I don't get the rave reviews. The man taking orders was nice. I had 2 eggs scrambled with rye toast, bacon and potatoes. The eggs and toast were fine, the bacon was limp and flavorless and the potatoes had to be at least 3 days old. Dried out and just plain awful. A fried premade hash brown patty would've been a huge improvement. There is no way that those breakfast potatoes should have been served. No frills space. For a 2 egg bfast that cost $12.50 either make the potatoes fresh everyday or don't serve any at all. And good bacon is available. Buy some. read more

Searched "best Ruben" and Handy's popped up. The owner made my Ruben fresh Bread toasted to perfection. Sauerkraut and dressing the right amount. Added flavor but didn't take away from the star of the dish- the Pastromi. Great quality, cooked perfect. Huge sandwich. Fries were crispy. Great friendly place. Talked with the owner. Great family business. 3rd generation story. How often do you go for lunch and leave like you just visited close friends?? Literally... Definitely would come back and support a local business that makes great food. read more

Handy's Lunch - Ruben with Pastrami, sauerkraut, thousand island, crispy edge bread. Nice crunchy fries. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

We loved it. Fresh off the plane from an early morning flight from Florida we were hangry...cold....and in search of a late breakfast place. We somehow landed here and so glad we did. We love these types of places. Nothing fancy, just good food and nice people. There are no tables, just a big u shaped counter. Everyone was very friendly. Along with some strong coffee to wake the heck up and hot cocoas for the kids, I ordered a 'eggs over hamburger' with a side of pancakes. Delicious! Was great tasting, warm, with a good dose of protein to full feel. Along with the pancakes and our first 'Vermont Maple Syrup'. Should we head back to VT to go back skiing, I want this to be our 'regular'. read more

We were greeted with a big smile as soon as we walked in. It's a small, cozy place with a luncheonette style. I ordered their Black Belt Sandwich, and it was delicious! It seemed huge at first, but it was so good that I ended up eating it all. read more

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There is not enough space to say all that is necessary to express, what a treasure that Handy's is. Earl is such a friendly person, always greets you like family, food is amazing and very fairly priced. I highly recommend Handy's Lunch. read more

Loved the warm ambiance and world class breakfast Just needed a larger appetite My son told us we could not miss this read more

Loved this place for lunch in Burlington! This is a text book old school lunch counter in the heart of Burlington...and you have to go! We went with the SST...a filling sando on two pierces of french toast with egg and sausage and cheese...comes with a side of maple syrup. Man this thing was good. For the brave of heart they have a sandwich called the Chuck Norris which was consumed on Man v Food...I am to old to down that and still make the new year...but impressive! The staff was incredibly friendly...and the owner was working the grill that morning...just good people putting out affordable and quality food. In fact he mentioned to us that his son had just successfully completed the Chuck Norris (super sized) that weekend...awesome! We are glad we found the place! read more

Handy's Lunch - SST Breakfast Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Quick service and friendly staff you can tell that this is a local favorite based on the energy the servers have with the clientele read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Yum! Hubs and I split the Big Daddy breakfast. Lots of food! The blueberry pancakes were delicious. The home fries were cooked perfectly. It's definitely diner food, but really yummy! Would definitely go back again. read more

What a great friendly environment. He's remembered us coming in each time. 1 time a year Love it. Food is great read more

Handy's Lunch - Blacks belt at Handys. Love love love this food. Been coming here 4 years in a row and they have remembered us from the get go. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Breakfast. 10/10. 2 eggs, bacon and hash browns. Great service. Love an old school diner.

My Ohana and I had an amazing experience at Handy's, and I highly recommend your visiting this establishment! The owner and chef is personable and will touch base to see how you're enjoying your food. Service is top tier! Food is to die for! I recommend the big daddy with blueberry pancakes! read more

Handy's Lunch - Big Daddy Breakfast with Blueberry pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Sliced store bought corned beef is not house made corned beef hash, it is sliced store bought corned beef. Weak French toast too.

