We loved everything about this gem. My sister and I were in town and so glad we found this place off the beaten path. We were pleasantly surprised to see it sits right on the water. Once you enter, fresh cinnamon rolls are being made in front of you. It's counter service and everyone was so nice and helpful. They give you a whimsical item to place on your table (we got a wooden birdhouse) and that's how they identify your table as they bring the food out. We had the protein bowl and Avo toast. And of course a cinnamon bun. Loved everything we ordered. Super cozy place that looked like a local favorite. read more

Haymaker Buns - OG cinnamon bun - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

We stopped here for lunch on the way up to Burlington and found the location by chance. The cafe / restaurant is tucked down an alley right along the river which makes it for an incredible view from where you sit. You order first then find a table but if it's busy find a table first then order if someone can order while the other waits. We ordered the chicken and the egg sandwich, wagu beef sandwich side of fries and faro salad. I was mistakenly charged for 2 chicken sandwiches ( waiting for credit to post ) but regardless it's nyc prices. Bill came to $70+ which is expensive. The food was excellent but for $18 you would think you would get at least one side ( fries or salad) for that price. The fries are $7 which again it's not a big town but charge high prices. It was a Monday lunch time service and our food took about 30 minutes to arrive which is long - I think they were overwhelmed and the staff was small - which is why it took so long. I understand it's a small college town but I'm not sure I would come back. Again the food is excellent quality wise but not sure it's worth it. read more

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A lovely place to get coffee, pastry, or a full meal. Was happy to be able to get some work done on my laptop by the river, but the music choices were rough and it's too bad people feel so comfortable being on their phones in public, really dampened the vibe. read more

A fantastic cafe bakery hidden off the Main Street in Middlebury. Absolutely worth it. Beautiful location right on the creek. Plenty of seating. Friendly staff. I'm sure this place is amazing with outdoor seating in the summer. The food is expensive but all delicious. Their OG bun is a cross between a cinnamon roll and a sticky bun. It's sweet, sticky and delicious. The Apple bun was yummy too. Husband enjoyed the meat one but he said it wasn't for him. Didn't get a chance to try other food. The coffees were solid. read more

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Breakfast and lunch place in center of Middlebury, right by Otter Creek. Specializes in cinnamon buns but have various other pastries, coffee, soup and sandwiches as well. The place was pretty busy on a Monday lunch hour. You order at the counter out front. The pastries are given to you right away, while they bring the hot food to you. The space inside is pretty interesting, and they have bigger tables at the main level, but there is area that goes down a few steps with small tables where you get a view out the windows to see the creek. I got their classic OG cinnamon bun, and their soup of the day which was a pumpkin soup. The OG bun tasted like a cinnamon bun, and was decent. The bowl of soup was pretty thick, creamy and sweet, and has some caramelized onions to dress it up. Soup also includes three pieces of bread. Tasted alright, and was a good to have some warm soup on a cold day. $20ish overall for the food. read more

Haymaker Buns - pumpkin soup by the creek - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

Every time we go to Haymaker, everything is perfect. The buns are incredible (can't go wrong) and the flavors are fun and creative. We miss living right next door, so on our weekend trip to Vermont we couldn't miss a trip to Haymaker. read more

Haymaker Buns - Blood orange jam and toasted hazelnut bun - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

Friendly service. They were able to make a hot vegan breakfast option for us that was not on the menu. Good coffee. Busy college vibe at breakfast. Wish they had more vegan options for breakfast. Highly recommend them having some JUst egg in the back for making a scramble. Our college kid ran into several friends there and their vegan scone was tasty. read more

I wish we were hungry enough for a meal, the maple iced Latte and OG bun we had were delicious. The gentlemen behind the counter were super friendly and the building and location is fabulous! I hope to return on my next visit to Vermont! read more

Haymaker Buns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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Love, Love , LOVE everything about this place! Food is phenomenal- Just crazy about the variety of brioche buns from dessert style, to savory with wild mushroom, Vermont Cheese, and herbs. So many rotating options. I am stuck on the Shakshuka Toast! Unique and outstandingly delicious. See my pictures! Staff remembers everyone and is kind, good hearted, professional and seriously well versed on EVERYTHING! Order and pay at the counter and they will give you a special marker item for you to put on your table for the staff to identify you and serve your meal. Outdoor seating on the beautiful deck overlooking the Otter Creek River a view of the historic buildings of Middlebury! Inside- 2 levels of seating. First Come-First Seated! Sometimes the bakers give presentations on making their Buns on a long table near the bakery area=where the buns are! I had the opportunity to watch house baker Elio roll out and create fresh OG Buns...so much fun! I have become a regular here and encourage everyone and anyone to enjoy the food and ambiance! P.S. Do not forget to pick up some 4 pack House made OG buns to put in your own fridge/freezer! read more

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Food selection, presentation and black coffee great. Quick service, atmosphere and view of the creek relaxing.

