect by a Local artisan. Some of the plates and bowls were also locally made-maybe from Bennington Pottery? The menu is uncomplicated and is meant to be a three course meal- farm to table. The menu changes but on this night: My son had oysters poached in a cream tapioca sauce- fabulous My husband had the grilled octopus- homerun My other son had the lobster risotto- spot on I had the Pate that was exclusively created from mushrooms served with a ginger relish- so good The main dishes and desserts were also so fabulous: whole grilled Branzino with capers, rosemary and lemons, a seafood stew made with a chili cream sauce and the rabbit cavatelli... all ingredients locally sourced, organic and fresh. Staff was knowledgeable and service was excellent! Will definitely be back again Also, whoever made the breadsticks, I need that recipe! read more

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Great intimate dining experience. Chef keeps the menu fresh leaving you wanting to go back again next year/season. A must if you're near Wilmington read more

Folly - Shrimp in broth and a wild mushroom risotto - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

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We are staying at The Nutmeg and their owners recommended we try Folly for dinner tonight. I called the restaurant and Jade called me back. We got a reservation and came to the restaurant where we had an amazingly delicious dinner. We both had the halibut and the fish was fresh and cooked to perfection. The service was outstanding and prompt but not rushed. Jade and her partner took over the restaurant in the Spring and have done a great job. Great ambience, great music and great food. If you're in Wilmington, it's well worth the visit! read more

An incredible experience from start to finish. Jade was an amazing hostess and waitress and her husbands cuisine was to die for. Started with a bottle of wine and mushroom toast. It was incredible. The mussels as a second course May have been the best I have ever had. I will forever remember that toast soaked in the white wine and creme fresche broth. For the main course the duck and wagyu beef and they were both 10/10. A truly memorable experience and an amazing place. read more

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Absolutely amazing food. This place is ran by a couple, He is the chef and her their only server. We had, by candlelight, the VT wagyu and duck breast;- both were sinfully good. read more

I can't recommend this spot enough. Went on a date here & had an amazing evening. Owner was super friendly & very helpful while ordering. 3 glasses of wine each & 4 courses - every single plate & glass was delicious. You won't regret it! Will be back!! read more

What a gem! Finally made it to Folly and will definitely be back. The venue and vibe reminded my husband of a 2-Michelin star French restaurant, a tiny spot in Paris named Pierre Sang. The food was really amazing -- practically licked my plate. I had the corn salad (yum!) and the NY strip with the truffle cream sauce and roasted veggies. Cooked perfectly. Can't wait to go back! read more

Our meals were meticulously prepared and presented. The beef was fork tender as was the chicken. The vegetable accompaniments were seasonal , colourful and delicious. Folly gave us the finest meal of our vacation in the Wilmington area. Since it is a small place reservations are a must. read more

Folly - Hours - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Wow. Definitely coming back! This place deserves a Michelin Star for sure. We got many dishes to share and they were all amazing. Some of the highlights included the octopus, the bourride, the ahi tuna, and the bouchanera dessert. Only takes Resy's of two ppl. Very nice atmosphere, intimate and romantic. The staff were fantastic. read more

I was intrigued by Folly's farm-to-table concept & rave reviews. Some of the dishes were phenomenal, but at this price point, the restaurant's shortcomings are very noticeable. Folly is firm on pairs only (only tables that seat two) and reservations are highly encouraged. The result is a warm, romantic atmosphere with attentive service. Our waiter was kind and skilled. Kathleen explained the menu at length. Appetizers were a major miss. At risk of sounding like a snobby out of towner (and seriously not trying to be) the kampachi appetizer suffered greatly from its comparison to a poke bowl. The fish quality was okay, but the pool of ponzu sauce everything sat in was too much. I have frequented several poke places, which have delivered better, more cohesive flavors at a lower price point. The grilled octopus was mediocre and a bit chewy. Where Folly shines is in its locally sourced main courses. The duck breast done medium rare was perfectly prepared and seasoned. The accompanying risotto and grilled peach added a complementary sweetness and depth. I enjoyed the rabbit dish as well, owing mainly to the rich brothy sauce with a touch of acidity. Prepared two ways, both the seared rabbit loin and confit leg were tender and succulent. The black barley kitchari was fine. If you are looking for a romantic and quiet spot with an air of sophistication, this restaurant may still be for you, but I can only recommend the locally sourced main dishes. I'd skip everything else. read more

