Cozy dining room, creative menu, and great service! Highly recommend if you're in the area.read more

One of the best evenings we have had in the past ten years. No question about it. Ranks with fine…read moredining big city restaurants. With the dismal and abominably warm winter New England has had in 2022-2023 ski season, we decided to go as far north as we could without crossing the border with Canada, so we lodged and had a superb weekend at Jay Peak, VT. In addition, one of my college classmates and Air Force career colleagues lives in nearby Montgomery Center, so he recommended the Black Lantern and it was one of the best recommendations ever. First of all, the history. Montgomery VT has the most covered bridges in a single town jurisdiction in the US. The area had a role to play in the War of Independence, when construction on the Bailey-Hazen Military Road to Hazen Notch began in 1777 as a way for the Continental Army to invade Quebec. Hazen's Notch Road begins a few blocks from the Black Lantern. The Inn was built in 1803 and remained as an Inn until it closed down in 2015. A group of concerned citizens bought the historic property, remodeled it, bought another building to expand the business, and reopened it in 2018. Its six rooms in the historic lodge and the four suites in the annex, allow for vacationers to stay in the historic town with close proximity to Jay Peak. But this review is for the dining. The truly fine dining offered here. We made reservations and they were honored on the spot, considering the restaurant was certainly busy. The beautiful, cozy and early American decor matched the ambiance and persona of the place. We got together with our friends and were seated in a wonderful location with privacy. The Black Lantern has joined into the farm to table movement and it shows in the amazing, fresh and abundant food available at the venue. Their beef and pork come from a local natural farm a few miles away. So does their lamb, coming from a local farmer. Their chicken is local. Their cheeses are from several Vermont producers including the ubiquitous Cabot Cheese, but also the Boucher Family Farm, the Jasper Hill Farm and the Vermont Creamery. Fresh vegetables come from nearby sources. The local and fresh sourcing of their food shows in the quality and taste of everything on the menu. And then there's their beers.... Local breweries and micros make an extensive part of their menu. Burlington's Fiddlehead, Zero Gravity and Queen City, St Alban's 14th Star beer, and Essex's First Republic. Their ciders are sourced from three locations in Vermont and even they carry wine from local producers. And their coffee is fair trade certified and roasted in town by Big Jay Roasters. The meal was impressive. We started the evening with Fried Yuca infused with truffle oil - succulent, and their Fried Brussel Sprouts that came encrusted with bacon, Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheeses. Crispy, tasty, superb. Then the salads for everyone. Fresh, crispy, beautiful. And it was time for main courses. I had their Chicken Curry stew which turned out delicious. Two of us had the lobster ravioli, made on the premises and as one of our group said, "heavy on the lobster" with not much filler. And then the steaks. About a pound and a half, perfectly seared with marbled pink inside. Truly amazing. Sadly, we had no room for dessert. With amazingly generous portions and two shared appetizers, we were stuffed. But what an evening. Service was impeccable.

Great music, Good food and customer service. I will visit this restaurant again very soonread more

This place is a true gem with fantastic food and service. Make sure u go there hungry portions r…read morehuge

I have been here often and had excellent experiences each time. Food has always been reliably good,…read moreand service has always be great. It has a really nice vibe, and the decor is lovely. They are doing a wonderful job, and I am so, so glad they didn't come and go like the other restaurants in that spot before it. You probably knew that from the other reviews, but I have another reason I am writing this. I came here with my husband one night months ago, and he got a cocktail that had cherry and bourbon as the main flavors. I stole most of it from him :D. It was so good that every time I get another cocktail somewhere else, even if it is good, I just wish it was the cherry bourbon one. So, if you're there and they still have it on the menu, I suggest you get it. And if the establishment is reading this, my vote is to keep that one around.

The good: the server & the chocolate cake…read more The bad: the wait. There were 4 of us. We were told it would be a half hour; not too bad. We got our little buzzer and we were told to stay within a half mile. We sat outside across the street on a bench. We watched numerous groups of 3+ go in and not come back out, which means they were seated. When, after 40 minutes, we were called in, none of those groups were at the bar. Kinda makes you wonder. We ordered cokes. $5 each and got refills, but when the bill came was shocked to be charged for every refill! We spent more on cups of Coke than the actual effing meal!!! Ordered the steak medium. It was rare. Oh well, was hungry and didn't want to wait any longer. But it was good. Buffalo chicken cheese curd fries were good, but chicken was dry. The cheesecake was not tasty at all. The burger was "mid," according to my son.