We wanted some soup on a cold, snowy day. Couldnt find any, but Haymaker had some. It was very good. BUT, it feels like your getting killed on the price. Ridiculously expensive soup! 3 cups of soup, fourty bills and NO piece of bread! Again, it was good but.... on the other hand, its a classic example of supply and demand economics in a college town. read more

The Best in town, for food and service, and ambiance The selection of baked goods is excellent, the coffee is excellent, the lunch menu is changing most every day, with fresh creative and delicious ingredients..... Many levels of seating inside and outside on the deck, watching Otter Creek flowing down stream to the waterfall... read more

Every meme Al I have ever had here has been great. The egg and cheese sandwich is the best I have ever had. read more

Any baked sweet treat is a star in my book. This place is tucked down a side street and has a cool commercial vibe with awesome treats. I loved my banana bread. Partner in fun had a rhubarb bun and gobbled it up. He didn't share so I cannot comment. We stat outside watching the angry river flow. Such a cool spot and the staff are awesome. read more

Who would have thought in a small town one could find great buns & good coffee? I was treated to a bun another day,& it was full of warm buttery vegetables. Ok the veggies are healthy & the butter is not. It's super tasty though. Today I ordered an iced pistachio latte. It was very good, although admittedly I've had better elsewhere. The workers were very fun to chat with, & the ambiance & location on the river are very cool. read more

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This place is amazing. Holy crap. It took me three tries to finally get in this place because the hours are so weird (my one complaint). I'm mad that I have been going to otter creek when this place exists. Ok, I got a pistachio rose latte and their cinnamon roll brioche bun. Amazing. This is the last coffee place in middlebury I have tried. I have not been impressed with any of them, and have downright disliked some (otter creek). This place is quality. Go here. read more

A coffee shop with crappy coffee, & for some principled reason no artificial sweetener to mitigate the mediocrity. For a refill of my drip coffee (to which I wouldn't subject myself), it is required to get back in the food line & pay full price. Oh the humanity. The place wasn't even busy on the morning we were there, a Friday morning in January, but the egg sandwich with bacon was served on an incompletely cooked bun--it'd've been great for a dinner roll dripping with butter, but was enormously disappointing in this context. And worse, the bacon was presented as a few bits--as if in a salad or a garnish, buried in the doughy bun--not even a single slice's worth, grossly insufficient & quite unfulfilling. We're going elsewhere for the rest of the weekend. read more

This was some of the best food we had on our Vermont vacation. Stopped at the Middlebury location for lunch on our drive to Burlington and had two amazing salads. Yes, you read that correctly, amazing salads!!! They were just perfectly dressed, crispy and textured, and so well seasoned. My partner had the kale salad and the kale was actually softened, which took it to another level. We also had the funfetti cookie and brownie. My gf said the brownie is the best she's ever had, and I had to agree. It's somehow both cakey and fudgy at the same time. We also ordered cinnamon sugar lattes, which were bangin--not overly sweet and you could actually taste the coffee. We loved it so much we decided to visit the Burlington location the next morning to try the buns. I ordered all three sweet varieties and omg... out of this world. They are so soft and light but packed with flavor. The Oreo bun was a masterpiece--how did they make such a light dough so chocolatey?? Just wow overall. Service was great at both locations, but especially in Middlebury. The Middlebury location was also a great place to sit and eat--lots of space and natural light. I didn't spend time at the Burlington location (just took the buns to go), but it looked nice in there too. One note: the Burlington location can only do drip coffee, but there is a coffee shop next door for your espresso needs. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Haymaker Buns - Cinnamon sugar latte with oat milk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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Food is really good, but wildly overpriced. I got 3 sandwiches (no sides) and 2 ice teas. After leaving an 18% tip (Minimum suggestion on the screen) my bill was $70. There is no wait staff, you order at the bar and they bring it to you. It also was a 30 minute wait to get food. ill never return. read more

Was so excited to grab takeout on our travels, but oof, this was a disappointment! The space was cute, but that's about it. Got the falafel salad--majority of the greens were slimy & skunky, and the "falafel" was completely tasteless...like, there was no flavor/salt/spices/I don't even know how one would call this falafel. More like a fried, dry, unseasoned chickpea ball. If you're going to have this on the menu, the bare minimum should be fresh greens and yummy falafel- this was not that. The sauce was also super bland. The fingerling potatoes were served with a grossly unappetizing giant blob of cheese on top- listen, I love potatoes and cheese but this was just bizarre and oily and gloopy. Maybe the coffee is good? read more

