A true hidden gem in Barnard! We've dined at The Tavern multiple times, and it never disappoints. The menu is simple but full of surprises--don't miss the Arancini di Riso or the Wiener Schnitzel, which is the best I've had anywhere. Their farm-inspired cocktail menu is creative and delicious--last night's Rhubarb Margarita was a standout. The staff is warm, attentive, and clearly passionate about creating a great dining experience. This place is something special. Part of me wants to keep it a secret, but they deserve all the support and success. read more

We sat at the bar prior to dining and asked for the "guest" WiFi password, as I did not have cell service. I was told by a member of the staff that they would not provide it as they had a no cell phone policy. I explained that I wouldn't be calling anyone, but that I had an elderly mother in the Midwest and my boss might need to contact me, but was still told that I wouldn't be allowed to access their guest WiFi. I ordered the steak and was told it would be "medium rare". It arrived well done and I brought it up to the wait staff who told me that usually their steaks were thicker, but that it was medium rare. Photo attached. I asked for them to comp the meal (which I had not eaten and they wouldn't replace) and was told that they wouldn't. Very bizarre experience. Bartender and server were great, but management and chef were not. EDIT: The response by the owner claims I posted a forged photo. Wow! Just wow. Thanks for the response. read more

Barnard Inn Restaurant - American Near Me - Barnard, Vermont

Dear Bill And Corinna, Below is the review I left for you on Google. It's a shame if you haven't seen my far more detailed review of our experience there, but not to worry, as I'm more than happy to copy and paste on Yelp for you and anyone else to see. I was also anticipating your snarky, inaccurate response because as I scrolled through your reviews on both Google and Yelp you seem incapable of taking ownership of your poor service and quality. Also not every business in VT is struggling, this is a terrible excuse for your lack of management skills all around. There are many amazing restaurants in VT, the only one who seems to be struggling in the general area is The Barnard Inn. CHEERS! We've owned a vacation/ rental house in VT since 2019 and we were excited to finally check out the Barnard Inn for dinner last night, Wednesday, July 26th, for Burger night. Unfortunately our experience was not a good one and we will not be returning and will not be including it as a suggestion for our Airbnb guests. The hostess greeted my family of 4 (2 kids, 2 adults) and asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside, the inside was cute, there was only 1 small table available outside plus it was getting cool out so we opted for inside. She kindly told us it would be a few minutes so we sat and waited. Several minutes went by and a different woman who was handling both the bar and some of the tables came over asking us how many in our party and if we wanted inside or outside. I later learned this woman was Corinna, one of the owners. I told her inside and I pointed to an empty table that simply needed to be cleaned off and asked her if we could sit there. Her response was, and I quote, "Absolutely, just give us a few minutes to clean it off." The hostess cleaned it, poured four glasses of water, grabbed menus and set us at the table. Within 2 minutes of being seated at the table, Corinna came back over and said to us while pointing to the hostess, "I'm so sorry, she made a mistake, you can't sit here, it's my only large table, you'll have to wait for a smaller table. Thanks for understanding." My response was, "Well actually I don't..." So not only were we being asked to move, but she was blaming a "mistake" on the hostess when she specifically told us we could have the table that I asked for - I heard it, my husband heard it and our 9yr old daughter heard it. I was immediately put off because mistake or not, you do not sit a party of 4 that includes 2 kids - or any party for that matter, and then ask them to get up and go back to the waiting area. The only table available outside was still the small very wobbly table on the grass, we did try that, but it wasn't feasible with 2 kids who move around a lot. If Toziers was open on a Wednesday we would have left and gone there because their service is always outstanding, but we were all starving and at this point it was 730pm. We finally got sat, it took at least 10 minutes for a waitress to come over and instead of a friendly greeting she said, "What do you guys want?" Our daughter immediately said after she left, "Well that was rude." No one came over to ask how our food was once we got it, when our 9yr old needed more ketchup she literally got up and got it herself - they don't have ketchup bottles, just those tiny squeeze packets and a few of them looked spoiled and came out chunky and gross, and the only staff who was friendly and apologetic for the seating situation was the hostess. To boot the burgers were mediocre at best, (Toziers and The Worthy Burger are far better for a burger and far better service), and a 20% tip was automatically included to the bill when 15% wasn't even deserved. And to top it all off, the table that we were asked to get up from remained empty the entire time we were there, and I made sure to snap a picture of its emptiness before we walked out. I did make a point to let the hostess know that we all knew the situation wasn't her fault and that the owner needed to learn a thing or two about customer service. Needless to say we will not be returning or including it on our list of suggested restaurants for our Airbnb guests. Meanwhile I went through some reviews and it's VERY apparent the owners can't take responsibility for their poor quality or handle criticism - every response on the negative reviews is ignorant and snarky. Instead of being rude and defensive towards everyone who was disappointed with your lack of quality you should be apologizing for not adequately providing what people came to your restaurant for, figuring out how to rectify it and turning them into happy customers who want to come back. There are so many amazing restaurants in VT with fantastic food and service, but this is not one of them. Lastly, as someone who owns and runs a successful business back in MA, I would never have the audacity to treat any paying client the way we were treated at the Barnard Inn. read more