During a recent ski trip to Jay Peak, my group and I visited this cozy local restaurant with high…read morehopes, given the limited dining options in the area. Overall, it offered a unique experience, though not without a few drawbacks. To start, the appetizers were fantastic. We shared the beef tartare, mussels, and crab rangoon. The beef tartare stood out for its flavor, though the accompanying baguette was slightly stale. Despite that, the appetizers were the highlight of the meal. For soup, we sampled the French onion, which was met with mixed reviews--decent, but not particularly memorable. The main courses included kangaroo, venison, fish and chips, and duck. While the chef's talent for creating flavorful dishes was evident, all the meats were unfortunately overcooked. This may have been due to the challenge of preparing multiple meals at once, as we were informed that there was only one chef in the kitchen. The restaurant itself boasts a charming and homey ambiance that enhances the dining experience. Service was friendly and accommodating, with no issues on that front. A standout feature of the menu was the inclusion of kangaroo--a rare find, especially in Vermont. While it's worth trying for the novelty, be prepared for its distinctively high iron content, which imparts a metallic flavor that may not appeal to everyone. In conclusion, this restaurant offers a unique and enjoyable experience despite a few missteps. The friendly service and cozy atmosphere make it a worthwhile stop for those visiting the Jay area. Just keep in mind that the kitchen's limitations may impact larger parties or more complex orders. If you're feeling adventurous, give the kangaroo a try--you likely won't find it anywhere else nearby!

We dropped by here for dinner. The INN is really gorgeous, and the restaurant was smaller than…read moreexpected and intimate. We ordered the antelope Swedish balls, French onion soup, and firecracker beef. Most of the food wasn't great - the antelope Swedish meatballs were the best of the 3. The French onion soup had too much thyme and a very watery broth. The firecracker beef was offensive!! It has a warning that it's very spicy (which is true), but it was a really strange dish! I expected an Asian inspired spicy beef dish over rice, but we got a hot sauce drenched rice bowl. Allegedly there was beef in it, but there was really no texture or flavor other than hot sauce! To clarify to the owner comment - we did tell our server we didn't like it, and that it was not due to the spice - it was due to the gross flavor. She simply said "oh I haven't heard that one" and did not offer to take it off the bill or replace it. Now the drinks and desserts were fantastic! We loved our seasonal cocktails, and we ordered two desserts and polished them off. The maple chomeur was drenched in sauce and so good - we actually poured the remaining sauce over our apple warm too! I loved the fresh apples in the tart since there was some texture. Service was also very good from the front desk to our server.

We stopped in for dinner while visiting on a ski trip. It was a cool old time style ski pub inside…read morewith some nice local flair. It was busy and we were lucky to get a seat at the bar. The servers a bartenders were very friendly and accommodating and made sure the food I ordered was safe for me to eat, due to food allergies. I tried the local hockey mom seltzer which was tasty and not too sweet. For my meal I had the maple cider pork chop which was the perfect portion and delicious. The pork was tender and the glaze was the perfect touch. The home made apple sauce was a nice addition and was so fresh. Finally the garlic green beans were a top choice to round out this dinner. If we have time we will go back because apparently they have the best burger in town and it sells out everyday.

An iconic pub in the Jay/Montgomery area. Perfect ambience and good food. Perfect apres ski spot.read more

What an establishment! For a busy skiers Saturday night the food was spot on perfection. The owner…read morewho is the chief in the back cooked a table of seven's meals so good I went to tip him not knowing he's the owner and he respectively declined. I came in with the guys and we were definitely the rowdiest of the guests, in a respectful way. I kept my peace and did my thing which was observing everything going on around while the rest of the table did there thing. The lady who greeted my buddy an I when we first walked in was very energetic which she needed to be as she was one of two servers on the floor. The other server who served us also was the bartender. So in a nutshell, if you come across this scenario and or see similar conditions please be kind, respectful, and most importantly patient as this will not be the quickest service. Use this time to enjoy the company around you with anticipation of a delicious meal coming your way which at that point time means nothing. A 7:15 reservation turned into a two plus hour enjoyable night. Lets talk food. There were a lot of specials on the board. I had blackened swordfish, one person ordered chicken parm, there was one other chicken dish and the rest of the table ordered some kind of steak dish. A recipe for something to not come out correctly. As the food was being brought out I watched the waitress return a plate of fish n chips which initially I thought was my meal and they were going to have to rush cook mine, I was wrong. My swordfish was placed in front of me and I drooled after my first bite. The rest of the table shut up as they too were devouring their plates. Wish I had leftovers but I cleaned my plate of every last pice of rice and scrap. Dessert. I wanted a carrot cake but was convinced otherwise to try the key lime pie by the server who greeted me. There were two orders of carrot cake on the table so I was able to try it and that if definitely a top five carrot cake in my books. As for the key lime pie, it was ok. Not really the flavors I was jiving for after my meal and don't really have many samples to compare it to. Wasn't bad, just wasn't personally for me. Ether way, this establishment is definitely a place worth making a reservation for. Food is delicious!! Thank you John!!

