Let me cut to the chase: get the steak frites or anything else with the chimichurri. It's going to change your life and you can go ahead and thank me later. The poutine was very good, but I'll grant you that it's maybe hard to get that wrong - but their gravy is on point! Service was great - got there around 5:40pm on a Wednesday, so the wait was non-existent and a table for 5 was easy to accommodate. Duncan was the server, who disclosed that he was new but you wouldn't know it from how he took orders and brought food out. Even threw him a curve by asking for the steak frites with an additional side of brussel sprouts, which he handled no problem - even though there weren't any sides I saw on the menu. Steak was medium rare and perfectly seasoned, and I think I mentioned the chimichurri but it deserves additional mention. Maybe you're wondering about beverages. The maple lemonade is great - it leans harder on the tart side and there are sweeter options around (Cliff House) but I love a lemonade that tastes... lemony. Pineapple cherry punch was also a hit - but that's secondhand hearsay, unlike my direct opinion on the chimichurri - which I would drink if I could. Definitely check this place out. The table near ours seemed to immensely enjoy their meal and also get great service from Duncan. read more

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We had a bit of a wait, but it was a Saturday night and we did not have to wait as long as they said. They use the Yelp waitlist, but I couldn't join it until we showed up to the restaurant, which was a little confusing. We ended up sitting at the counter by the wood fire, which was neat to watch. Our server (Jenn) was awesome. My drink was very pricy ($18), but it was pretty tasty. Everything was absolutely delicious - we got a Mac & cheese and 2 burgers with fries. I love that it's all farm-to-table. Would absolutely eat here again and *highly* recommend it. read more

This was the first and last time we would get food from The Bench. The best part was their online ordering system, which worked wonderfully well. Everything went downhill from there. The 'nachos' were just tortilla chips with chopped tomatoes, onions and jalapeños. Don't nachos always have some kind of cheese on them?? We asked for pulled pork on the 'nachos', but we got minuscule pieces of bacon instead. I asked for blue cheese crumbles on the side, and got enough for three or four people, on the side. The fries were saturated with oil, with nary a crisp one to be found. They looked particularly unappetizing. The blue cheese dressing that came with the chicken tenders had a very off-putting taste to it. For what we paid for the food, I was expecting so much more. read more

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This place is consistently good. My dad's steak was amazing. My son had the mussels and they were able to do it French style for him. Loved it-he's a very picky eater and this was perfect for him. And I had the Buddha salad (I think that's what it was called???). That was lovely. Everyone loved their deserts as well. The service and staff were excellent too read more

If I were to just write one thing in this review, I would say - get the cookie skillet! And don't forget to add the Ben & Jerry's ice cream. My group shared a pizza which was delicious. The crust was definitely a highlight coming out of the brick oven. We all also got burgers and shared the smoked wings. The smoked wings left some smoking nuts to be desired, and the dry rub was not very flavorful. I probably would not get that again. They were OK for wings, but definitely not for smoked wings. The burgers were very classic burgers delicious but nothing special our friends got the classic burger while we got the bench burger, which came with bacon and onions. Funnily enough I thought our french fries were kind of burnt but still good. Finally, we wrapped up with the cookie skillet and that was the absolute highlight. I wish I could have eaten four of those by myself. When we got there, the weight was about an hour. We were able to put our names down until they called us. Once we receded, the service was great, and the food came out very quickly. It is a really cute spot and Stow and probably one of the better casual sit down restaurants in the area. It's super tough to get seated anywhere during peak ski season so even an hour wait was on the shorter end for a lot of these spots read more

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Ambiance: Like a quaint dive bar with a really cool rustic setup -- a giant wood pizza oven and a bar on the other side. Service: It was alright. No complaints. Food: For the cost of the burger, we'd just expected more. Flavors and cohesiveness was good but not mind-blowing. Poutine was probably our favorite because the gravy was extremely delicious. Pizza was also on the same boat of just okay. I would've like a little bit thicker dough (and char) to offset the saltiness. read more

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Had the best experience here on a Saturday evening! This place has been busy every time we go by so I'm glad we tried it. Big parking lot making parking easy. Came in around 7pm and there was a small wait for a table. But we were able to get a seat right away at the pizza bar. The pizza bar was a really fun place to sit. You were able to see the kitchen making the food. The menu has a variety of different food such as pizzas, burgers, salads, and other entrees. I wanted to try something that was in the wood fired oven so I tried the fire roasted kitchari with chicken and loved it! Never heard of this dish before but it was delicious! Great flavors and cooked perfectly in the oven. Would definitely come if in town! read more

