Lunch in the Mad River Valley: Scratch the Surface

Every so often, we hear someone say there aren’t enough places to grab lunch in the Mad River Valley.

We understand where that perception comes from. Our lunch options aren’t lined up beneath flashy signs or clustered along a predictable restaurant row. Some of the best are tucked inside country stores, hidden behind gas pumps, found at the golf course or waiting in a shopping center you might otherwise drive right past.

But scratch the surface and you’ll discover an impressive collection of lunch options served in a way that feels distinctly Mad River Valley: casual, creative, unpretentious and full of local character.

Open Near Every Day Down in the Valley

Well let’s start by saying that the The Warren Store serves lunch 362 days a year, really. So if you wan’t lunch it’s a pretty good bet they’ll be open for you. The sandwiches at the nearly world-famous Warren Store have long been the stuff of legend, but you’ll also find incredible baked goods, sides, salads and such. Partake on the  deck over a babbling brook, listen to the water tumble past and enjoy one of those wonderfully simple moments that reminds you why the MRV is such a special place.

Toast and Eggs is WAY more than just breakfast, but to be clear, their breakfasts are amazing! Lunch options vary from salads and bowls to grilled cheese sammys, and loads of other sandwich options, check out their BAALT – IFYKYK! Enjoy year-round seating in the cozy dining room, or dine alfresco with picturesque views of the Green Mountains.  Simply stellar home-cooked food!

Mad Taco is open seven days a week, serving its distinctive, flavor-packed take on tacos, burritos and more. It is casual, colorful and always satisfying—a perfect reflection of the Mad River Valley’s personality.

Lawson’s Finest Taproom offer lunch every day of the week so you know you can always count on a tasty lunch in their beautiful, family-friendly Taproom Enjoy a rotating selection of exclusive beers only available here, paired with a local, seasonal food menu crafted by their talented team.  The menu features small plates, salads, paninis, cheese boards, sandwiches, bowls and more. All you need to choose is where to partake; in the taproom, on the patio, by the fire or over at the dog-friendly area off the Mad River Path.

Three Mountain Café is far more than a place to grab a great cup of coffee. Take a closer look at the menu and you’ll find plenty of reasons to make it a breakfast or lunch destination, too. Paninis, build-your-own sandwiches, soups and sauces  and top it off with a from scratch baked good (lots of GF too) or cup-o-joe to get you through the afternoon. Catch ’em at the Round Up too!

Then there is Hogan’s Pub at the Sugarbush Golf Club, which may offer one of the best lunchtime views in the Valley. Here is the important part: you do not need to be a golfer. Come for lunch, settle in and enjoy the sweeping mountain backdrop.

The East Warren Community Market is another one of those “only in the MRV kind of experiences”and they are open every day! Lunch there is always a treat with a view. So many grab and go items to enjoy on a picnic table out front. Great beer and other bevvies too!

 

Extended Weekend Lunch Options

Joy Bar and Restaurant is a great option for lunch Friday to Sunday where you dine on Mediterranean cuisine, lots of tapas-esque options, salads and mouth-watering large plates. And did someone say… cocktails”?

Mad Moose is another favorite, open for lunch Friday through Sunday. It is the kind of welcoming place where you can settle in, enjoy a good meal and feel like you’ve found a genuine local gathering spot. Hand-crafted pizzas, Vermont-made spirits, and honest, comforting dishes are what they are all about.

Twisted Halo is a special spot right on the river with scenic covered-bridge views. They bring us a nice array of lunch options every day (except Wednesdays) along with scrumptious baked goods and of course some first-class coffee choices. Did we mention the view just can’t be beat?

Yes, We Eat Where We Get Our Gas

It may sound counterintuitive, but here in the MRV, some of our best casual lunches can be found in the same places where we fill the tank.

The Irasville Country Store is a lunchtime haven, with plenty of satisfying choices for people on the go—or those who want to slow down and enjoy a good meal.

The Village Grocery, known locally as the VG, has invested heavily in its deli and introduced an impressive new menu. Grab lunch, add a creemee for dessert—of course—and enjoy it on the deck or in the garden. You can also walk across the street to the shady gardens at the Joslin Memorial Library, a particularly lovely place for a summer picnic.

It may not be conventional restaurant dining, but that is exactly the point. It is easy, delicious, affordable, unmistakably local and your more likely than not to take in some local color.

Don’t Just Drive Past Village Square

It’s Hip To Be Square at The Village Square Shopping Center a concentration of casual lunch choices that kind of turns it into our own rural food court. There are picnic tables and grassy areas are easily at hand so it’s always a great grab & go picnic spot.

Canteen Creemee Company has built a reputation that travels far beyond the Valley. It’s another one of those IYKYK things —and if you don’t, it may be time to find out. The Mad Taco anchors the mix with big flavors and a loyal following. Pizza Soul offers another crowd-pleasing option, Emily’s Bar & Bistro has stepped into the breach and is now offering lunch on Saturdays. The food is always good, and you’ll get a heaping helping of that old-fashioned MRV conviviality.

Then there is Mehuron’s Supermarket. Its deli is legendary, with sandwiches, sides, grab-and-go meals, truly ridiculous paninis and a lunch special that is always worth a gander.

Take your haul up to the South Fayston Cemetery for a quiet picnic with an incredible view, find a peaceful spot beside the river or bring it along on your next adventure. Around here, the setting can be just as memorable as the meal.

Lunch Options in Middlesex

Middlesex is the MRV’s eastern gateway, it’s where all our friends from the Boston area locals going to Montpelier pass through their way to and from the MRV. Wood Belly Pizza is the anchor at Camp Meade where they serve lunch every day of the week and they even have creemmees too! Bent Road Road House offers lunch on the weekends and brunch Thursday to Saturday and brunch on Sundays.

Lunch the MRV Way

Lunch in the MRV isn’t always obvious. That is part of its charm.

You may eat above a babbling brook, beside a country store, overlooking a golf course, beneath a shady tree or even at a cemetery. You might order at a counter, discover a great meal behind a set of gas pumps or turn a stop at the deli into an impromptu riverside picnic.

Our lunch options are woven into our villages, markets, gathering places and landscape. They reflect the independent spirit of the people who live here and the wonderfully unconventional character of the Mad River Valley itself.

So, can you find a great lunch in the MRV?

Absolutely. You just need to know where to look—and sometimes, the discovery is half the fun.