Worst service and restaurant in VT. Rude service - they bring you the wrong order and then tell…read moreyou they are too busy to make the right one. And it is dirty and unhygienic. Board of health should pay them a visit. Just an awful Experience

Was looking for a quick lunch on our way to the Canadian border when we spotted this snack bar…read more Since it was raining, eating outside was out of the question, but, I'm sure the many picnic tables are filled in pleasant weather. We ordered at the window-grilled cheese with ham for me and seafood salad wrap for Jane. We got bottled drinks from the cooler. Our sandwiches were delivered to our table when ready-they were good and served the purpose. The young waitstaff were all very friendly. Plenty of parking in their private lot. Bathrooms are in a separate entrance on the side of the building.

Food was ok, fries and clam strips were dark due I'm sure to no recent fry oil change. And the new…read moreowners didn't bother to at least get a beer/wine license as they had with the previous owners so a little disappointing.

Tried this place out for dinner on a Thursday evening. They close a little early at 7pm so we got…read morethere around 5:45pm. Parking in the lot was easy. Workers were very friendly and welcoming inside. The inside had some bar seating and some table seating with someone playing piano. The menu has a variety of different sandwiches. I started with a hot chocolate and the elote dip. Hot chocolate was nothing special but was good on a cold day. The elote dip was delicious! Warm and cheesy! Yum! I then ordered the falafel pita. It wasn't my favorite. The falafel was crisp but I didn't love the homemade gluten free pita. It was not fluffy and was just kinda bland. The fries were made well! Thick and very crispy. Overall the atmosphere was nice.

If you looked through my reviews you would notice I am a fan of craft breweries, my wife is as…read morewell! So while on a trip and looking for a spot to grab some lunch naturally we ended up picking this spot. I've been aware of Lost Nation Brewing but it's been since 2016/2017 when I had a beer from them last. To start they have ample parking and have a nicely painted mural on the side of their building. They have an indoor section we did not check that out and instead sat at the bar in the outdoor section. How can you pass up looking into the kitchen and also the wafting scents of burgers, fries and everything else being cooked. Despite a chillier day than most we have had lately it was worth it! Besides their own brews they had guest taps, guest botttles/cans, and even some cocktails including some spiked apple cider for that fall feeling drink. For beer fans they even had a rotating Hillfarmstead DIPA for a guest tap. I ended up getting their Kolsch and my wife got their gose. Both very solid beers and worth grabbing. Food wise they had a couple burgers, fried chicken sandwich, pulled pork, turkey sandwich, hot dogs, and some small plates. My wife ended up choosing the burger and I got their fried chicken sandwich. She enjoyed the burger and thought it was cooked very well. The chicken sandwich was delicious, the fact it was smothered in honey did make it a bit messy to eat but tasted so good! The fries we got were massive and well seasoned and the side of pickles were great too. Would be a no brainer to get either one again if we visit again! Bartender was friendly and we didn't wait long at all for the drinks or food! Well made brews paired along side delicious food, really what more could you ask for? If you visit during warmer weather it appeared they have a huge outdoor area further back than we were in as well! If you like visiting breweries add this to your list to check out!

Had a really delicious lunch. All three of us really enjoyed our meals. Our waitress was incredibly…read moreattentive and did a great job of keeping us updated on the status of our food. The only downside was it took a really long time to get our food. But, our waitress and food mostly made up for it! Looking forward to going back and giving it another try.

So last time my family and I were here it was amazing this time things were a little behind due to…read morestaffing. I have no issues with that I understand however the hostess giving an attitude was not pleasant. My mom and I came in and were told "the kitchen is backed up by 45 minutes so you can sit but it's going to be awhile due to staffing" We said that's fine and sat. However the people who came after use also did NOT have a reservation and were still served drinks before us. So we said something' to the waitress. The hostess comes over and begins lecturing " I told you it's going to be 45 minutes those people only got drinks they didn't put in a food order yet" So I said "Okay so why aren't we served or offered drinks like them then?l" And she proceeded to say "it hasent even been 15 minuets" So I said "Okay well those people still came after us and were offered drinks. You said the kitchen was backed up I didn't know the bar was the same as the kitchen" Then she huffed away needles to say the waitress was very nice and professional and the food and drinks were good. However you could tell the waitress was uncomfortable and not impressed with how the hostess was literally trying to argue. Moral of the story it's common courtesy to take reservations or who comes in the door first in the appropriate order. Next time maybe just say sorry instead of arguing with your guests about a simple mistake you were called out for. I cons from a family of restaurant workers including front and back of the house. You don't just skip whoever you feel like when they were there first. I will say the hostess came back and apologized which was a nice gesture however she shouldn't have acted like that to begin with

Great selection, quality & service. Ed and staff make this the best place in the area for seafood,…read moresteaks and more

First visit may be my last...$37 a lb for "heavy" choice filet (whatever that means) and the…read morebutcher argued with me when I said I didn't like the huge fat vein that was way too big to render out during cooking process. Should have gone to the butchery. Also very slow service, I waited patiently while I think he must have gone out to kill the cow. On the bright side it was fresh.