You will not find a better place to eat in all of Vermont. Nestled in a quiet corner just a couple blocks from church street, Handy's is ran by the absolute best people and serves the best food. There is free street parking on the surrounding streets, just look at the signs for length of time. The cozy diner houses a horseshoe counter that can often be packed, but with the quick service, I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a seat, even on the weekends at 11 am. I've eaten here at least a dozen times over the course of 6 years, and Earl remembers me, my family, and my friends each time we come in. He remembers what I studied in college, he remembers our anniversary date, and he's so expresses a level of welcome that I've never experienced else where. When you go, just please get one of the breakfast sandwiches served on French toast that automatically come with maple syrup for dipping. They come in several different sizes, depending on your level of hungry/hangover. If you happen to of had something like this before, then I guarantee it's not as good as Handy's. Seriously, a trip to Burlington is not complete without Handy's!! read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Great old school diner vibe, the owner for sure takes pride in his food. Definitely gets you your moneys worth of food. Would go again.

Easily the best breakfast sandwich in Burlington Vermont. Old school lunch counter straight outta the 60's Everything cooked to order and super hot & fresh, coffee always filled, and great service. read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast Sandwich-Home Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Trifecta. Great food, great service, and great ambience. go there. Not a chain. Support local business.

Amazing find while we were on vacation! The owner, Earl (aka Duke of Burlington) knew the locals by name and made us feel so welcome! The food is insanely good, and the home town feel was just as great. You must try his chili dog and the McHandy breakfast sandwich. Doesn't hurt that Earl is a dead ringer for Russell Crow! Run don't walk to Handy's Lunch. read more

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What a great little breakfast and lunch joint. The owner is about as friendly as it gets!! Highly recommend Handy's!

There are no customers here only family and when you find you'll know exactly what I mean. I stayed and talked with Earl for at least an hour and it was like connecting with a cousin. The food is very good and the coffee was perfect. I'll be back here every trip back to Burlington!! Black Belt. read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I've been coming to Handy's since the early 90s when I was in high school. never in all my years and travels of foodie eating, have I had a better burger than the Texas cheeseburger at Handy's. I've also never had an experience of feeling so welcomed and loved as I do with this family. I love striking up a conversation with someone at the counter, it is a true family run place. This is truly a staple and piece of Burlington history. If you're visiting it's a must do and now that my daughter lives there, I've made her pinky swear to try to go at least once a month! read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

This place is great, your quintessential greasy spoon diner! It was busy when we arrived, but there were a few open seats still available at the counter. They only have counter seating, but there are about 13-15 seats. I ordered eggs and bacon which came with home fries and choice of toast, I chose rye. My sister tried the SST which she said was beyond amazing. My food was hot and very tasty too. Definitely a locals type place, but they didn't flinch an eye when us "strangers" showed up. Great service, great food, limited hours, but worth it! read more

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Stopped by for lunch. This place did not disappoint. Earl and staff were so welcoming and hospitable. The food was amazing. The highlight was their famous Texas hotdog. Throw in some fries, pure happiness. Worth the trip!!! Thank you Earl. You're awesome. read more

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I had bookmarked this establishment on Yelp and finally made it here! I am a big fan of diner type restaurants for breakfast, so while in town we came in. We dined on a weekday morning and it was very quiet, but this seems like the type of spot that would get more crowded on a weekend. Parking can be a little tricky around here, but we found a free 2 hour spot on a nearby road. The decor inside is cute and I love that this place has been open since 1945! The restaurant has an old timey feel with it's lunch counter and stools. Food prices are affordable and should be friendly to most budgets. Cute place to visit if you are looking for a unique spot to eat. read more

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Really good food. Great omelette, perfectly-cooked bacon, whole what toast, home fries, had some Vermont maple syrup just to dip the potatoes and fries in. Really good coffee from New England Coffee. Good stuff. Got some great information for my move from the owner and the server (who is a tour guide with the University of Vermont). It's an old-style diner lunch counter. The summary: good, home-cooked, fresh food. Good conversation and friendly people. read more

Great spot for breakfast or lunch. Love the u-shaped counter - it encourages conversation. Friendly staff, good food. What's not to like?

