Blackback Pub

We came here on a whim, based on some promising reviews. I'm always a little leery in blindly following online reviews, but figured it was worth a shot... Thankfully, there was zero need to go anywhere else!! When we're traveling we usually ask locals for restaurant suggestions but this time just trusted what we read, and now this will be one of our "must stop" places when in Vermont!!! We walked in, and were able to grab a seat at the bar quickly and easily. Tristan greeted us immediately- his suggestions for both food and drinks were on point. He made us feel right at home, but also was willing to make beer recommendations when I asked for a little guidance. Plus he was a riot- great sense of humor!! First, let's discuss the nachos: they're not typical (even if they kind of sound that way) - the blue cheese is a pleasant surprise, but the hint of maple was totally unexpected and OUT OF THIS WORLD. The steak came out perfectly cooked, with an excellent sear and was insanely tender. Normally I don't find sides to be particularly outstanding, but here we are- the potatoes were FREAKING DELICIOUS and the veggies melted in your mouth. Do yourself a favor- ask for the dessert specials and pray they have the cheesecake or the mousse, they were outstanding (and I don't even like cheesecake)!!! The bar has an awesome vibe- laid back yet fun. However, the thing that makes or breaks a restaurant is it's staff... every single person we met there was welcoming, warm and friendly. They made suggestions when asked and were a wealth of knowledge on beers, liquors and all things local. This is the kind of service that makes people come back- locals and tourists alike!!

Another fine drinking and dining experience in the Waterbury, Vermont. We were looking for some beer and good food so we looked up on Google and decided to try this place. I requested the bartender to suggest one of their Indian Pale Ale (IPA) and he suggested a drink (I forgot the exact name) but it was delicious and I ended up repeating the order. The place had a very lively buzz with most people seated around the bar counter and everyone seemed to be having a good time. For food, I tried their special of the day (coconut miso) and a New York strip streak. Both items were super delicious. I highly recommend this place for great tap beer and excellent food.

All we can say is WOW! We tried the downstairs pub for lunch on Tuesday and it was very good (delicious grilled cheese, chicken sandwich and chicken chili). It was good pub food. We overheard the bartender and others talking about the upstairs restaurant and how the menu and craft cocktails were to die for. Well, they weren’t lying!!!! We went for dinner last night upstairs and everything was exceptional! The atmosphere, the cocktails, the food, the service…it was all INCREDIBLE! To drink I had the Devil May Care - no mezcal, sub reposado - and my husband had a draft beer. We both loved the Devil May Care so much that we ordered a second and shared it. We started with a caesar salad (super fresh), corn chowder (best we’ve ever had) and the nachos, but subbed extra shredded cheese for the blue cheese. The nachos were so unique and delicious! Who would think to put maple syrup on nachos??? Well they did and it was awesome! We also had the strip steak with carrots and potatoes (steak cooked perfectly the carrots had amazing flavor) and bolognese, which we agreed was also one of the best we’ve ever had. A stop here will be mandatory every time we come to town!! 😋