Barnard Inn Restaurant - There's the table Corinna, the owner, told us we could have and then asked us to move. STILL EMPTY when we left! - American Near Me - Barnard, Vermont

This place was very close to where we were staying. It's a very cute and cozy place to have a meal. The staff here makes you feel very welcomed. I enjoyed everything we had for dinner. We started off with their warm bread and it was very nice. I highly recommend their tomato soup! It was warm and delicious! The pasta dish they had on the menu was also very good. This is a great place to catch a meal when it was a little chilly for us. The window seat were especially nice as you can lookout into their beautiful and peaceful yard. read more

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Way too expensive! Not worth the price. Steak was overcooked and very small! Waitress was awkward and not very friendly. The added gratuity to the check was also very surprising since there was only four of us. So disappointing. read more

Their pulled pork says 8oz and 16oz but twice now they have given much less. I called to tell them not to trick other people and to ask that their chef measures properly and they were very rude and told me that they can't fit any more in their container, which does not justify them writing 8 and 16oz on their menu. Know that if you order their pulled pork to go they may give you much less and not apologize for it. The lady on the phone was very rude saying "it's small and large" but their menu doesn't say that. read more

Barnard Inn Restaurant - This is supposed to be 16oz without the container - American Near Me - Barnard, Vermont

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Wonderful food service and atmosphere. However, It is offputting to see on the menu that the the involuntary 23% service charge is in order to "provide a living wage" for the employees. It would seem that that is the responsibility of the owners of the establishment. And who's to say that if the employees didn't deserve it they would get even more than 23%? We certainly would have thought about that if I had not been put in the position that the owners put us. read more

Food was ok, the automatic 20% tip is ridiculous, the waitress was incompetent . I would never visit again! We had no idea there was an automatic tip and I don't mind tipping (I'm a former waitress) but the waitress was surly when we questioned it. Keep this one off your list!! read more

Booooooooo.... Bland, ordinary, overcooked and over hyped. way-way over priced. They charged $85 for children's menu of elbow noodles with butter (no salt!) / French fries and choc pudding for dessert ( Jello box pudding). Steak and salmon overcooked. Waitress was unpleasant and combative. I would not recommend. Cook at home or go elsewhere. read more

Absolutely outstanding! We visited the Barnard for my 60th birthday and we were quite a large group. Corrine did a fabulous job coordinating in advance for folks with allergies. The service and the food were beyond delicious. Everyone's dish was delicious! We had a nice selection of appetizers in advance, yummy cocktails and the the price fix menu. Corrine - thank you, your husband a wonderful chef, and your staff for such a memorable meal and occasion. We will be returning. read more

The Barnard Inn is a well known, local establishment and their restaurant is one of the best in the area. Their food is simply delicious, the menu is quite exciting for the area and the atmosphere is lovely. If you have small children and want to find a casual dining experience, this probably isn't your spot. I work as a concierge manager for high-end homeowners and one of my most regular clients recently said that "this is their new favorite dinner spot". They very kindly did a to-go menu for Thanksgiving again and it was the best Thanksgiving we have had in years. Covid has done a number on many businesses, especially restaurants and we are so grateful that The Barnard Inn is still plugging along. They are a wonderful addition to our area. read more

