Anyone been since the Station changed hands? How was it?

Has anyone tried Stub and Laurels since it was sold? Does it still have the same name even?

How about the Windsor Station? It was one of my favorites when owned by the Aldehgeris.

Skip's roadside diner is a great place. Miss Bellows Falls- Bellows Falls, VT and Miss Lyndonville- Lyndonville, VT, Royal Diner- Springfield, VT, Dan's Windsor Diner is a great place to eat. In a 1999 article on Windsor's big event Heritage Days the travel section recommended the Windsor Diner, and a couple of years ago the LA Times also recommended the food at Dan's Windsor Diner. Pretty good endorsements. Side note, the Diner is 1952 according to the diner owners, a Worchester Car Diner, one of the last ever made. It is about 90% original, with a new addition. It was also featured in the Zippy comic strip, and a blow up of the panel is at the diner itself. Great place to stop and get breakfast.

speaking of Windsor, I heard that the other diner-like place Stubs and Laurels just changed hands. Any truth to this? I have not made it to Windsor this summer, kind of bummed about it, but we have plans for foliage!

I just tried Skip's Polish Roadside Diner in Gill, MA. Wonderful little spot and a must. I think they are seasonal, but I think it is through the tourist season.

Another great place is in Windsor called the Windsor Station. It just changed hands and I haven't gotten up to Vermont as much as I wanted this year. Gas prices and rain. Windsor also has the Juniper Hill Inn, which has unbelieveable views and elegance.

In Plainfield,NH - I heard Home Hill Inn just reopened. A real fancy place, french cuisine.

Simon Pearche in Quechee is a must for the ambience.

Joy Wah in Bellows Falls- Great view of the CT. River, great chinese food in my opinion.

Eatons Sugarhouse (for breakfast) in Royalton, VT? or really close by.

My recomendations is go to Windsor as it has a days worth of things to see and do, plus natural areas for hiking, kayaking, fishing, etc.

Try the Harpoon BBQ festival. The dates are on their web site www.harpoonbrewery.com Competitors from all over the country participate and many sell their products at the event.

Is Pizzareia Angelina (angelique?) in Stoughton or Easton Mass. still around? I went there with friends about 10 years ago, and couldn't find my way back if I tried, but the Pizza was unbelievable. A big doughy, cheesy Pizza with all fresh vegetables, including fresh garlic cloves and basil! I thin the husband was Greek and the wife was Italian or vice-versa. The flavor was absolutely delightful. We also could not finish the Pizza, it was the part pizza and so large as I recall the four of us could not polish it off.

Wow, this is good news! Will the price points be the same as before? That is to say higher fine dining prices, or will it be comparible to the upper mid level price points?

Thanks, we took your advice and had breakfast there. We were not disapointed. Interesting atmoshphere, a restraunt inside a sugar house/country gift store. The food was very good, the pancakes were very filling, and the fresh maple syrup is worth the price, and the trip

Anyone ever eat at Eaton's Sugar House outside of Royalton/Randolph? We are in Vermont this weekend and are thinking of heading there for breakfast or lunch. Anyone have some experience they would like to share? also what are their hours of op.

Thanks

I think so, but our last trip we didn't go south we went north to Lyndonville area from the Upper Valley. Sorry to hear it may be gone, bus such is life in the food business it seems.

In Claremont area there are two meat places. Liberal Beef, and North Country Smokehouse. There is also one in Windsor, but the name of it escapes me right now. It is outside of the downtown to the south. It is Green Mountain (meats? smokehouse) or something like that. There is also a butcher shop in Ascutney, VT but I have never been there. When we go north to VT we hardly ever cook,

The moderators took it down since it wasn't food related, but you can see why I like this area, I am a history buff. As for the question at hand, Brattleboro is close enough to Mass and NH to attract if the food is on the cutting edge. Hanover area, can support some ethnic cuisine, but you are right the really creative places might not be able to make it without a creative and catchy marketing campaign. Unfortunately, the majority of these restraunts start up without enough capital to make it through the first five years of operation. WRJ had an African restaraunt that was really "out there" in terms of offerings, but closed. Many people never even knew it was there. Those that did hated to see it close. Ethnic food eateries could make it if they have the funds to advertise. There is a critical mass for them in Brattleboro and I would say in the Hanover area. However, they have to be good and able to reach their audience. Advertising is always the tough part. As for Montpelier, it is a nice town, but parking is horrible, and there is something phony about it. I can'tplace my finger on, but it seems to "touristy" and not real enough. The UV has real ermonters and New Hampshire folks, down to earth, common sense, and kind. We have taken a day trip or two, but normally stop in So. Royalton, Randolph, Bethel, etc. to eat or wait until we get further north to the Burlington area. Hope this helps.

Actually it is from a tourist fascinated with Windsor's history who keeps coming back from Boston. I have never had luck at Ascutney, but I did hear they have had a new chef the last few years. My wife and I plan to visit Brown's Tavern at the Mountain this summer, the way things are going economically it may be th eonly place open in that area. I hope not.

Would the one that burned be Brickers? I know they have one in Claremont as well. In the Upper Valley and Lower Valley choices will always be limited. There is just not enough people to support so many restaraunts, unless you capitalize on bringing visitors in for other reasons. Hanover/Lebanon and Brattleboro are the only two places that have enough "critical mass" to support a variety of eateries. When Springfield, Windsor, and Claremont were going full with industry, they had a larger daytime population that would support fine establishments, and some not so fine. Now the streets are empty during the day, which means the restaraunts cannot survive unless they found a small niche.

Question, is the full moon cafe ( I believe that is the name) still open in downtown Springfield? They had a good selection of coffey and pasteries, and also sold chocolate, and vanilla coated coffee beans by the bag that were delicious.

