Unlike many "ethnic" restaurants, Kismet definitely qualifies as "fine dining" due to the attention…read moreto detail in the food, the comfortable, elegant surroundings, and impeccable service. Everybody I interacted with - greeter, waiter, food runners, etc. - were friendly, neat, and professional, which along with the great food made a memorable dining experience. I had no trouble making a 6:00 Saturday reservation earlier that day but it did fill up while I was there so it was probably needed. Though there were some seats that remained open at the bar, so walk-ins might be accommodated there. It was a nice bar, with a very pretty stained glass table lamp on the counter and a very cool-looking bartender adding flair to the otherwise conservatively-attired staff. The menu is extensive and very Turkish. Even the wine list: every wine that I checked was Turkish. I know nothing about Turkish wine but the one I did try (many available by the glass) was enjoyable. I tried a cocktail too; a Turkish Cosmo, made with a Turkish pomegranate syrup. This was good too, tangy and not too sweet. For beers they offer ones from Turkey, Vermont, Mexico, and Connecticut. I was happy not to see any major American brands offered. I don't usually comment on prices, but they seemed slightly on the low side here, for everything: drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I am not complaining! I started with the Cold Meze Platter appetizer, recommended for 2. (Too much for 1 so I took some home.) Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Turkish Salsa, Hadari, and Stuffed Grape Leaves. Everything was very good, and the fresh-baked still-warm hadari bread it was served with was perfect with it. The Baba Ganoush was exceptional, chunky in texture and smoky in flavor. From the very extensive entree section I chose the Surf and Turf: skewers of swordfish and lamb, the latter cooked to order (it came out a perfect medium-rare as requested). The skewers, which also had green pepper and onions, was served with rice, bulghur, grilled tomato, a lemon wedge, and a salad of cabbage and pickled onions. Both the swordfish and lamb were marinated and had lots of flavor. The sides were good too. The portion size was generous and I didn't quite finish it, taking the rest of it home along with some of the appetizer. After finishing my entree and my wine, and taking in the ambience of this relaxing, blue-walled space, it was time for dessert. Among the 8 choices (a refreshingly large number) were 3 kinds of baklava. I went with the Fistikli Çikolata (chocolate, pistachio, and hazelnut) If, like me your experience with baklava has mostly been the junk found on the counter of numerous pizza houses (stale, dry, and overly sweet) this is nothing like that and will change your opinion. The three pieces made a fairly large portion but it was so good there was no question of leaving any behind. This was also offered with Turkish ice cream but I didn't get it that way. Many more things to try here. I hope to return soon.

Food is outstanding! Every time we're in town we always get takeout from here. Everything we've…read moretried is 5 stars and service is always friendly and inviting. Stand outs are the grape leaves, falafels, kebob plates, lavas bread and the Cacik yogurt sauce is amazing!

Wow, what a transformation from when we last came to Burlington and having breakfast at Penny…read moreCluse, we were pleasantly surprised to find highly recommended Frankie's in the same location! The same large, beautiful windows are there, but the decor is warm, trendy, and modern. Our hostess immediately wished my husband and me happy anniversary and the bartender team Max and Woody were truly outstanding and made our celebration special. They are adept at making cocktails. We tried Blue Bingo and Inside Out. Both were perfectly balanced. The Blue Bingo with fresh blueberry puree, garnished with blueberry and mint was refreshing. The Inside Out was similar to an Old Fashioned. We selected 4 small plates, one large plate, and one side. For small plates, the striped bass collar was meaty and flavored with an herb sauce and punchy blistered cherry tomatoes. The little neck clams came in a broth that was worth sopping up with the grilled sourdough. It was similar to having mussels in a luscious wine butter sauce. I would have eaten like 12 of the clams if they let me but they alas only give you 6. My favorite was grilled Romano beans, slightly crunchy, fresh, and light, with burrata and fried green tomatoes. The breading on the tomatoes was perfectly light and crunchy. The burrata was delicious, and I would have preferred to have it over the barchetta, fresh ravioli like pastas that came with fennel and arugula. The barchetta was missing that creamy element. The served our pork schnitzel as a "splitzel" served cut in half on two plates. Again, it was perfectly crunchy and light. We ordered pomme puree (mashed potatoes) as a side too, creamy and delicious. They had a decent wine and beer selection. We lucked out with our chenin blanc selection, which paired well with everything we had. Eat here! The menu changes every day. We can't wait to come back.

The bartender was telling me that Frankie's was listed by Boston Magazine as one of the best…read moreup-and-coming restaurants in the U.S. when it first opened, and they're clearly still living up to that standard. I ordered the Something Fun cocktail, which was fruity, refreshing, and beautifully presented with blue salt speckled around the rim of the glass. For dinner, I had the whole trout in a dill sauce with a side of purple cauliflower. Everything is locally sourced, and while the menu features a few staples, it changes daily. Each menu is date-stamped, which I'm obsessed with--it's a great reminder of how fresh everything is. Vermont generally has a great local food scene, and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the ingredients, presentation, and overall quality. Frankie's is a restaurant I'd highly recommend for groups, family dinners, date nights, or even corporate dinners. I'd love to come back and explore more of their wine selection. The staff is incredibly welcoming, happy to chat, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Expect to spend around $75 per person for a meal, a side or appetizer, and one drink.