A quiet unassuming small restaurant with very good food. We ate fried oysters, green beans, swordfish and cheese cake, and all dishes were very good. The wine list is small but the wines are reasonably priced. Service was prompt and friendly. The only problem is that the restaurant is only open Thursday through Saturday, read more

We had a Christmas Eve dinner reservation at 7:15. They were upfront and said we could be waiting due to understaffing. We arrived at 730 and seated at 815. Okay longer wait than expected but we understand. What happened during the wait is the problem. Another party of four came in around 745 with a baby. The hostess seated them after about 5 minutes. She didn't bother to ask us if it was okay. It appeared she was favoring them because of the baby. What she didn't know is my daughter-in-law is 4 months pregnant and getting very hungry and uncomfortable. Plus, based on prior reviews, it appeared to be a policy that no babies in the main dining room. After 10 minutes she said our table was ready. We walked into the dining room and guess what? It wasn't ready! We stood there awkwardly wondering "WTF?" The manager literally barked at us to go back into the waiting area. We eventually got our table, sat and waited 10 minutes before anyone arrived to take our drink order. No apologies about the long wait. After 10 minutes they brought out the first course! Wait - didn't we order drinks? Oh yes, they came after we finished our first course. Non existent personality by the wait staff. So for service I gave 1-2 stars. The food was good but fairly uneventful. Our 3 lobster raviolis were tasty but small and drowned in a brown sauce which really covered the lobster flavor. The main course was beef tenderloin with veggies in a hunter sauce. It was very good however, my wife likes her beef medium and it was on the medium rare side. They never asked how we wanted our tenderloin cooked which we thought was odd. For dessert, it was Creme brûlée. Nice carmelized crust on top, good flavor but runny. For food, considering the price and reputation, I gave 3 stars. Ambiance of course was very nice - who doesn't like a cozy country inn? I gave 4 stars. We get the bill and 23% is added for a tip. Very surprising because we were a party of 4, not 6 or more as customary when tips are included. I understand the need for "living wages" but increase your prices to accommodate that. Tipping is my decision when it is an intimate dinner. For prior Christmas Eve dinners in other places, we have tipped generously knowing the sacrifice servers make. For this dinner because of the service we received, I was tempted to subtract 8%! It was an expensive meal and we felt overall it was less than satisfying. The issue really boiled down to understaffing. If that's the case, do not over-book.. Have the discipline to say "Sorry we do not have any open tables". My wife called many fine restaurants 2 weeks prior and they either were closed Christmas Eve or booked with limited seating. We get it. Good help is hard to find everywhere but don't sacrifice quality to squeeze in more customers than can be accomodated. It appears this restaurant was one of the best in Vermont several years ago. I also noticed the property is up for sale on Zillow.. Perhaps the owners do not have their hearts in it anymore and I get that because Covid was hell. I truly hope they get a fair price for all the hard work they have put into their establishment. read more

Whether seated in the pub or in a private room in the front, the Barnard Inn provides the perfect atmosphere where you always feel welcome. The waitstaff is top notch and the food consistently excellent. They accommodated for vegetarians with options, although we provided advanced notice about this. For years, this has been our family's go-to for a special night out. A place to be savored and to relax into. read more

First let me state, this is a Fixed Price menus. Appetizer and Entree is $47, and Appetizer, Entree, and Dessert is $57. Drinks are separate, and gratuity is added into the final total. There are three selections for each course to chose from. The service was impeccable, BUT ... the Pork Loin entree was very tough, and barely warm. Fortunately for us, the Fried Scallop appetizer was well prepared and tasty. The decor is lovely, staff is friendly, but it doesn't make up for a terrible entree. We should have sent it back at that price. read more

I am so glad I did not read the reviews before I made a reservation. My husband and I went to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. We were greeted with smiles and congratulated on our anniversary. We were quickly seated and brought complimentary glasses of champagne. We were in the small dining area at the front of the house. Everything about the area was pleasant and cozy. The service throughout the evening was exemplary and the food outstanding from start to finish. We look forward to frequenting this establishment again. read more

