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    Handy's Lunch

    4.6 (291 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 1:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Handy's Lunch Photos

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    HANDY'S LUNCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Ana H.

    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.

    SST Breakfast Sandwich
    Doug M.

    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!

    David L.

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

    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.

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

    Big Daddy Breakfast with Blueberry pancakes
    Casie R.

    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!

    Cecilia P.

    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!!

    Breakfast Sandwich-Home Fries
    Shane M.

    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.

    Menus

    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.

    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.

    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!

    Kelly H.

    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!

    Bacon cheeseburger

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    earl h.

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

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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

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    earl h.

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    11 months ago

    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.

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    1 year ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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

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    earl h.

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    2 years ago

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

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Handy's Lunch

    August First

    August First

    4.3
    (526 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Locally owned and independently operated bakery with a counter dining experience. Casual ambiance…read morewith indoor and outdoor seating (garage doors that can be rolled up to expose the front of the cafe on nice days). A no laptop policy keeps things flowing and encourages folks to talk vs work. Breakfast menu is available all day while lunch starts at 11 and goes until close at 3p. We tried a few things: * croissant - super flaky and perfectly made. * breakfast sandwich - with sausage. Buttery and crispy edges toast with fried egg and melted cheese with sausage. One of my favorite breakfast sandwiches ever. * banner eighteen - a play on cheesesteak with broccoli mushrooms and shaved steak in a sesame hogie. This one had slight spice and a slight taste reminiscent of a combination pizza. It's a big sandwich and quite tasty. * oatmeal raisin cookie - not too sweet which I loved. Chewy. * fresh baquette. Bread . . . . . * maple lemonade - slightly sweet with a good bit of tartness. It was good! I'd definitely comeback here if I'm craving some sandwiches

    We tried out August First when visiting the Vermont area at the recommendation of a local. We came…read moreduring a busy lunch rush, and although the cafe was crowded, the line moved quickly and we received our food fast as well. We tried the eat the east breakfast sandwich ($11) and the vermonter sandwich ($16). I especially liked the vermonter sandwich and the bread it came on. The cafe also sells various bread items and baked goods. One thing to note is that since the cafe is counter-serve, seating is also first come first serve. We were able to snag a seat right as someone left, but for that reason I would recommend coming at a less peak time if able. August First is deservedly a busy spot in Burlington and I would be there often if I were a local.

    Photos
    August First
    Griddled Biscuit   Ig @josieinflavortown
    Griddled Biscuit Ig @josieinflavortown
    Daymaker   Ig @josieinflavortown

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    Daymaker Ig @josieinflavortown
    The Cafe Hot

    The Cafe Hot

    4.7
    (107 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Came into The Hot Cafe for breakfast and ordered the breakfast sandwich. It wasn't very busy--no…read moreline when I arrived, and most people seated already had their food--so I was surprised that my sandwich still took about 30 minutes to come out. I had great expectations because of reviews and I hate to leave a negative review on popular places. The cashier/server was friendly, and the place has a classic small American café vibe, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the food really missed the mark for me. The "crispy cheese" just tasted burnt rather than crispy, and there were way too many greens--cilantro and parsley--which completely overpowered the sandwich. I also didn't care for the sauces at all. Overall, it wasn't a good sandwich. I didn't even finish it and ended up going somewhere else to eat. Between the long wait and the disappointing food, I don't think I'd come back.

    I'm so glad I found The Cafe Hot while looking up places for breakfast in town. When we visited in…read moreSept. 2025 the street in front was under construction, but I promise it is worth it. The menu is a little chaotic and hard to read, but I did my research beforehand and knew I probably wanted the brakefast sandwich. Luckily Nate ordered the special number 8 and my friend got the basterd bing, so we all kind of shared. Everything is vegetarian! The employee taking our order was super friendly and kind, very much appreciated! We also got some coffee drinks and a donut to share. The donuts are made with biscuit dough, which was interesting and tasty. The texture is quite dense but not dry. Our food was ready quickly and the portions were large - you could definitely share something if you're not super hungry. I need to take a moment to talk about the number 8 sandwich. It BLEW MY MIND in the greatest way ever. I LOVE when I eat foods I've never had, even more so when those foods are delicious and mind-boggling. This is a breakfast sandwich on a tasty sesame bun and it features chicken fried egg. So imagine a pile of scrambled eggs that they somehow deep fry(???) and it turns into something that so closely resembles fried chicken it's wild. Seriously I'm still thinking about this sandwich. I know it sounds so weird but really you just have to try it. The brakefast sandwich was good, but VERY MESSY. Plan for lots of napkins. I will be back for the number 8.

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    The Cafe Hot
    Biscuit breakfast sandwich
    Biscuit breakfast sandwich
    The Cafe Hot

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    Henrys Diner

    Henrys Diner

    4.3
    (397 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Super cool old school diner in Burlington! There was a line outside, but I got right in to sit at…read morethe counter since it was just me. Service spectacular! The food was coming out super quick. I got the skillet with corned beef hash, and ended up ordering some gravy to top it with. It was super tasty. Overall, this is a super cool place to come for breakfast in Burlington. Great fast service. It's some really good food.