The Bench - Fire roasted kitchari with chicken - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

The atmosphere definitely gives an Apres Ski vibe with TVs around the bar and a cozy setting. The bartender served us at our table and gave suggestions for our meal choices. Being a cold November day, the Poutine hit the spot with local Vermont cheese curds. For our meal we had the Scallops (that are cooked on the wood fire) and the Chicken Caesar Wrap. The scallops weee cooked to perfection with a subtle smoke flavor from the fire and the wrap was a perfectly nutritious lunch choice. Overall, a great lunch to warm up! read more

The Bench - Scallops - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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We ate at some incredible places during our long weekend trip to Stowe, but the Bench topped them all in terms of overall experience. From the cozy, crackling fire, to the hot and fresh fare, this place is truly a gem. I came here with one friend and we asked to sit at the "oven bar" so we could watch the pizza oven expert in action. It was fascinating to watch -- like dinner and a show -- and the food he was cranking out was AMAZING. We had just eaten wood fired pizzas the night before at another restaurant, so we both chose some different dishes on the menu. The curry mussels were serious mind-blowing, the half duck was PERFECTLY cooked, and the fire-roasted kitchari was packed with flavor! Of course, we had to top it all off with a yummy s'more read more

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This place rock. The kale Caesar wrap was insane. The mac & cheese was so good. A lot of places like they have good mac & cheese, but this place actually has it. The Middle Eastern dish of rice and vegetables was super good as well. Comes out on a skillet. My favorite was probably the Kelsey 's rap. It's perfectly massage to Kayla and the sauce that holds all together was so good. read more

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Great place!! Have come back for Kale Cesar Salad every year we return to Stowe. Service is always great!! Look forward to seeing you again next year!! read more

We got the kale ceasar (AMAZING, one of the best salads Ive ever had - it was so fresh, perfect amount of crunch, huge plate of healthy kale seasoned perfectly, vegetarian Cesar dressing), the nachos (interesting, had maple flavor but lacking topping distribution and cheese overa), and the margarita pizza (delicious 10/10). Highly recommend making a reservation, we waited over an hour, but it was definitely worth it. Wide selection of draft and canned beers and ciders. read more

The Bench - Nachos - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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The food was delicious and unique they prepare the dishes as in a Vermont style with maple topping The service was tentative, friendly and very outgoing The place seems very clean wide enough space between the tables the Woodfire oven. The only downfall is that the sun was setting, and the shades were not dark enough, so the light got in to our eyes while sitting at the table and trying to eat.. read more

Stopped in here for a late lunch after a day on the slopes yesterday! We started with 2 IPAs from local VT breweries which were great. To eat we ordered the duck fat fries and the buffalo chicken Mac n cheese, which were both incredible! The service was great, and I loved the vibe of this place. Next time I'm in the area, I will need to try their wood fired pizza! read more

The Bench - Duck fat fries and buffalo chicken Mac n cheese - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

Good drinks, good food, good service. The menu has a wide variety that served our entire group. I got the margarita pizza but the meatloaf was unbelievable. The meatloaf had an intense flavor that was notable amongst our table. Must go when visiting Stowe! read more

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Best meal we had during our Vermont trip. The server recommended the salmon,so we got the salmon tacos (decent but a bit spicy) and the salmon burger with goat cheese added, which was delicious! Like seriously, not sure what was in that salmon, but their salmon and goat cheese combo on a burger was epic. We tried the pizza too, which was wood fired and quite good. And because we loved the food so much, we tried the giant baked cookie for dessert, which definitely exceeded any semblance of calorie control, but was delicious (and enormous). Place was packed on a May weekday evening but we got seats straightaway, and our server (April was her name i think) was very attentive and helpful. Plenty of seating and nice ambience. If we are in Stowe again, we'll visit again (and get some more of that salmon!). read more

The Bench - Margarita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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This place hit the spot. We were looking for a cozy restaurant with some good eats. There was a little bit of a wait but it was worth it. Once we were seated we were greeted right away. They had an extensive beer menu with variety and some cocktails. Our server was so friendly and attentive. We started with the poutine which was a perfect appetizer. I love poutine, their gravy is phenomenal. We then had the Vermonter pizza also delicious. Don't miss this spot. read more