The restaurant spends a lot of effort on detailing rules and caveats. It is a tacky turn-off. Ironically, though, their own attention to detail is lacking. They did not offer my kids the "1/2 price menu" after we listed them on the reservation. Then they charged a 23% service charge that is "different than a tip", but is described exactly as a gratuity. That gem is not in the long write-up. Two of the four filet mignons were such poor cuts of meat that 1/2 of the meat couldn't be chewed and swallowed. When asked and told, the waiter did nothing and walked away without acknowledgement. Water was rarely refilled. The Sr staff called in to handle a credit card that wouldn't swipe snapped at the waiter to "go refill water... do something". The wait staff clomp heavily as they hustle back and forth. It comes off rushed and distracting rather than attentive since they are just going from the computer screen to the other end of the restaurant. The (excellent, btw) fancy non-alcoholic sodas comes with 5 times the ice required and so water down rapidly. The "pate" is not actually pate, but is referred to as such. Probably a terrine. The salad... also excellent... was nearly ruined with twice the needed dressing pre-mixed. It becomes a bit of a salad paste quickly as the dressing and goat cheese break down the arugula. Great flavor if you eat it fast before the change. From watching other tables, I suspect the waiter themself might make a big difference, but it just goes to highlight the inconsistency in management. I go to nice restaurants largely to forget cost value for cuisine, but in this case one can't help but see Barnard as an overpriced experience to overshadow the food. read more

So ridiculously expensive and nothing special about the food at all. We were a party of 4 and our meal was $422. This would have been fine had the meal been excellent, which if was not. Also the gratuity was automatically added at 23%. Completely pretentious and overpriced. read more

The menu is the most interesting for a radius of at least 25 miles, and it was well executed. Menus seem to be boring, unimaginative this year. Ah, relief. And as a Celiac, I appreciated the attention to various dietary needs. A good experience. We are in the dining room which had a grand ambiance. read more

Ok food, poor service. They did not want to substitute free of charge a wheat bun for salad, in a lobster roll, even though customer was gluten intolerant; they wanted to charge additionally full cost of a salad for the substitution....unbelievable. Additionally they charged a fixed gratuity in the bill without giving customer the option to decide if it was earned.....obviously not in my case. Please read the Barnard inns's response to my review, it speaks for itself. I rest my case. As suggested by them, this is not a place for me and my family. read more

So happy they're open again after the pandemic! The food was great, atmosphere and staff were wonderful. Fantastic reopening!

The food here is OUTSTANDING! We had just gotten into town(Woodstock) and decided to try this place after a couple of lackluster starts/stops on other places. It was also listed on Patrick's/Sleep Woodstock Motel's deals sheet(which meant discount - CHACHING!) so we took the chance. . And so glad we did! YUM to the 2nd power! The staff is super nice and attentive. We got there super early because they open at 5 and we had just gotten into town and were beyond starving but we sat in the parking lot to wait. One of the staff, whose name I've forgotten because I have c.r.s., told us we could come in in a few to sit at the bar but they officially don't open till 5pm, which was fine. We saw the fine print. lol Ordered the roasted garlic parmesan fries and they are simply AMAZING! GET THEM! I had the wienerschnitzel chicken with mashies(no veggies cause I'm allergic). SO SO SO SO GOOD! My boyfriend had the meatloaf with mashies and veggies. I didn't get to grab a pic of his because again, starving, and he started attacking it with reckless abandon. I had the fortitude to hold off for 5 seconds to photograph my dinner. So seriously, if you're in the area, eat there. We are seriously considering just taking a 5 hour drive from the Bronx just for dinner one weekend. read more

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service charge was added to the bill without prior informed consent and authorization. ie a replacement for tip. this is crass and unconscionable. in a word dismisiive. read more

The Chicken Schnitzel is tremendous. The beers are good. The cocktails get rave review from the 'missus. This is a really fun spot to grab a table near the bar (in the Tavern) and eat and imbibe as the snow falls. Seasonal cocktails such as a Mapletini are sure crowd pleasers. Located in a beautiful spot...this is a great place to get a reservation when Woodstock is at capacity -- you won't be disappointed. Arrive early and drink a bunch. read more

