Hen of the Wood - Burlington

This place is fantastic, the food, the staff, the atmosphere all exceptional. If you're in Burlington, make reservations well ahead of time, its worth it!

My absolute favorite restaurant in Burlington.

The establishment is beautiful, clean, and has such a cozy date night feel to it. The service was top-notch from the host at the front to the bartender serving us. We didn't have reservations, but they squeezed us in. The wait system was great, and it goes right to your phone.

The food blew me away. It's farm to table which I really like. The menu had great options for any taste pallet. The menu rotates periodically, so be aware of that. The drink list is huge and they had some very nice beers to choose from. We started with one of the cheese plates. We got a very strong and sharp local cheddar that was paired with some crackers, lightly sweetened nuts, and apple butter. The combo went together really well and was a decent size. For a main, I got the duck. It came with a grain medley and a semi sweet sauce. The duck was cooked perfectly. Juicy breast and crispy salty skin. The gain medly had a wonderful taste like Thanksgiving stuffing. Both were complimented well with the sauce. My girlfriend got the hanger steak. The chef cooked it perfectly medium rare. It had sweet beets as the side that went surprisingly well with the steak.

Overall, highly recommended to all. It's worth a trip out of the way.

No culinary experience we’ve had in the states compares to our time at Hen in the wood in Burlington VT. We did not have a reservation so we went when they opened at 4: 30 and got two seats at the bar. Preston and Emily behind the bar were incredible- beyond their knowledge of the menu and bar tending abilities, they were incredible humans. They made time to have conversations and provide such a welcoming experience. The food speaks for itself- top top top notch. We started w the oysters and seared calamari dish, for main course we enjoyed hanger steak, and was a maple key like tart (out of this world) and 2 decaf cappachinos. I will forever recommend hen of the wood

Great service. Our waiter knew every single thing about the ever-changing menu and was very helpful in deciding our course. Food was unique and delicious. I got the hanger steak and rabbit tortellini, boyfriend got the swordfish and oysters. Will definitely be back if we return to Burlington!

A must-visit if you're looking for an upscale dinner in Burlington. Local ingredients on a menu that changes nightly. Every dish and drink was impressive and its own experience that married well with the others. Cozy atmosphere.

Beautiful atmosphere with incredible food. The
Harbinson small plate and pork belly are amazing.

Friendly competent staff, pretty interior and very busy on a Saturday night in Burlington. Extensive wine and drink menu. Very nice and large duck breast that is not smothered in sweet sauce, so you can enjoy the real duck flavor. We sat at the prep area and had a good time watching them cook and plate the dishes. They're also willing to accommodate vegetarian tastes.

The food, especially the selection of local cheeses, was appropriately eclectic and prepared so well that even the squash and smoked cabbage side dish I had was delightful despite what I was afraid might be an odd concoction. Another favorite was the duck pastrami.

The service was a little difficult but I think that's because it was extremely packed and wait times were stretched a bit. I do wish they would have a better selection of wines by the glass and that the staff was a little better educated on them (e.g. Nero d'Avola is not French.)

Better service than I've gotten at restaurants in Boston or NYC that cost twice as much, and better food. Cocktails were fantastic, with more pre-set menu variety there than most venues — though you can order an old standby if you want. The food was incredible, with very fresh and flavorful ingredients in curious and interesting combinations.

Even though it was "just" a side, the sunchokes were a major highlight for me. The oysters were also fantastic, and the mignonette paired with them must be in the top 2-3 preparations I've had. I sat at the bar for a solo dinner, and the noise level wasn't a problem either.

The menu also changes frequently, so my recommendations will fall out of date, and I'll also have a great reason to come back soon.

I was very disappointed with this restaurant. We had waited and waited and heard so many good things. We arrived it was so dark and my poor mom who cannot see in the dark so she was essentially blind and couldn’t see anything. The tables are so close I could touch elbows with the table next to me. The music was extremely loud I had to ask the waiter to repeat the menu and no I’m not old in my forties. Then they had the heat so high we were sweating.
The food was not super good and the portions were ok but if we order a duck small plate I would assume there would be more than one piece of duck.
For the price I would not recommend this restaurant or go back. There are so many different restaurants in Burlington that are amazing. This simply isn’t one of them.

As a former Chef…this place has Michelin Star written all over it! Chef Warnstedt had a James Beard award ready and waiting for him! I’m a DC transplant and have lived all over the world, I can count on 1 hand memorable meals, this is definitely one of them! Oysters ohhhh so fresh! And included with a dropper bottle of chili vinegar sauce, fantastic! Beef short rib app… DIVINE! Had the hangar steak and stripped bass, succulent and incredible with the combination of flavors! I cannot recommend this place more! Yea, it is pricey, but my god will you love every bite! If there were more than 5 stars I would give it!

We had such a lovely dinner at the bar tonight. The food was absolutely incredible. There was a seared scallop special with celery root puree, jalapeños, the house ham, and apples, fresh and "chips", that was absolutely to die for. The duck entree my partner and I shared and it was cooked so perfectly and so yummy. I was delightfully surprised that they had a sparkling red wine on their menu, so good! The bartender, Tzega, was an absolute delight and knowledgeable and cordial and made the whole experience even better. 10/10

Fun dining experience at the Chef's table for a celebratory dinner. The restaurant is cozy with an open kitchen concept that brings a warmth to the dining environment. Food was on point, staff were great, and drinks were excellent. 10/10 would go again.

Cozy, warm and inviting. Very good.

We sat at the bar. Enjoyed a couple cocktails with two cheese pairings (perfectly described by our bartender) with delicious homemade crackers and a sweet preserve made by the pastry chef and a side of Parker rolls; Gooey yeast rolls topped with sea salt. Melt in your mouth deliciousness.

For our main dish, we shared the ribeye; suggest trying something else. Portion seemed small and average.

Lastly for dessert, we had the butterscotch crème. Pastry chef shining through again.

Service started off strong but as it got busy, we were told meal was being plated twice. Yet, kept waiting even on a Monday evening.

Food was very good but the ribeye dish was disappointing. It was also by far the most expensive meal we’ve had in quite some time. For these two reason, I feel 4 stars is an adequate rating.

An intimate atmosphere, chill vibes, and top quality food & service shows Hen of the Wood is a top tier destination.

So many great options for cocktails and food. Both are out of this world. Great vibe and recommend sitting near the kitchen so you can see all th action.

Amazing place, from farm to table. Kind service, great atmosphere, nice wines. Not too expensive. A great stop when in Burlington.

Absolutely delicious with a wide variety of different foods. Menu changes very fast (sometimes daily) so it's a surprise for sure.