I experienced my first visit to The Publyk House back in the simpler times of the spring of 2018. My husband and I were visiting Bennington at the time, staying at the lovely Harwood Hill Motel while trying to find an apartment to rent for our upcoming move that summer. We decided to try this restaurant due the proximity to the motel, and we were both quite glad we did.

There is a cozy and inviting atmosphere at the Publyk House. The entrance is carpeted, the bathrooms are clean and spacious, and candles are present on each of the tables. In the winter, they set up the fireplace, which I appreciated greatly when we ate here to celebrate my January birthday in 2019. Outdoor seating with pleasant mountain views is available when the weather allows. It is one of the larger restaurants in Bennington, but it is also popular, so reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and Fridays. The prices for entrees range between $20.00 and $35.00, making it one of the more expensive options in the area. The Publyk House is open 7 days a week during dinner hours, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 4:00 – 8:00 PM on Sunday.

Most entrees at The Publyk House come with access to their salad bar, and we have been continually impressed by the offerings of their salad bar since the first visit. In addition to the usual salad ingredients (lettuce, tomato, etc.), they also offer hard boiled eggs, roasted red peppers, several kinds of pasta salad, and an assortment of crunchy toppings including slivered almonds. At the time, the only downside to the offerings here was the potential to easily fill up ahead of one’s meal. I believe the restaurant did discontinue the salad bar for a time during the pandemic, though it was open the last two times we visited, during this past summer of 2021. My husband and I have different salad bar strategies here: he usually piles what appears to be every topping on top of his lettuce base, while I like to split my salad bar plate into halves, one with a simple salad of lettuce, tomato, peppers, and dressing and the other with whatever pasta salads they are offering. Both strategies can be delicious, but both can also lead to a meal that’s potentially way too filling.

• 

• 

• 

Another special feature of the Publyk House is a honey wheat bread loaf served with whipped maple butter, offered as a complimentary starter for all meals. It’s a crumbly bread that can make quite a mess (or at least it can when I eat it…), but it’s also quite tasty and freshly baked; the butter is a great mix of creamy, savory, and sweet.

The dining room menu has a wide variety of appetizers and entrees to choose from, as does the tavern menu. There are also daily specials in all categories, which is always a plus, and special menus available during holidays like Thanksgiving. I’m not super into steaks or meats, but I sure do love carbs and seafood, so some of my favorite dishes at the Publyk House have been the buttermilk calamari appetizer, the lobster mac and cheese (pictured above), and the stone kitchen pasta. The last two times I’ve visited the Publyk House, I have been pregnant (I am 8 months pregnant while writing this), so I was not able to try any of the amazing looking drinks on their cocktail lists, but I definitely made a note of some to try in the future; the caramel apple mule and the key lime pie martini sound particularly interesting to me.

Though I could not partake in all of the beverages during pregnancy, there was certainly nothing stopping me from having desserts (in fact, cravings were encouraging this to happen a whole lot more than usual). There was a special s’mores brownie dessert that totally made my meal recently, and over the summer I was delighted to split a Reese’s peanut butter pie slice with family members who were visiting; it tasted just like a peanut butter cup in pie form. I also have a distinct memory of enjoying a special, homemade cinnamon ice cream during that time went here for my winter birthday in 2019. The establishment has certainly left a positive impression on this dessert-appreciator.

The Publyk House is a lovely restaurant that provides tasty food and a pleasant atmosphere. Though it is on the expensive side, the inclusion of the salad bar and the excellent bread and butter makes everything feel like more of a value. The only issue is the crowds, though of course that is an issue most restaurants would like to have! I would recommend this restaurant to any individual or family; just make sure you either go at a quiet time or have a reservation.

Freshly Vermont rating: five out of five stars. ★★★★★