Restaurants the parents will relish Food critic dishes up family favorites

Author: Ken Lazo

BLACK SHEEP BISTRO

Black Sheep lures its visitors with its distinct small town grace and phenomenal ambiance that allows for a convivial and intimate experience. The precursor to arrival is a 20-minute journey north from Middlebury on Rte. 7, which serves to set the mood with evening views of Vermont autumn foliage and farmland patched like a well-knit quilt. At the restaurant, light music complements a dimly lit setting as diners indulge their appetites.

The menu is simple in its arrangement of appetizers on one side and entrées on the other. All appetizers are fixed at $7 and entrées at $19. Boasting a medley of different sauces like coffee-infused sherry sauce, a citrus-glazed duck confit, gorgonzola and pine nut dressing on a bed of arugula and cubed beets, the meal is orchestrated in ornate colors, patterned on fresh greens and the utmost tender pieces of meat - sirloin, venison, duck and stuffed chicken, to name a few.

Michel Mahe opened the restaurant six years ago. He also owns the Bearded Frog in Shelburne and the Bobcat Café in Bristol. From his small-town Breton heritage in France, Michel infuses his Franco rustique palette and meticulously garnishes each dish with a modest, yet intense and surprising flavor.

The restaurant also offers an impressive wine list complete with Malbecs, Bourdeaux, and Cabs. Take advantage of your parents' car and have them drive you up to Vergennes to share this unique Breton/Vermont setting. If your parents can't make it this time, bring your special someone and the evening will surely be punctuated with a lovely smile and satisfied appetite. Reservations are recommended.

PARK SQUEEZE

Park Squeeze on Main Street in Vergennes has become a local favorite for a stress free lunch and nice Sunday Brunch. It's a small cozy place inviting locals to enjoy a charismatic meal for under $10.

The "wrap-ture" wraps are inexpensive and filling with interesting flavor combinations like the "Wasabi Shrimp," "The Peanut," or the "Crispy Duck." But my personal recommendation is the stir-fry bowls. The "be the bowl" mantra allows diners to choose a stir fry bowl from a variety of spicy, sweet, and filling ingredients including ginger-miso sauce on basmati rice or chicken with Portobello mushrooms and tomatoes. The restaurant prides itself in local, fresh and healthy alternatives such as organic brown rice, organic tofu and your choice of five vegetables to go into your bowl.

If you have younger siblings in tow, the menu features a substantial list of kids' favorites called the "Lil' Squeeze." Indeed, the restaurant website boasts, "Where do you go for good food to meet the needs of two eight-year-olds, a food snob, a vegetarian, a person who spent the whole day snowboarding and someone who doesn't know what to order? Park Squeeze."

Betsy Vick, the proprietor of Park squeeze has built a formidable two story space for large parties and a talented staff. The staff once included Sanderson Wheeler, now chef at Bobcat Café. They serve a delightful meal whether it be brunch, lunch or dinner. The Park Squeeze is located on Main Street in Vergennes a couple of blocks north of Black Sheep Bistro.

THE BOBCAT CAFE

For an over-21 crowd, definitely consider The Bobcat Cafe on your list of dining options. Aside from offering delicious American fare, the restaurant brews its own beer in 250-gallon fermentation tanks on site.

Michel Mahe, owner of Black Sheep Bistro in Vergennes, recently acquired the Bobcat Café in Bristol, Vt. The restaurant maintains its nice and comfortable standard American pub feeling while still offering a smaller menu and a warm setting for a casual get-together in this beautiful Vermont town.

Sanderson Wheeler (formerly of Park Squeeze) is the new chef at the Bobcat Café. Wheeler cooks up American comfort food favorites like chicken à la king, venison chorizo meatloaf with demi-glace, or bangers and mash.

The prices are comparable to Black Sheep Bistro (entrées $18), however, the ambiance is much more lively. The wooden bar, well-known for its rich variety of beers on tap attracts a good crowd. With beers like Trout River, The Shed, Otter Creek, and Bobcat's own signature brews, the bar is sure to please everyone. Complete with a wooden old-fashioned English-style bar back, and intricately carved gargoyle heads, the bar adds to the homey vibe that makes Bobcat such a unique Vermont favorite.

Try the Bobcat for the ultimate finale to a day of lounging and hiking by Bristol Falls. It offers a rare escape from the bustle of campus and the offerings are sure to please. The Bobcat Cafe is located at 5 Main Street in Bristol.