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I returned to The Bench following my last visit in 2014... kudos to the owners for surviving Covid and still delivering a spectacular meal. I remembered the duck as one of the best of all time, and they didnt disappoint tonight. Starting with warm, friendly service, a solid menu and inviting atmosphere, it all came back to me. We started with an outstanding poutine with a base of fries in duck fat. Spectacular!!! Next, I had no other option but to try the duck. Served in a skillet with potatoes, and broccoli in a savory sauce that has a hint of sweet without being overwhelmingly sweet, it is perfect. This is definitely a must stop when in Stowe! read more

The Bench - Poutine... oh, baby! Don't skip the duck-fat fries! - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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Sadly I was not impressed by the food or beverages at The Bench! My sister loves (and continued to love) it, however my drink was sad and it was all meh, from there. My espresso martini was somewhat watery with the iced coffee and no espresso to start. I then asked for a medium burger, the one with the pork belly on top, and it came out well done and the pork very dry. Subbed in a side Kale Caesar salad instead of the fries and the kale needed to be massaged as it was extremely earthy (I know how this sounds, but if you've had a quality kale Caesar, ya get it). Plus one star for the vibe inside - great playlist, good interior, but besides that it'd be a two. Would not return with so many options around. read more

The Bench - Sister's GF wings - that dry rub be shaking off. Bleu cheese quality but thicc. - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

This place is well worth any time wait! The nachos were abs fantastic! Will def be back if ever we return to Stowe! read more

The Bench - Fish n chips with duck fat fries and sage gravy meatloaf dinner - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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American comfort food. We like the meatloaf, 1/2 rack of ribs, 1/2 duck and duck fat fries. The meatloaf is tasty, not dry and a huge slice served on large portion of mashed potatoes with gravy and grilled vegetables on the side - it does not need the French fried onions so just push those to the side. The 1/2 duck is slightly better than the 1/2 rack of ribs. The ribs fall off the bone but the sauce is pretty standard. Skip the lobster ravioli. The food is good but it's nothing spectacular. read more

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Food was good and the place overall had a great vibe. pizza was crispy and delicious, little bit oily but overall very good.

While visiting Stowe, we chose this place based on the excellent reviews--and we're so glad we did. The food was outstanding, easily among the best restaurant meals we've had. We tried the chicken bacon ranch sandwich, mac and cheese appetizer, classic burger, and pulled pork sandwich, and every dish was a 10 out of 10. The burger, in particular, stood out as one of the best I've ever eaten. I highly recommend this spot and will definitely return the next time we're in town. read more

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My sisters and I dined here on a Friday night during a trip up Stowe in late Nov 2025. We joined the waitlist and it took about 30 minutes for us to be seated. The stand out of the meal for me was the mussels! read more

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We went a half hour after opening and had to wait 10 mins which wasn't bad. They had a high chair for our son that was tall so we could sit at a high top which was great. I've never seen that before. Service was a little but they were very busy. All workers were extremely friendly. My husband got the burger and fries which was very high quality: he was very impressed. I got the wings and they were great. Juicy and lots of meat. I loved that I got pickled carrots and green beans. They were so good a fun different side with wings. Our son got the chicken tenders, he didn't seem to like them and usually loves them. The fries were amazing. Perfectly seasoned and we couldn't stop eating them. It was a nice atmosphere. However, the bathroom was so dark: there's like one light for the whole bathroom. We recommend this place, we enjoyed it. read more

The Bench - Burger and fries - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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This is my first time visiting The Bench and visiting Stowe. The Bench was recommended by a local who worked at a nearby distillery. We ordered the Fosters Banana and the Sunrise on Spruce for drinks. I had high hopes for the Fosters Banana, but I ended up liking the Sunrise on Spruce more. For food, I ordered the Bench Burger and substituted my fries for a house salad. My boyfriend ordered the meatloaf entree. The Bench Burger had all local ingredients. The beef was incredible! My boyfriend's meatloaf entree stole the show though! When he said he wanted meatloaf, I was a little surprised - it's a risky meal at a restaurant. His plate of food came out and it looked great! My fork found its way over to his plate and I have to say, I wish I had ordered the meatloaf. It was so flavorful! The gravy was delicious. The mashed potatoes with delicious. It came with crispy onions and delicata squash which is in season right now... all delicious! Don't sleep on the meatloaf!! Order it and you will not regret it! The restaurant is a classic American mountain bar. It's cozy with its exposed wooden beams and rustic feel. I would definitely recommend The Bench while visiting Stowe, VT! read more