The literal best breakfast food. If you're in burlington and you miss out on this gem you'd be committing a crime

You want tradition? You want great food? You want to feel as if you are part of a family? You need to walk through the doors of Handy's Lunch. Opened three generations ago, current owner Earl greeted our family warmly although they were a half hour from closing. Upon walking in, we sat counterside at stools serving thousands of customers. Earl took our order and immediately took to the grill. Within minutes, our meals were ready and perfect. Juicy, fresh, and flavorful! Around the counter sat a few regulars and Earl knew them by name - even going to elementary school with one. As soon as they sat, their regular orders were on there way. You could tell that Handy's Lunch has been an essential part of Burlington life and we were honored to be there. read more

We stopped here while visiting my SIL and FIL. After stopping in we realized why my FIL loves it so much. This is good food, at a good price, with local people who speak sports. PERFECT for us. No one made us feel out of place even though it was clear that the owner knew every other person. Our waitress was incredibly nice to my two kids, even after a syrup spilling incident. Two thumbs up from the OB family! - try the corned beef hash - it's from scratch! read more

Handy's isn't just about the food (which is good), it's about Earl (the owner). If you enjoy going to an eatery that recognizes you as part of his community in a familial way, greets you by name only after a few visits and always thanks you for your business then this is the only place in Burlington to eat. Earl has created some delicious crazy breakfast sandwiches that have been featured in 'Man vs Food'. So challenge yourself with a 'Chuck Norris', enjoy his freshly made food, Earl's fantastic personality and know you are helping out a local small business to top it off! It's ALL GOOD HERE. It's really a shame that there are fraudulent reviews listed here with actual lies. Food is a personal thing and certain flavors aren't for everyone. Food aside, Earl, the owner works hard to make sure everyone has a good experience. Handy's is actually a place that cares about you as a customer, let them know if you have a problem. It's all about Respect and kindness both ways. read more

Warm and friendly service, delicious food, and intimate seating arrangements. read more

Handy's Lunch - McHandy with sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Friendly staff and great breakfast and lunch food. Mchandys breakfast sandwich and Macho man sandwich were both just what you'd want. Really cool history to the place as well and great atmosphere. read more

What a gem! Whenever I travel, I like to go where the locals go. Well, this place is the place to go! Handy's is the Cheers of Burlington - where everybody knows your name. Small, cozy, counter-style diner with a couple dozen seats. The food is outstanding. Lots of cool menu options. The homemade hash - with lots of corned beef and big chunks of home fries- was some of the best I've ever had. The service is excellent. Earl runs a top-notch operation. My kids think he's awesome, and they wish we could have breakfast here every day! We need to come back for a hot dog some day, which I'm told are the best in VT! read more

Definitely will go back. We called and were told to come on over. It was very crowded and we were seated after a few minutes. Food was good. read more

Mr Handy and daughter were fantastic the food was great best in town! Definitely a place to check out! Thanks Mr Handy From the 5 biker girls on your lawn!! read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

What an OUTSTANDING small town diner with an amazing atmosphere ! If you're looking for a "frapa lapachino" with a half twist and a side of organic goat turds - this is NOT your place ! Handys serves REAL FOOD ! REAL FAST ! read more

Still my favorite place to eat in Burlington. The food is always great. Thre pastrami on the macho man was insanely good. Order it as written or be prepared for some ribbing, lol! Thre free cookie with checking in is thr best way to end your lunch! read more

Handy's Lunch - Not only is the food money, so it's the ceiling! Lol!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I went to Handy's Lunch a little while back. The service wasn't the best as I wasn't even greeted....but the food made up for it. The portions were big and the ingredients were good. read more

This place! Even though it is a little run down.. has wonderful food and friendly staff and customers. The pancakes were delicious and so was the coffee! read more

Best pancakes but the chef understandably would not reveal his recipe . Great staff and seems very popular with the locals. read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont