The Bearded Frog

I can say without hesitation that the Bearded Frog presented us the best dining experience in the Burlington area. The food was interesting and absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was pleasant with an intimate pub feel, and the service was excellent. The beer menu is excellent with all the best of the local VT offerings. Everything is also at quite a moderate price for the quality and variety of options. No dish felt like a letdown, as one invariably does when it arrives, and my pork chop was really perfect! Great job and keep it up!

Unilocal delivers again. On our way home after a long day of driving. Food (yes, we had the highly-​recommended calamari) was gorgeous and delicious. BF’s steak salad and my Statler chicken were perfect. We devoured them, and we usually take home half of our meals. Barb Wire cocktail knocked it out of the park, and the bartender who created it engaged us charmingly. Accommodating hostess and very nice ambience. Only drawback (and everything else made up for it) was disinterested, just an order-​taker server.

I really love The Bearded Frog’s drink and food ideas. They mix interesting flavors in a wonderful way. My only complaint is that the food almost always seems to be too salty. Last night I had a pork rib-​eye dish that was great, except that the excessive salt took away from the flavor. I love salt, and usually I say that salt adds to flavor, but some of their dishes use it in an overpowering way. I’d love to go back, but I would request less salt! Also, I can’t wait to try their lavender drink!

Stumbled across this one on my way to a hotel in the Burlington metro. This place is a testament to why I love and contribute to the Unilocal community! Great local spot I would not have found otherwise. Wonderful cozy vibe, with a delicious menu full of comfort food and a nice little selection of local beers on tap.
The menu was succinct which is to my personal foody preference and the plates were a bit sassy! I went with the tomato chick pea and kale soup and grilled pork rib eye with cauliflower mash; it was a really delicious late winter meal.
Some notes on logistics, the restaurant is quite expansive with nooks of seating throughout which likely keeps the noise level down. Was great for conversations and even the large tables didn’t overwhelm the overall volume needed for table talk. The rustic atmosphere and details really fit the aura well and I can see this restaurant being great for dinner with friends or romantic encounters, just a nice environment to dine in; not too stuffy, but still quite classy and very comfortable setting thanks to the warm tones, soft lighting, and wooden accents. Parking was a little tough due to the busy night but something to expect at most good eateries in the middle of dinner rush.
Quick nod to the staff as they were all quite lovely, diligent and worked as a team to seat, order, and serve. I don’t always note the staff, but being a former waiter and bartender myself I like to call out particularly well done service when it’s warranted.
Overall a strong recommendation for the Shelbourne, VT area and for those travelling through or looking for a different venue than their usual spot for a great little dinner experience you will not be disappointed.

Another Shelburne gem! Located in the heart of Shelburne, the Bearded Frog crafts some of the best food, libations, and has one of the best presentations I have experienced at a restaurant. Don’t be fooled by the name — which, yes, at first I was totally thrown by — the place radiates intimacy and classic charm. The restaurant is dimly lit and has a booths, tables, and a bar for seating. My favorite has always been up at the bar for the wonderful conversations that arise spontaneously with whoever happens to be crafting drinks. The back area with tables is excellent for groups looking for more of a private feel. The staff is always easy to chat with and helpful with recommendations. The food itself has never disappointed. My most recent discovery here has been the rabbit burger: gamy flavor and hearty texture, complemented by the tartness of the sauce on the burger. Fries were defiantly a good side dish, giving me just the crispy crunch I was looking for. The duck cigars and the Waldorf salad are my go to’s and are excellent gateway dishes to the creativity and culinary style of the Bearded Frog.
Fun fact: the Bearded Frog has several sister restaurants including the Black Sheep Bisto and the Bobcat Café.

Everything about this restaurant is utterly stellar!
The atmosphere is quiet and comfortable, with a nice rustic country décor and dim lights. Warm and cozy!
The cocktail I got was strong, but delicious. I can’t recall the name but it was made with gin and apricot. My sister got the drink that was ginger lemonade with bourbon. Both were extremely good.
We had appetizers of the Venison cigars and the Waldorf salad. Oh my word they were outstanding. The cigars were perfectly flavored and cooked, and the dipping sauces were divine. The Waldorf salad was so incredibly delicious. The flavors and textures were perfect. I will forever crave this salad.
My entrée was the duck breast with the bacon lentils and green beans/​asparagus. My sister got the burger. Again, both were outstanding. The duck was cooked perfectly and I don’t think I’ve ever eaten such delicious lentils in my life!!!
For dessert we got the birthday cake, which was a spice cake with cranberry filling and a cider buttercream. Oh. My. GOD. It was good, it was so so sososososo good. Along with the Waldorf salad, I will forever dream of that cider buttercream!
The service was also excellent. Friendly, swift and attentive. Ours knew the menu inside and out and you can tell they adore the food the serve.
Thank you for such a wonderful time Bearded Frog. :)

Very nice dinner tonight. Had the cigars and hominy soup for apps. Steak sand and burger for dinner. Great vibe and friendly service.