Fun place with lots of professors, students, artists, writers. This is definitely the happening place in town. Don't miss it. Buns incredible. Delicious breakfast sandwiches Great coffee, a little pricey, but worth every penny. read more

Tried the new location on Pine st in Burlington. The sweet treats were yummy, and the matcha was an interesting and fun color, but definitely good quality. It was surprisingly pricey and the space got loud very quickly. read more

Haymaker Buns - Banana pecan scone with maple frosting and a cinnamon bun - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

The sticky buns are good. They have cool flavors for sure and the inside is super cute! However the prices are a little ridiculous and the staff is not very welcoming. The cookies are good but small and expensive. If you're looking for not insanely priced pasties there's other places to go. Morningside in Brandon has great sticky buns! read more

The buns are so worth the wait and I loved the vanilla cardamom latte. It's also nice to sit and watch the water go bye. And sometimes when you are waiting for your order to go you get to watch the buns being made, and you can ask questions about the process. Fun! read more

My favorite spot I've found in Middlebury. The bun I ordered (spinach and goat cheese) was exceptional, great flavor. I also tried the falafel salad and it was light and refreshing. Exactly what I wanted. The chai latte was also pretty good. The outdoor patio seating above Otter Creek creates a nice ambiance with a pretty view. read more

Haymaker Buns - Falafel salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

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The coffee was great! The OG bun earns its name, oh God, it's so-o-o good. The iced cinnamon roll I tasted was light with just the right amount of spice. An egg sandwich on a meat-lovers roll made a perfect breakfast protein hit. You'll have to look at other people's pics. The four of us couldn't wait to dig in. read more

This place is so cute! The workers are so friendly as well. The buns are delicious and had a life changing grilled cheese sandwich here. I highly recommend the iced chai if you like very sweet drinks! read more

Food was delicious, space was open and airy, good parking, and great service. Our order: My husband got the burger and fries - The burger was cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy and tender. It came with a nice side salad. I ordered the Haymaker salad - comes with tender greens, roasted vegetables, candied nuts, apples, and cubed white cheddar. It was hearty and refreshing. My 9-month old son had the cauliflower soup and bread and he loved it. It was rich and creamy and had an herb drizzle on top. The portions were a good size and we were full by the end. The space was very accommodating for a young family. High chairs are easily accessible. We sat next to the window and had a nice view. The music was relaxing, so this is a great place for a meal or to get some work done. People can sit upstairs or downstairs. As it was near closing at 2:00pm, one of the staff members offered us the last sugar donut from the display, which was a nice treat. We would definitely come again. read more

BEautiful place and very good food. Sad about our shishito peppers order: paltry at best. Looking forward to making our frozen buns! BTW, why do they run out of buns? Is that for caché? Mahbe get up earlier? read more

Haymaker Buns - Shishito peppers serving size. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

Our party had steak salad and steak sandwich today and the steak was very tough and hard to slice or chew.

I love coming here on a sunny day, for a leisurely lunch overlooking the water. Yummy food made by friendly people what else do you want?

An utter delight; beautiful space, lovely staff, delicious food at a reasonable price. Can't wait to go back next time we're in town.

A treasure in Middlebury. Search it out, well worth it! In the spring, have lunch on the deck.

These people are amazing! There really isn't anything better than a Daymaker Mocha on a Monday morning!

Tables with views of the river inviting a long leisurely meal. Have plenty of time to take in the views because service of food from the kitchen is very very slow. read more

Got three item there this morning. The bun with breakfast meat and cheese was ok, The dough was not brioche more like white bread. A chocolate brioche that was really a chocolate doughnut without a hole. A scone which again was short on any butter dense, overworked and went in the circular file after one bite. The Arcadian is fabulous their roommate comes up short. read more

Favorite place in town for breakfast, or when I'm in the mood for something sweet. They may be known for the buns, but they make a damn good donut too. If somebody asked me if I would recommend this place I would say in a heart beat "it's never a bad time for haymaker!" read more

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Excellent food, fun atmosphere, great buns (the autumnal sausage bun? AMAZING) and really good coffee. Loved the pumpkin nutella muffins as well. East meets West bun needed more spice, but was still a delicious mix of honey and pecan. Gorgeous views of the river. Want to pick this place up and take it home. read more

Haymaker Buns - seating area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Middlebury, Vermont

Adorable, urban and cozy! Great sandwiches and salads. Delicious breads and treats! Lovely water view. Charming and wonderful!

Stopped here on our way through town and were disappointed to find it was no longer The Lobby. The vibe was more like a coffee shop than a restaurant as it was filled with college students studying at tables. We ordered at the counter and ate at one of the few available tables. Food and wine was good, but service was fair and disorganized. We also had to ask for our table to be cleaned. Location is good - river view. read more