One of the best restaurants in Vermont, it could definitely hold its own in Boston or NYC. More than a mere restaurant, this place is a vital part of the community, one of the things that makes Barnard so very Barnard. Half the people seem to know each other, and it is always filled with laughter and joy. In the summer, the gardens are breathtaking, so be sure to make time to linger outside. The owner himself, Will, is a great guy who seems to really love food and really love his customers. I've seen him come out of the kitchen to answer a customer's question or say hi to folks in the Tavern. Once, I could not decide on a beer (I was craving something really bitter), and he offered us a hard-to-find bottle that, it turns out, was from his own private stash. Now, that's what I call excellent service. We usually eat in the Tavern (with everyone else!) The menu changes daily, and entres range from about $12 -$25. But we have also eaten in the lovely, "special-occasion" dining room with its prix fixe menu ($65 for three courses or $75 for four.). Now I haven't been here for a while, so I can't describe specific foods in detail, but here's what I remember: Love the seasoned sweet-potato fries ($6; ask for a side of mayo -- so yummy.) The salads are always fresh; we usually get the special. In fact, we usually get the special for our entre, too. I've had a great pork dish here, and some wonderful pasta. The braised short rib is amAzing, and this guy does great stuff with duck. In all dishes, the flavors are always bright and fresh, well balanced and well blended. And everything is cooked just right, even the chicken. All of their hommade desserts are excellent. The bread pudding is pretty darn good, one of the best I've had in a restaurant (but -- sorry Will! -- I still like the one I make better...). The beer list is decent, and I hear these guys really know their wine. And I've never mentioned this in any of my other reviews, but this place has a really good blog: http://barnardinn.com/news/ Most blogs are, let's face it, boring and self aggrandizing and you can tell the authors are struggling to come up with stuff to write about. And sure, you'll see the expected stuff about upcoming events and new merchendise, etc. But you can also see in his well-written entries how excited he is about the new piglets he just got, or how he and his kids delight in the cute ducks (they bought them to eat slugs, not to be served in the restuarant), or his pride in that big ole' fish he caught (it's a whopper--see the pictures.) Did I mention the beautiful gardens? I can see how this would be a great place for a wedding or other event. It's off the beaten path, sure -- but isn't that why you came to Vermont in the first place? Come to Barnard for the afternoon, buy some sandwiches and rent a canoe or kayak at the country store and drag it accross the street to the lake. Have a picnic and explore the area. In the summer, go on a day when the farmer's market meets. Have a nice afternoon here, enjoy the countryside, the beauty of Vermont. Then go to the Barnard Inn for dinner. So worth the trip. read more

We, like most people who review this place, were staying at the Maple Leaf Inn, just down the street. We at around back at the "Max's Tavern" part of the restaurant. It's the same food as the regular restaurant, but more casual. This place is great, and a little expensive as another yelper noted. It's very rustic with low ceilings and lots of dark wood. There isn't much artificial lighting, so it gets a little dark as the sun sets, but it's okay. The staff is a little short for how much they try to do, but they're very friendly and they get the job done. Unfortunately they were out of a beer I wanted to try, and then after I had a pint of something I really liked, the ran out of that too! So I ended up drinking a weird second beer that was okay; but I was disappointed that they didn't keep their draft beer in better stock. The seafood chowder was awesome, very full of seafood and tasty. I got the weinerschnitzle, which is actually a pounded and breaded chicken breast here with mashed potatoes and a caper/lemon sauce. I don't like capers, but I scrapped them off. It was delicious. My wife got a shrimp/sausage pasta that was also very good. The portions were large. We also got dessert, I don't remember what, but it was good. Overall, this place was great, but plan for a long dinner, and it is expensive, even though it's the "tavern". read more

Great food in a cozy and quaint atmosphere. We have been three times now and will go back. The staff is friendly and helpful - the grounds and building are beautiful. This is off the beaten path but definitely worth a visit for date night or family with older kids. read more