Fantastic! Everything was delicious, inspired, and the service was excellent, as was the wine list. I highly recommend Folly if you're in the Mt. Snow area. read more

Folly is anything but. 40 year restaurant veterans Kathleen and Peter run their Folly. Their work of love. A place dedicated to couples only. No ripped up jeans or baseball caps no crying babies. A place where you and you special someone can go and enjoy a spectacular meal from an ever changing menu. Beer and wine are available at table side. Simple and private accommodations in Wilmington Vermont a comfortable drive from the city an excellent end to a beautiful and memorable day for us https://youtu.be/EHBFpwe2z5Y Copy and paste to see video of folly read more

Okay, if your ever up in Vermont this is an absolute must. Very adult, high end menu - the meal from apps, entree to desert - all A++++++++get the Guinness infused ice cream. I put this up there with best meals out at a restaurant ever. read more

My girlfriend and I came here for dinner to celebrate the end of our Girl's Vacation in Southern Vermont. What an amazing experience! This is a very small restaurant, most tables seating only two, and we appeared to be the only non-regulars this evening. Tables are lit mainly by candlelight and sunlight. Waitstaff was friendly and explained the menu offerings in great detail. We opted to share a few small plates. We started with the roasted carrot hummus with lemon naan and ginger drizzle. It was a refreshing change of pace from traditional hummus. Next we split the Lobster okonomiyakai (pancake) with pickled ginger and scallion. It was topped with a spicy sauce. It was also delicious and the cook was very generous with the lobster. For our main courses I had the appetizer portion of their Brazilian bourride, which was their interpretation of cioppino with chunks of fresh cod, clams, and shrimp in a tomato broth. My friend had the appetizer portion of the Rye raffagio pasta with black summer truffles. Both were absolutely wonderful. I paired my meal with a glass of their Finger Lakes Riesling. It went very well with all the foods. What worse can I say but wow what a meal. If you are in the area be sure to reserve a table for dinner and enjoy your evening. read more

Folly - New American Near Me - Wilmington, Vermont

Small, intimate restaurant with great service and delicious food. We had: - Spanish octopus with hot pepper relish and avocado crema- outstanding - sea scallop with golden raisin and caviar- also outstanding - foie gras special with roasted pear- one of our favorite foie gras preparations - so delicious - Folly tossed salad- although all of the ingredients were fresh, I would not order this again - winter squash agnolotti - very good - cavatelli with rabbit- our least favorite entree - spicy Brazilian bourride- great flavorful sauce - maple creme brûlée- best creme brûlée we've had There are only five or six tables so I would definitely make a reservation if you want to experience this restaurant. read more

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Best meal of 2021 My daughter and her friend, a large man , and I split the omelette of he day as a first course. It was filled with roasted butterscotch squash , leeks, cheese and truffle oil. We then shared the duck leg with radish, grilled apples and duck jus, and our favorite of the day, large scallops cooked to perfection with squash, Marcona almonds and maple brown butter, a velvet like sauce with scallops that melted in our mouths . As I said, our favorite of the day until we split a large serving of rice pudding with almond extract and almonds. Best rice pudding ever. A delightful Prosecco from Veneto and impeccable service topped the say off. I live on the beach in northern Baja California , Mexico, just thirty minutes from the Valle de Guadalupe, with award winning vineyards and their restaurants. People from all over Mexico and Southern California flock to the renowned Valle restaurants. I have lived in CHATILLON, France ( Paris) off and on for forty five years, and have eaten in almost every Michelin 3 star restaurant in Paris, and Folly is truly of that caliber. Wilmington has so very much to offer in fine dining, I shall return each October to visit. Folly was truly the creme de ja creme. read more

We went to Folly for a special Birthday dinner and it was outstanding. The service was attentive and courses perfectly timed. Each course is visually appealing and perfectly prepared. We had oysters, a beautiful salad main course lamb shank. And the creme brûlée was so good- the best ever!!! I loved the intimate dining experience. The owners have this very fined tuned for the enjoyment of their patrons. I read a reviewer's comment about not allowing children and the fact is one naughty child could potentially ruin the experience for the other patrons. read more