Having worked in the hospitality and travel business for over four decades, I'm pretty picky. I…read morecan't remember ever being impressed by a hotel restaurant. Bleu is a rare exception. Located in the Courtyard (Marriott) Hotel, only a stone's throw from Lake Champlain and close to the center of Burlington, VT, the restaurant sits just off the lobby. I made a dinner reservation and we was seated by the window with a view of the park with the lake beyond. Off to a good start. My Dirty Martini was spot-on. The perfect balance of Tito's and brine. Only missing the 'bleu' cheese olives. I often order a second appetizer as my entree. My starter was carpaccio that was outstanding. The microgreens were a nice touch. The mussels (appetizer) that I chose for my main course were small in size but ample in portion and were the perfect choice for me. My husband chose the cheese platter for his starter. It was disappointing. Two slices of bleu cheese. Should have been three different ones for $15. And no VT cheddar? Not much imagination here. His Steak Frites was OK; the quality of the beef could have been better. We shared the spinach watermelon salad which was fresh and delicious. Service was friendly and attentive. Overall, we liked this restaurant and will return.

The breakfast was good. Even though the place was busy, the service was very good and we had coffee…read morerefills. The restaurant itself is very lovely next to the lake.

Located on the main floor of the Champlain Hotel by Hilton Curio, this place was an exciting and…read moreworthwhile destination for its oysters happy hour from 4-5pm daily. At $2.00 a piece we feasted on a family favorite and followed up with delicious small bites. We enjoyed the smoked wings either homemade buttermilk dressings. Meaty, just crispy enough with that smoky goodness. I also enjoyed the crab deviled eggs topped with salty roe. Four pieces of yum that was loaded with protein and filling. Ambiance is very much like the classic wood paneled, casual elegant dining room of a tasteful cruise ship; lots of elevated nautical motifs. Fun and lively bar area.

The service here on our visit was good. My companion enjoyed his raw bar dinner…read more Unfortunately, I did not. First, the seating does not accommodate people of small stature. Sitting on the bench, the table did not clear my shoulders. The chairs lifted me only a little. I ordered a half tea half lemonade and was served something truly vile. Later, I found out it was made with LIME. The shrimp cocktail was overcooked and perhaps made ahead of time. The sauce was ketchup. ??? The clam chowder turned out to be bacon flavored milk broth. The fish and chips was requested with unseasoned fries. The fries came seasoned with Old Bay. They did remake the fries, which were very good and I finally had something to eat. The fish, though, was very fishy- a sign of going bad. Never again here unless they overhaul their kitchen and recipes.

In town for work and always like local restaurants. What a gem! It's run by the owner/ chef. The…read moreinterior is rustic Cajun inspired, there is a very low sound track of blues playing., with seating for about 12 to 15. Come hungry food is plentiful. We had bluegrass chicken. Blacken catfish and jambalaya. We got an order of cracklings, freshly made spicy and delicious. My wife is allergic to shellfish, she went with the bluegrass chicken it was amazing it has a light flavorful sauce that compliments the chicken. I had the blackened catfish, it was amazing, best I have ever had spiced and cooked perfectly. Both dinners come with their version of red beans and rice, it was different than what I've had but I would say authentic. It too was amazing. My boss had jambalaya it was excellent. All large portions. They are BYOB and literally a liquor store is across the street. Be a little patient it's cooked fresh and it's owner operated so takes a few minutes longer, but So worth it Don't sleep on this place it's amazing food

This place is great. It's clear how much love and effort is put into this restaurant. The place…read moreseems to be staffed by just one guy, who takes all the order and cooks all the food. The ambiance is wonderful. The food is great and the portions are generous. I highly recommend the frog legs, though everything I ate was delicious.

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.

Lovely dinner spot! The cocktails were tasty and the waiter offered lots of good recommendations…read moreand insights. The cheese plate was phenomenal and had something for everyone. Oysters were tasty, nothing outstanding. Burger was very tasty and had lots of local ingredients which I loved.

We just had dinner at Electra's for the first time and loved it. Our server was fantastic, the food…read moreand cocktails were great, and the ambiance was lovely. We will definitely be back. While we knew Electra's had opened a while ago, we hadn't really heard much about it. What a great find! The pace of the meal was perfect. Our server was always available but let us have time to enjoy every moment of it.

Lovely setting , fabulous meal and great service. Expensive but worth every penny! I highly…read morerecommend

What a great find!!! Nice, traditional Italian restaurant…read morewith favorites. Good wine selection. Loved this pizza! Not sure what is best--the toppings or the deep dish crust. The tomatoes with the warned goat cheese and just the right amount of balsamic reduction. All that and a lovely staff.

The food is excellent southern Italian. The servings are huge, the lasagna could feed a family of…read morefour! The service was great and the prices very reasonable. It is a family friendly place, although we were able to get a table in a quiet spot. I highly recommend Pulcinella's if you want an authentic southern Italian cuisine.