We are staying at the Maple Leaf Inn just down the road from the Barnard Inn and decided to walk over for dinner. We were down wind of the restaurant and by the time we were 100 yards away, I knew from the aromas that we had made a wise choice. Many of the other reviewers ate at the pub, but we chose the dining room. Although many of the dishes are the same, I found that everything we had was outstanding. The three course table d'hôte goes for $65 per person. We started with the spring pea soup and beer battered oysters. The soup was smooth and rich, topped with chives and Parmesan shavings. It is a spring green soup and not the usual fall variety with yellow peas and smoky ham. Only once before have I had a pea soup that compared with this. My wife's oysters were lightly breaded and tender. They came with three extraordinarily delicious sauces: chipotle mayonnaise, a chili/tartar sauce and a tomato caper sauce. Now I have made similar fondu sauces for years and thought they were quite good, but they were nothing compared to these! Taste bud explosions. For the main courses we had a beef filet with mushroom risotto and lamb with smashed sweet potatoes. Both were accompanied by fresh local fiddleheads and both were topped with an entire head of roasted garlic. The garlic head was sliced in half so that one could pick out as many half cloves as desired. Both plates were simply delicious. We washed it all down with a bottle of Turley 2009 Paso Robles Zinfandel ($90). I was concerned that a Zinfandel might not be up to lamb and filet mignon but our waiter assured us that it would. He was absolutely right. It went with everything we ordered. Big, full flavour, incredible nose. I have never tasted a better Zinfandel. Unfortunately, this wine is not available at your local wine store. For dessert we had coffee ice cream with chocolate sauce and candied walnuts and a vanilla creme brûlée. The ice cream was wonderful, like the rest of the meal. The creme brûlée was competent, but nothing special. The service was attentive, pleasant, prompt and well informed. Full marks there. In addition to the waiter, we were occasionally visited by the restaurant mascot, a large German shepherd who was friendly and well behaved. This is the first restaurant to which I have awarded 5 stars since reviewing on Yelp. Thoroughly deserved. read more

Really good American/world fare inspiration with some fresh Vermont ingredients. I would give it a 4.5 if I could. I have eaten here twice, it was better the first time but still really good the second Food summary Seafood curry- really great, more of a Thai style curry fresh flavorful and delicious 10/10 Beer battered fried oysters- fresh oysters, some kind of chipotle/Cajun aioli the went well. 8/10 Crispy duck with roasted beets- it was dry but amazingly crispy skin and very filling/ boneless. Vegetables and grains were good. It's local duck, if they took it out a little sooner it would have been perfect, probably a onetime misstep but 7/10 Wiener schnitzel- chicken schnitzel executed perfectly 10/10 Definitely going back Really a hidden gem In Barnard and deserves 5 stars more than 4 read more

Very bad customer service! The lady came and talked down to us because we had two kids . We obviously know what fine dining is and we obviously could read the menu and know this is a three course menu. We made reservations and asked for a high chair and we specifically mentioned we have two kids and they never said anything. The way she said it after seating us made us feel very uncomfortable and awkward, I was speaking in a foreign language to my kids and it made me wonder if that affected our treatment . I felt so offended and we actually left. I felt very bad because we were coming with our kids and they had to witness how some people may treat us differently . Honestly if you think you don't want to have kids you can just mention that on your website. I felt very offended. Even though it was a nice place I think We will take our business somewhere else, where we can be treated better. After my husband loaded the kids in the car, some teenager came out asking us if we wanted to go to the tavern for a meal, and After the treatment we received, we would never. read more

I'm leaving room for one more star because I will be back for a fine dining meal soon. My fiancé and I had a wonderful romantic meal at a corner nook in Max's Tavern. We were impressed by the selection of fare from cocktails to desserts, there really is something for everyone, and it's not the standard fare. We started with exciting signature cocktails made with homemade citrus syrup...we tell everyone we can about them, and had a second because they were so unique and tasty. I was thrilled to find delicately fried oysters in landlocked Vermont and we discovered the most amazing creamy tater appetizer, ever. We will be right back for more of those! We moved on to the locally sourced steak and schnitzel entrees and those were really delicious and the portions generous. It's so nice to experience attention to detail, high quality ingredients, and a creative menu so skillfully prepared, bravo. Our server was great, and other wait staff members are very friendly and professional. We really like the cozy atmosphere and feel lucky to have such a fine restaurant in this neck of the Vermont woods. A true Vermont find...Bon Appetit. read more

Surprisingly good food, nice bar, friendly waitstaff. A bit out of the way, I do wish I could make it here more often.