My boyfriend and I dined at Folly for new years eve. It was an exceptional experience - the food was delicious, the atmosphere is cozy, and the staff is lovely. Highly recommend! read more

I'm a little late to write this review, but better late than never! I was brought to Folly for my birthday the other month. The restaurant is small and cozy. Family run, this place definitely has a homey feel. We arrived a little early for our reservation, and because of the limited seating, we had to wait. Not a problem at all, but while seated at the bar, it took forever to be acknowledged or even asked what we'd like to drink. I initially had a bad feeling, but in looking around, I think there was exactly 1 waiter and 1 waitress for the place, both doubling as bartenders. The woman was tending bar while we were sitting there. My immediate thought was that this is not the sort of place you go to to be doted on. Once we were seated, the experience did a complete 180. The waiter walked us through each dish in extreme detail. They knew about our party's allergy concerns and were able to make immediate suggestions. We had two appetizers -one was the salad, and it was great. I had the duck. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! We had a slow-paced meal, which was a lovely change of pace from the normal "rush you" experience. It was almost like we were sitting at a friend's home and lingering was the norm. The restaurant comped a delicious dessert and coffees for the birthday celebration, which was so sweet. This place is a definite 5-star experience! read more

My husband and I decided to treat ourselves on our last night in Wilmington. We had the house salad to start with. It was wonderful with generous fresh leafy lettuce and packed with extra goodies such as beets, carrots, garden fresh tomatoes, and cherries. The bread basket offered 2 yummy choices of a baguette or a savory curlicue breadstick (not sure what to call it) with butter or olive tapenade. The servers were excellent anticipating our needs even before we did. The woman server explained the menu in great detail...so hard to choose! All in all, it exceeded out expectations! Be sure to make a reservation as the dining area is quite small (cozy). *2 minor suggestions 1) cut the large lettuce leaves before serving the salad and 2) offer a vegan option for those of us that lean that way.... read more

There are plenty of amazing restaurants in the area that offer more than just a good meal - but a warm and inviting atmosphere - something *most* restaurants in the valley excel at, and a huge part of why the area is so special. Well, not Folly, unfortunately. My parents are seasonal residents and were becoming regulars at Folly. That came to an unfortunate end recently when they tried to take my wife and I there, and the owner, Kathleen, rudely refused our reservation. When booking a table on Yelp, it says to call for tables of 4 or more, and only takes reservations for 2. So, we called and left a message. To our surprise, Kathleen returned our call and proceeded to (very rudely) tell us that they no longer seat tables larger than 2. Fine - upsetting, but fine. But she didn't stop there - she continued to tell us that we should just find another restaurant in the area to eat at. She then told us that tables of 4 were known for their loud conversation and foul language! She went on and on and on about how awful tables of 4 were, and wasn't the least bit apologetic, warm, or caring about it - I felt like her therapist! Just listening on in horror as she went off on tables of 4. She hates them! I have never in my life been spoken to in such a condescending manner - you'd think I walked in there naked and drunk. She didn't want our business and found the mere request of a table for 4 to be offensive. What?! After she finished her rant, I for some reason still wanted to dine there, so I calmly told her that I understood, and we'd just sit separately, since we are two couples, after all - I didn't think this would be an issue - and she replied with a strong NO! "That would be even worse!" she said - "you'll just keep yelling across the tables at each other!" I'm really not sure what neanderthal friends Kathleen dines with, but we live in NYC and have dinner with friends and family in Michelin starred restaurants and extremely small dining rooms, both of which manage to maintain their world-class atmospheres with tables of 4 and above. I think Kathleen is in the wrong line of work. And you know what - I'm sitting at a table of 1 right now, and I've got something foul to say to Kathleen - it starts with "F" and it ain't Folly! There's lots of amazing restaurants in the area - Two Tannery is about 10 minutes up the road and Cask & Kiln is about 1 minute down the road. Walk into either of those restaurants, and you'll be met with a better atmosphere, meal, and attitude. Folly doesn't want your business, but they do! read more