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GREAT EXPERIENCE First off, they had a 50 minute wait which was not bad because we had fun in the car for the wait + a waitlist, but it was actually less that 50 mins (I didn't count.) They have a fun game on the kids menu which we still played at our hotel! The pizza is very good for kids and satisfied his craving and he really liked it. We ordered the Rench burger and the Resitarian burgers which were fabulous, perfectly cooked and juicy and not messy! The fries taste super good with extra shakes of salt. Ambience was very cozy and vibrant. Definitely recommend this place for dinner. read more

This food was so good I am so happy that I ordered that macaroni and cheese because it's the best macaroni and cheese ever and that pot pie was to die for. I didn't taste the other two things that were ordered they were for the people I was with but they enjoyed their food very much and said they wanted to go back. I'm very happy that I went to this place and I definitely will be returning. The service was very quick and attentive. It was a little loud in there but they offered to move our table without any issues. We were originally seated next to a big group of people. I want to go back and try more things. read more

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This would be better than my 3-star rating except for serious flaws in one dish that I didn't discover until I had the leftovers the next day. Is this fair? I debated for a bit and decided it was. If I go back I'd definitely try something different and update the review. But that could be a while; I don't get to Stowe often. It looks like nothing from the outside. You'd hardly even know it was a restaurant. Inside it had a rustic feel, with natural wood throughout, crude wood benches, a fireplace, a chandelier made from a tractor wheel. Comfortable and inviting. We started with a plate of duck fat fries. Hand-cut, hot, subtly flavored with rosemary and plenty of siracha salt. Very good. They also have 2 other styles of fries as well as poutine with sage gravy. A big serving of which we together only finished about half. My drink: "The Biggest Pig: An Old Fashioned made with Whistle Pig whiskey, cherry bitters, and a charred orange slice. One of the better Old Fashioneds I've had. The wife's drink: Toll Road Martini: Green Mountain vodka, fresh pineapple juice, dehydrated lemon, Vermont-made raspberry liquor. Pretty adventurous for her but she liked it. Her entree: Meatloaf. With sage gravy, seasonal vegetable (broccolini - "seasonal"? Maybe somewhere like Florida but not Vermont in April!), fried onion strings. They accommodated her request to substitute extra veggies for the normal mashed potato, which didn't appeal after the plate of fries. She said it was among the best. I'm not moved by meatloaf so I'll trust her judgement on that. For dessert we shared a slice of maple cheesecake. Lots of maple flavor, a thick graham crust, a layer of something in the middle (streusel?) for extra flavor, and crumbs (a looser form of the same streusel?) strewn about on top and around the plate. It was excellent, with a firm consistency, easily big enough for the two of us to share, and with the layer and crumbs I didn't even miss the sauce or fruit that cheesecake is usually served with. Now, on to my entree which I'm saving to the end to discuss. 1/2 duck, served as two pieces (leg and breast). Accompanied by summer squash, broccolini, fingerling potatoes, and an orange demi-glace. Everything served sizzling hot in a skillet right out of the oven. An attractive presentation for sure. I started with the leg piece. I really liked it with its crispy skin, the veggies and potatoes soaking up the flavor from the meat and the demi-glace. As expected that was enough for me that night, along with about half of the veggies and potatoes. So I boxed up the rest. And the next day is when I realized the flaw. This was just the breast piece remaining. Just the whole, uncut piece cooked to a medium rare. It really was quite a disaster of a dish! Rubbery, chewy, flabby skin and overall rather unpleasant. I ended up slicing it up thin and frying it to improve it. But what were they thinking?! Sure, duck often is served medium-rare, and that's fine - as long as it is sliced! Never as a whole uncut breast! And cooking it to well-done wouldn't have worked for this dish either - maybe for a Chinese smoked or salt duck but not this. I really felt let down because I was looking forward to the leftovers since it was so good the first day. But the leg piece was well-done (as necessary for duck leg) and so different in texture. If I had started with the breast the day before I very likely would have sent the dish back - that's how bad it was. Ok I lied. I said I was going to rate it 3 stars. But on consideration of the many good points including every other thing we ate and drank, the good service, and comfortable surroundings I can't. 4 stars. But take note: Do not order the duck - you will regret it! read more

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A great dinner experience featuring a good caesar salad and tasty pizza. Recommended.

