Barrows House

The main dishes were quite good, but the appetizers and service made this a birthday dinner I’m unlikely to repeat or recommend. My family had been looking forward to the restaurant, which has long been one of my father’s favorites, but that changed for us. We ordered two Brussels Caesar salads, and the shredded sprouts had thick, woody cores that were hard to eat. The aïoli in the Wagyu tartare gave it the taste and texture of ham salad. The salmon crostini was described as a shared appetizer and came with plenty of smoked salmon and cream cheese, but only six tiny pieces of crostini, nowhere near enough for the portion. Our server disappeared after bringing drinks, and a runner delivered the appetizers. She didn’t check whether everything was okay or if we needed anything. She returned only after the entrées arrived. We asked about the bread we saw going to other tables and whether we could have more crostini to finish the salmon. She said in a condescending way that bread had to be ordered, since we’d apparently missed it on the appetizer menu. When we explained the problem with the salad, she was rude and focused on the menu saying “shredded Brussels sprouts,” missing that the thick core pieces were the issue. She brought more crostini, then we didn’t see her again until the check.

I had a wonderful time at a small meeting and got to visit some local shops and the farmers’ market too. I stayed in the Blue Jay cottage, where the room was lovely and the bed wonderful. The blinds gave me a little trouble, but I slept great. There’s a shared room with a Keurig, fridge, microwave, and cozy seating. The main building also has a dining room with good food, a bar, and more lovely places to sit.

Renee was a huge help finding the right setup for our group of five families. We split our stay between the 1880 house and the cottage, and the 1880 house was perfect, very quintessential Vermont. Breakfast at the Dorset Inn was great, and it was easy to get to Manchester and Stratton. We’d happily stay here again.

The rooms at Barrows House were spacious, updated, and beautiful, and we loved our stay. The women who checked us in were kind and helpful. We also enjoyed the outdoor fire pits and the restaurant. Special thanks to Kristin, the restaurant hostess, who was so kind and went out of her way to make the visit special.