Dined at the Bearded Frog after a visit to Shelburne Museum (very conveniently close by). We ordered the Waldorf Salad which was delicious and split a burger (cooked to order… I’ve been to so many places where you ask for it a specific way and it still comes out under cooked). Very yummy! Would try other dishes if we lived nearby.

My favorite restaurant in the United States. Hands down. I’ve dined here dozens of times, never had a bad meal. In fact, never had anything that I didn’t care for.
My absolute favorite, aside from the delicious, seasonally inspired food, and the well-​crafted cocktails, is the birthday cake. It changes periodically, and I’ve had the most amazing flavor combinations.
I miss eating here often. If you’re in Vermont, either living there or passing through, this is a MUST.

Fantastic food! We started with stuffed artichokes, which was amazing! Then continued with poached haddock and grilled pork rib eye! Also amazing! Layers of different spices, different taste with every bite. Did I mention the presentation? So beautiful. Not what you would expect from by looking at it from outside but definitely a 5 star place.

2 appetizers– deep fried and uninspiring. 1 tap beer– old and flat. 1 glass of Chardonnay– bitter and about 3 ½ oz. Service– well trained, pleasant and quick. $ 50 with tip, will not be returning due to food and beverage quality.

I ate here last week but just getting around to write a review now. I’ve eaten here a few times before, so my review is a cumulative composite with an emphasis on my recent experience.
This is one of those times I wish there was the option for a half star – in this case I would give 4 ½ stars. Generally speaking, however, I’d give 5 for The Bearded Frog. Everything was good, but there were two things that have me settling on 4 stars after my last experience.
For appetizers we ordered the Green Curry Lamb Empanadas (perfect in every way – and a meal on its own!) and the Waldorf Salad (also amazing!). For dinner we both ordered the Beef Tenderloin – medium – but it arrived well-​done. This was the first problem – a place of this caliber should be able to get that right. Second, although it was busy, a few more check-​ins (for drink refills – the empanadas were spicy) would have been nice. Although the beef order arrived not as ordered, it was still delicious, so not a major problem, but one worth mentioning. The garlic mashed potatoes and balsamic veggies that came as sides were incredible.
In the past I have tried the following:
Mixed green salad – basic but good. Venison Cigar Rolls – out of this world! It’s not a current offering, but they used to have a mushroom cheesecake appetizer and was indescribably delicious.
The drink menu is a little too creative (if that makes sense). It’s not bad, but many options are just odd. They do have an extensive beer and wine menu as an alternative.
I have to admit I almost always get the beef tenderloin (cooked medium); however, after my last experience, well-​done is just as flavorful and mouth-​watering – I just prefer a little pink inside. The venison burger is also fantastic and definitely worth trying.
Overall, this is a solidly good dining option that I recommend. My only concerns, as noted above, are that they check on tables a little more frequently and cook beef to customer preferences. I will definitely eat there again.

Had the calamari, which was as delicious as the reviews promised. Venison cigars were crunchy when they first came out but got cardboard-​y as they cooled. Great warm bread. Delicious hard cider. Skip the Malbec and go for the Cabernet.
Entrees were great. Tenderloin of beef on a scallion pancake with shaved Brussels sprouts and sausage gravy. It would have been fine without the gravy, which was kind of overkill.
Venison meatloaf was a giant meatball, but savory and moist. Crunchy frizzled onions on creamy mashed taters, and grilled chard topped with 4 onion rings of perfection.
Chef drizzles a lot of balsamic reduction. But who doesn’t like balsamic?
Service was attentive. We were there on a snowy night with few customers, though.

We had a lovely time last night but some hiccups make me wish Unilocal had half stars. I would give the evening 3.5 stars if I could.
First, we sat at the bar which was lovely and our service was excellent. I will admit that the tiny TV with an old Steven Segal movie was a strange choice but it didn’t interfere with our enjoyment.
The cocktails were unusual and delicious. I tried the basil margarita, the blood orange Cosmo and my husband has two different bourbon-​based drinks he enjoyed. Why get wine — which we could easily do at home? Highly recommend their cocktails for something different.
Having read many a Unilocal review about the appetizers, my husband has the calamari and venison cigars and was not disappointed. I had their riff on a Waldorf salad and it was crunchy, tasty, and satisfying.
Where I went wrong was with ordering the chicken broccoli pot pie. The crust was tasty but that is where my positive comments should end. The sauce was thin and lackluster, the filling was lukewarm (I sent it back and they addressed this quickly) and there was not much broccoli which was odd for something billed as such. I should have had the soup!
That said, we had a lovely time and had a great conversation with a local. Will definitely be back!