The smell of wood-fired pizza hits you the moment you pull into the parking lot--such a welcoming start. Inside, it feels like a classic American bar blended with a fresh, modern vibe. Warm, stylish, and comfortable. The menu has a great variety, but the wood-fired pizza is the clear star--crispy, smoky, and full of flavor. We also shared the burrata appetizer with crostini and balsamic glaze--fresh, creamy, and a perfect start. Our service last time was just as good as the first. Our waitress had a great spirit--friendly, upbeat, and added to the whole experience. This was our second visit, and it's officially part of our regular rotation. Can't wait to come back again. Highly recommend the pizza. read more

The pizza we had was delicious, maple syrup, bacon, blue cheese, apples, arugula - yum! Everyone was very friendly and we got our food so quickly. If we are ever in Stowe again we would love to come again! read more

The Bench - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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We saw several recommendations on making sure to stop here for a meal if you're in Stowe. Choosing this for dinner was an excellent choice! They have a wood fire oven inside and a variety of pizzas to choose from. We choose the blue cheese, bacon, and balsamic pizza. It was beyond delicious! We also decided to share the Vermont Cheddar Mac and Cheese, which was also to die for! As we were eating we were talking about whether we should come back the next night. Too bad our trip was so short because this place won us over! read more

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This was exactly what we needed after a long day - some tasty food to satisfy our hunger. Started with the duck fat fries. I guess you could kind of tell they were different than normal fries but not too noticeable. Still tasty though, I mean who doesn't love a huge plate of fries?! Ordered the special of mussels, which were the best thing we got! A creamy tomato based broth to go with a large pile of mussels. Yum! The steak was decent and actually pretty well cooked at our requested medium rare. The half duck was the worst thing. The flavor was a bit boring - just seemed like salt and pepper - and the meat was a bit dry. Also the skin was pretty terrible. Seems that they didn't cook the fat side down to render it and crisp up the skin. All in all, a pretty good meal with decently sized servings! read more

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Quickly seated on a busy night (turns out tables for 2 are easier than larger groups); food came out super quick so I think my burger could've used more time on the grill, but the pizza was excellent. Servers were attentive and regularly checked in, wasn't too loud, comfortable temperature. Try the root beer! Loses points for a tough parking lot when it's busy, and the burger cook time. Otherwise this would not stop me from coming back on my next trip up. read more

Great after ski vibe. We enjoyed the wood fired wings. The food came at a good pace. The meat loaf was exactly what I was looking for, the perfect comfort food. My boys enjoyed their burgers and we shared a pizza. We make it a point to go for at least one dinner every time we are up skiing. read more

5 Stars for veggie burger alone. Best vegetarian burger I have ever had Mushrooms, mix of beans, tofu, somehow fried crispy, it was delicious, elevated by the cilantro lime mayo and creamy perfectly ripe avocado. Will order it every time and cone back any time we are in the area. Staff works hard! Service was efficient and friendly. read more

Not the best experience, but it wasn't terrible. My wife and I got a burger to split and a pepperoni and cheese pizza. The burger thankfully was cooked the way we ordered it, which was medium. The pizza was very slim on pepperoni. Some slices had only 2 pepperonis on it and that was it. The problem was we couldn't get checked on. When we ordered and the food came out, a different woman brought our food out. We asked for plates and never got them and never saw our hostess again until we were done and wanted to leave. My wife had to use the pizza tray to put fries on and half the burger on. We couldn't get a refill because as I said before, we never got checked back on. When she finally came up, she saw we already had a box for our pizza because some gentleman came around and asked did we need a box. We paid and left. We truly hated to leave a very small tip, but when we meet our hostess only once and never got plates and no refills, that wasn't a good time. The food also could have been better with more pepperoni, but I would say extra if I were you and you want to try it. read more

The Bench - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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My family's experience here was spot on for what we were looking for. We decided on pulled pork MAC & CHEESE. The Bruce pizza which I highly recommend. Salmon tacos were top notch. Wow wow wow the steak frites were by far the best menu option from our dinner. Our waitress was amazing. The restaurant is clean and will make sure I come back later this week to try more options. Aka their liquor options are great if you need a drink. read more

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I was all around truly impressed! While mine and my friends eyes were bigger than our stomachs, we were so glad because we ordered so many different things and The Bench didn't miss. We tried the scallops, salt and vinegar fries, the Vermonter pizza, salmon tacos, the Steak frites and of course a few drinks. If I had to pick my favorite of the night it would be the scallops and pizza but honestly EVERYTHING was so good. The scallops came with this green sauce that I could devour alone. As for the pizza, who would've thought apples on a pizza would mix but let me tell you it was out of this world. Lastly, the staff was so kind and the cooks/chef were fast! I'd definitely recommend them to everyone! read more

The Bench - Scallops and Salt & vinegar fries accompanied by Moscow mule and dirty martini - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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