Unfortunately, it looks like Clara's did not make it. Also, the Subway closed. I have never heard of a town 's "corporate fast food" chains closing as fast as they do in Windsor. I heard Clara's took on too much debt from another restaraunt at the location and could not catch up. A new business is hard to start, harder if debt is built in. If someone can clarify, I would love to know if this is accurate? I have friends in the Upper Valley that told me this. Clara's was opened by the former Hartford Diner owners and the food was excellent. Sad to see them go. The Subway, well they were slow and the grinders at the Pizza Chef were much, much better anyways.

Any truth to the rumor we heard when we came through that the Windsor Station has sold? I put that up here, but no one seems to know, or they are not talking.

Thanks for the information. We went up to VT to check on our camp, and noticed the changes in Windsor when we drove through. What happened?

Rich,
I am sorry that my suggestion drew two "oh that's so seventies" and no longer "hip" responses. In my opinion good food does not go "out of style" BTW the BoVT stands for "Birthplace of Vermont". It is the small town of Windsor, and home to the Windsor Station. We summer/vacation in the Upper Valley area each year and try to stop at the station at least one or two times before we head back to the Boston area. Others that come up with us like the Juniper Hill Inn, and when we ate at the No Name cafe in Windsor it was really good. Windsor last summer was the best kept secret for food, but unfortunately, those places stayed "the best kept secrets" and some have since closed. Windsor is such a beautiful, but depressed town. It seems evertime they get things going something happens and all of a sudden it reverts back to the depressed times. The only constant we have seen was the Windsor Station, and their food has kept us coming back every year for the last 20+ years.

I am sorry, but I really like the Americanized version of Chineese food. The tastes and sauces add familiarity to the unfamiliar and just taste good. I guess that is why they say "To each their own..."

For a great view, check out the Joy Wah in Bellows Falls. Beautiful view of the River. Really great Chineese food, friendly service, good prices. A place we also want to eat sometime is the patio of Juniper Hill Inn, the view of Mt. Ascutney and the lake below are esquisite. Simon Pearce is my favorite in Quechee, and I agree whole heartedly about it. For great food, and Ambience, I like the Windsor Station (heard it was recently sold), but the view and location is a nightmare. we haven't ever had anything happen to us our our car, but it looks like an area where bad stuff can happen. Although the food keeps us coming back.

Windsor is about 15 -20 minutes from White River if my memory serves me. Maybe my drive times are skewed because I am used to driving an hour and half to and from work with traffic. Vermont "is a quick drive" for those of us from the city. It might seem long to you, but it is a hop away for us.

Well a lot happened in Windsor-
The Windsor Station sold, Clara's closed, Subway closed (good riddance Pizza Chef is better) and apparently, No Name is serving dinners again. The food at Juniper Hill is always good, and No Name was a good place for a light lunch. If you haven't guessed No Name and Juniper Hill are owned by the same people. I plan to try the dinners at No Name the next time through the Upper Valley. There is a good post on the No Name here, which is how I just leatned about the dinners..

Thanks for the update StewinWindsor,

We came through Windsor last week only to find our favorite spot in the Upper Valley had sold, one of our new favorites from last summer had closed, an even the small (and extremely slow) Subway had gone the way of McD's. I can't believe the Windsor Station has been sold. We had been going there for 20 years. I hope the new owners are half as good as the Aldigheri family. Is No Name still owned by the Juniper Hill Folks? If so the food will always be good. On another note, what happened to Clara's? The food was wonderful, just like the old Hartford Diner when they owned it. I know parking in Windsor is difficult and they did not have a good location in terms to parking spaces. We ended up eating at Stellas in Hartland, which isn't anywhere near as good as when it was Joanies. Again thanks for the update. We will add the No Name to our dinner menu the next time we come through from Boston, not just a quick lunch, like last time.

Stella's was a good place when we stopped in. I guess we will have to make more room for it now that the No Name and Tee Time are "off the local menu." I hope Clara's can make it because they are new like No Name and Tee Time were.

Also in Woodstock Simon Pearce, very pricey and the Mountain Creamery are musts.

Make the swing into Windsor, Vermont and dine at the Windsor Station Restraunt. Also Juniper Hill Inn, and the two Diners Clara's Cafe and Dan's Windsor Diner(owned by Fred). If you can only make one it should be the Station. We first found out about this gem through the Boston Globe, but it has been featured in the LA Times, NY Times and Chicago Tribune. Our favorite place when we stay in Vermont.

While we were in Vermont this weekend we kept hearing about this nice little place called Keepers. It is in Reading, Vermont near Woodstock but we could not find it. Anyone know where it is located? What they serve? What are their hours of op and price points (ie. pricey, middle of the road, low)? Thanks for your help

I agree about Juniper Hill , but must plug the Windsor Station our personal favorite when we go to Vermont.

We just made the trip to VT and ate in Windsor, Springfield, and Woodstock. The Farmer's Diner was really good food and prompt service when we went in May. What happened? New ownership? High turnover in staff?

Went through Windsor this weekend and were devestated. The What Not Cafe was closed because of a fire, Tee Time Cafe was closed because the owners were managing the No Name and the No Name Cafe had no dinners. We ate at Clara's and the food was still top notch and the Station which is still our favorite. We decided to venture further out to the Mt. Creamery in Woodstock and Bentley's and the food was good, a little pricey. The homeade ice cream at the Mt. Creamery made the trip to Woodstock worth it. We also went to the Royal Diner in Springfield before it closed. That was an interesting experience to say the least. Very upbeat employees if you know what I mean.