Back in the summer of 2020, things were difficult but they did seem a little brighter than they did here in the winter of 2021, at least for me personally. Even with the pandemic raging across the country, there was no problem with finding a lovely trail to explore outdoors and the constant fresh air did wonders for the spirit. The summer was greatly appreciated for me as an educator, being preceded by a sudden change to remote learning and being followed by complete uncertainty. Knowing I might not feel this would be a safe activity after returning to work in person, I took advantage of the opportunity to support local businesses and enjoy some culinary indulgences through outdoor dining. The Dutchman’s Tavern offered a great experience in this area.

My husband and I first visited this establishment in June, after I had just completed a bigger roller coaster of a school year than I would have ever imagined. I was a bit nervous, as this was my first time going anywhere populated since COVID-19 had closed Vermont’s school buildings in mid-March. However, my worries were put at ease when it was clear how many careful precautions were taken by the staff. All staff members were wearing masks and clear directions were posted for customers to do the same, when not eating at their individual tables. Before even looking at a menu, we were asked to sign a paper with our names and numbers so that contact tracing could take place if needed. Seeing the precautions being taken seriously made it easy enough to relax and enjoy a great meal.

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On this perfectly sunny and warm June evening, I enjoyed the selection you see above: mozzarella sticks, a fish sandwich, and one of the lighter ales on the drink menu. Everything tasted just as delicious as I would have hoped and it was so enjoyable to simply sit outside and chat with my husband after spending such an enormous amount of time inside our home over the previous months. He ordered the Gouda Burger and let me have a bite; I was quite impressed with how savory it was and, when he finished, he declared it the best burger he’s eaten in Vermont (an honor that still stands). We left feeling pleasantly full, tranquil, and ready to return in the future.

We ended up enjoying the outdoor dining experience one more time, closing my summer with another visit in late August, before I would return to a most unique school year. Since this was a bit of a “last hurrah” before getting back to business, I was in the mood to indulge. So when I saw the option to add cheese and truffle oil to tater tots as an appetizer, I was in no place to resist. I ordered that just for myself, which ended up being a mistake. While it was one of the tastiest “starters” I’ve ever had the pleasure to try, the fat from the oil and cheese filled me up extremely quickly so I could only handle so much while also saving room for a burger. My husband was very pleased with this development, as he agreed wholeheartedly on the tastiness factor. He ended up eating most of them. I tried the Cajun Burger, based on the excellent taste of the burger during our previous dining endeavor, and I was not disappointed – it had just the right amount of heat. Even though my stomach was bursting at the seams following this particular experience, there are no regrets; everything was memorably delectable.

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Once school began again, I elected to be as careful as possible out of concern for my coworkers, my students, and their families, as I’d rather be too careful in this regard than not careful enough. So, in 2020, I did not partake in any outdoor dining from September on. That being said, I have been fairly comfortable with supporting local businesses through takeout/curbside pick-up and decided to try the Dutchman’s Tavern’s menu this way, for my January birthday.

This time I knew what I was getting into with the cheesy truffle tots so I ordered some for my husband and myself to share, taking the added precaution of eating very little during the earlier parts of the day to prepare for the richness of this dish. With preparations in place, we were both able to enjoy the truffly, cheesy goodness without going overboard. I also ordered a Gouda burger for myself, with fond memories of the one bite I had taken back in June in mind. Again, this turned out really well. The roasted red peppers were an excellent accompaniment to the smoked gouda and bacon, and the medium rare burger was cooked to perfection. Since it was for my birthday, we also ordered drinks to go. The Dutchman’s Tavern posts specials every day on Facebook and the post on this day advertised the “Forbidden Sour”, a cocktail with pomegranate liqueur, grenadine, and cherries. I was most interested and was even moreso when my husband arrived home from picking up our order with gigantic mason jars filled to the brim with this “forbidden” cocktail. All in all, it was a great meal that definitely helped me feel better about getting older during the winter of the pandemic.

I would recommend a visit to the Dutchman’s Tavern to anyone. They do currently offer indoor dining for those who are comfortable with that option, and the takeout, in my experience, involved food just as tasty as you’d get “in-house”. The service is great, with staff members following safety precautions and a positive attitude all around. The prices are super reasonable and the daily specials keep coming. If you follow the Dutchman’s Tavern on Facebook, be prepared to feel super hungry and thirsty every day as they share dinner specials for every day of the week in addition to the occasional (and irresistible) drink special.

This is an excellent pub/restaurant and I’m thankful it’s part of my town.

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