We got in a little early and settled into a nice bottle of Malbec. The atmosphere would be romantic for a date but was classy and cozy for our family. We really enjoyed our appetizers and had a hard time choosing them since everything sounded so good! We got the stuffed pretzel and venison cigars. At that point the family was raving and wanted to make reservations for the following night and bring the chef out to their home state.
The downside for me came with my entrée. The venison meatloaf was pretty flavorless, and the sauce/​reduction on it was way too sweet. The mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts were tasty, but everything else on the plate was unnecessary and while edible and part of the meal, was more like decorative fluff. The plating in general seemed dated to me, like they found some solid recipes in the early 00’s and haven’t changed them at all since. I wasn’t impressed, but it was passable. I’d go and get 17 appetizers and a drink any time, but from what I tasted of others meals, and my own, I don’t need to bother with an entrée.
The prices were reasonable. Service was good, too.

We ate here twice for dinner. The food is very good but I have to admit, I ate exactly the same thing on both occasions.
I tried the venison cigars for an appetizer and they have this amazing maple horseradish sauce that is delicious. Their hamburgers are very good with a nice selection of condiments to put on it. The side salad was great.
We all loved the fact that when they ask what you want on the hamburger, you can put anything they have on their list for the same price. It includes three kinds of cheeses, bacon, mushrooms and other additions.
Make reservations, otherwise, you may not get in.

Really disappointing. burger special was dry and lifeless… fries were over cooked. Should have gone to Archies.

Love this place! It’s a bit out of the way from downtown Burlington (which I think makes the crowd a bit older than the typical Burlington crowd in general), but what it lacks in convenience it makes up for in deliciousness.
The menu changes occasionally, but the graham cracker crusted calamari and the lemon grass poached haddock seem to be permanent fixtures and for good reason: they’re delicious! I think my favorite thing about Bearded Frog is the drink selection; their drinks are unique and carefully prepared. Solid A for ambiance, they have a little patio outside in the summer, which is nice, but kind of lacks something in terms of view (ie-​of the parking lot). Service seems pretty good and we leave happy every time.

By far one of my favorite culinary experiences in Vermont and well ever. There is a certain dish here that is the best i have ever had. No restaurant not in NYC or anywhere else has yet to top the Calamari here. It’s like the Calamari was handcrafted by Jesus himself and sent down for us to enjoy. I am not over exaggerating here, there are plenty of places that we all know that has a certain dish that has been over hyped or touted as world famous but in all honesty this dish should be one of them. That show on Food Network «Called Best Thing I Ever Ate» or whatever should definitely have had some one of the chefs come up here for the seafood edition and had this dish.
The dish is officially called the «Graham Cracker Crusted Calamari» and literally from the first bite it was love love love. My girlfriend kept telling me days in advance, that i didn’t understand how good this dish was. Usually when she keeps raving about something repeatedly she is usually spot on. She took me here for my birthday and i was so happy, it made for a great night. Definitely call and make sure you get reservations because this place is a hot ticket. Upon going in we were seated i think within about two minutes of arriving, staff is very courteous and wait-​staff makes sure that your needs are catered to, you don’t feel like you are being ignored. The ambiance of the restaurant was beautiful, great layout, everyone around us was dressed appropriately, definitely classy not amateur hour here. Everything about this place exudes excellence and intimate romance.
I will be coming back here again hopefully next month in May, and i can’t wait, get the Calamari on deck for me.

A visit to The Bearded Frog never disappoints (well except for the calamari). While it is still a dish or two short from that perfect five stars, their ever-​changing menu is consistently good and impressive. For starters, we had the crunchy tofu cakes, which were surprisingly good. I would describe them as vegetarian crab cakes. The lemon caper emulsion was a great sauce to accompany the cakes. The other starter was a bit of a disappointment. The graham cracker crusted calamari was soggy and the breading came off very easily. Everything tasted very oily, heavy, and I did not taste any of the graham cracker flavor.
After we got our entrees, I began to notice a pattern that the chef here loves to drizzle balsamic vinegar on every dish. It’s a little bit of overkill, but I’ll let it pass because the entrees were good. I had the lemongrass poached haddock and also tasted some of the stuffed acorn squash. The haddock was a solid dish with great Asian flavors. The Thai-​inspired flavors went great with the piece of haddock and I enjoyed the coconut-​infused rice. The stuffed acorn squash was beautifully prepared with a creamy kale and walnut filling. A flavorful cranberry sage cream surrounded the outside.
For dessert, we shared a simple sorbet trio, featuring blood orange, passion fruit, and lemon. Three small scoops that had a simple presentation, but wish it was a little more creative than that. I think for $ 7, some of the other items might have been a better option.
I still need to return one of these days to try their delicious-​sounding pub food!