    Have you ever wondered why there was such a high turnover rate for servers here? It's because of…read morethe management. The management treats staff with an unbelievable level of disrespect. Servers are made to feel incompetent over the smallest mistakes, like one error suddenly ruins everything, yet the kitchen is apparently allowed to make mistakes without the same treatment or accountability. The double standard was impossible not to notice. What really shocked me was seeing staff get yelled at in front of customers. At one point I saw a server visibly holding back tears after being spoken to so harshly. It created such an uncomfortable atmosphere while trying to eat breakfast. The kitchen staff was also loudly cursing throughout the restaurant. It made the environment feel chaotic and hostile, especially considering there were kids around. Honestly, I didn't want to hear that either while trying to enjoy a meal. Manager Kim also came across as snarky and arrogant toward staff, which completely put me off. The attitude from management overall seemed toxic and dismissive. The food itself was fine -- nothing special, but reasonably priced. Unfortunately, decent prices don't make up for the environment. I also witnessed staff openly talking badly about people behind their backs, which only added to the negativity. Overall, it was a horrible experience, and I can't justify supporting a business that appears to treat its employees so poorly. No restaurant is worth that kind of environment.

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    Henrys Diner
    Belgian Waffles, scrambled eggs and hash.
    Belgian Waffles, scrambled eggs and hash.
    Henrys Diner

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    The Skinny Pancake Burlington

    The Skinny Pancake Burlington

    3.8
    (977 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    After getting in late and sleeping in we decided to go get breakfast someplace local! We walked…read moreabout 10 minutes from our hotel and came across the waterfront. We ordered 2 savory and 2 sweet crepes with milkshakes all around and a side of fries. Our ranking overall was The Cubano, Apples and Brie, Lovemaker, and PBB and Brie but overall all of them were great. My ranking was The Cubano, the Love maker, the PBB and Bee, and then the Apple and Brie with a Blueberry Compote. Which if you know me is a bit of a surprise because I love apples and Brie but all of it was so good, but especially the Cubano. My milkshake was a seasonal blueberry compote while the vanilla local ice cream, and everyone else got the maple milkshakes which I tried and very much enjoyed.

    We were down in the waterfront area and were feeling a bit peaked. So what is better to quell the…read morehunger than a good savory crepe for lunch? As out-of -towners we were gently guided through the process - get a number, snag a table, stake out your claim, and return to the counter to order your food. We got drinks and waited on getting served. They were busy, so there was a bit of a wait on our order. That is completely understandable as chepes must be individually made rgt before serving. What came out totally matched my expectations. I had the Apples&Brie. Technically "Savory" but is adjacent to "Sweet" The perfectly cooked crepe was filled with crisp sweet Vermont Apples, creamy gooey brie (from Vermont cows perhaps?) and Vermont Bluberry Compote. Not overly sweet and a yummy mix of textures and flavors. My best beloved had the Lumberjack. A very manly item filled with Ham and Cabot Cheddar. He ate every bite which indicated his approval of the meal. Highly recommend this spot for a casual delicious treat any time of day.

    Photos
    Game room at BTV
    Game room at BTV
    Blueberry crepe
    Blueberry crepe
    Kid space part two at BTV

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    Kid space part two at BTV
    The Farmhouse Tap & Grill

    The Farmhouse Tap & Grill

    4.0
    (2k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This was our first visit to the Farmhouse. It was an exceptional dining experience. Though the main…read moreroom was large and seemed loud at first, it quickly become an enjoyable night out. This was mainly due to the great service and delicious meals ordered by each of us in our family of three. Our table was never left waiting and the food was served hot. Our meal choices were varied, including apps such as steak tartar and cheddar ale soup for one and the meatloaf plate and the turkey burger for the others. Everything was made with original flavor additions such as homemade sauces, fresh breads, and unique use of herbs and spices. Lastly, I was told to mention that the hand cut fries were exceptional. Since we visit Burlington often, we look forward to returning to the Farmhouse to try other dishes on their menu or just ordering the same meals since they were so good. We all agreed that this restaurant has definately moved to the top of the list for our next trip to Vt.

    Delicious burgers! Cooked perfectly and quality meat. Fries good too. Nice side of greens if you…read morechoose greens instead of fries. 4 stars instead of five only because my husband had a salad with chicken which was very underwhelming. The server told him that it wasn't hot chicken, it was cold chicken. So he was warned, but it was just kinda meh. Come for the burgers!

    Photos
    View of the bar from our table
    View of the bar from our table
    Start your meal with a cheese plate full of local cheeses! Restaurant Burlington Vermont, American restaurant Burlington.
    Start your meal with a cheese plate full of local cheeses! Restaurant Burlington Vermont, American restaurant Burlington.
    Rotating draft list always full of VT's finest beers and ciders!

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    Rotating draft list always full of VT's finest beers and ciders!

    Handy's Lunch - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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