This beautiful Inn has been a Vermont Tradition for decades. The ambiance is so inviting, the staff was amazing and the delicious rich flavors was such an amazing treat. You absolutely get what you pay for. Yes its not cheap, but so worth the experience. The house made pasta is amazing and their bread pudding is out of this world. Attention to detail is how I would describe this hidden gem of an Inn. I always look forward to my next visit! read more

We chose to go to this restaurant because it was off the beaten path. You can miss it if you are driving a little too fast! So be sure to slow down and enjoy the scenery on your way to this gem! We first walked in the front dining room and it was oddly empty with no one around to even acknowledge our arrival. After a few head scratching moments, we decided that the overwhelming delicious aromas and the obvious group of cars in the parking lot - we were not about to give up! In realizing that there is a Tavern attached to the restaurant, we walked around the back and were pleasantly surprised! Max's Tavern is not your average American Tavern! Upon entering, I felt like we had been transported to Ireland and were actually being seated in a cozy Irish Inn style Tavern. The food, the service, the atmosphere were all simply outstanding! It has been a few weeks and a few restaurants since we dined there, and I am afraid that I cannot remember what we ordered! I just remember that it was terrific! Highly recommend the extra drive if you are up in the Woodstock area - or the hike if you are hiking the Appalachian Trail - this would be a nice little break for a weary through-hiker! (coming from Woodstock, you cross over the AT on your way to the Barnard Inn) Here is what Fodors had to say about it: http://www.fodors.com/world/north%20america/usa/vermont/vermont%20mountains/entity_178695.html read more

food was generally good , especially filet mignon and the waitress was very nice and certainly deserved her mandatory 23% service added to the bill. but we were really put off by the condescending tone of the manager who told us not to use our phone during dinner! we had never heard that and we felt like we were treated like badly behaved kids. At $200 for dinner, we expect to be treated better and with more respect. if you can ignore that, which we did afterwards, the room was clean, good music, service and food for a romantic evening. read more

The experience is everything at the Barnard Inn! Located a reasonable distance from downtown Woodstock, VT, this treasure is close enough to be convenient but far enough to feel like you're getting away from it all. Driving through Barnard's lush green landscape, I am reminded why I love Vermont and why I moved here in the first place. Truth be told, I've only ever eaten at the Tavern (which is so good, I can't even imagine how mind-blowing the dining room must be) where the house German Shepherds roam freely from table to table greeting customers and the ample windows overlook the gorgeous gardens. I'd recommend going in the summertime, so you can walk the beautiful stone path under the trellis and be surrounded by an abundance of well-tended flowers. Once you enter the dark-wooden tavern, you are instantly comforted by mouth-watering aromas and the sense that most of the folks dining here are local regulars. The house-made herbed focaccia served warm with rosemary-infused olive oil is the way to start your meal, and their fresh-fruit du jour crumble (a la mode, of course) is the way to end it. Whatever you have as an entree will be delicious (and complete with fresh herbs from the Barnard Inn gardens), but they are famous for their amazing Wienerschnitzel. -Lisa (I'm sharing a yelp account with my two band members Patrick and Syd as we tour the country and try to eat and live healthy while we drive thousands of miles in a van. Our band is called Hotels & Highways. This review is part of lists we're all making about the food we miss most when we're away from home...) read more

On our first night in Vermont we took our innkeeper's suggestion and headed to the Barnard Inn for dinner. The more formal dining room was full so we booked a table in their casual tavern room. It was a bit noisy but had a rustic charm and most of the diners appeared to be local..a good sign :) Service was slow and a bit too carefree for a couple of New Yorkers like us. Particularly since the prices were in line with any Manhattan restaurant. But it was a chilly evening and we were warm in the cozy room and looking forward to a good dinner. An appetizer of Cesar salad was good but average. The duck liver pate', however, was billed as homemade but left us in some doubt. It was also so heavily perfumed with truffle oil that it was difficult to discern any other flavor. An entree of beef stew was hearty and well made with tasty side of sweet potato mash. Poor service aside, the food overall was pretty good but not worth the expensive price. Furthermore, the proprietors apparently own a large male German Shepard who roams the property freely. We're currently raising a puppy and therefore, feel an affinity with dog owners so we didn't mind when the Shepard walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. We did mind, however, when we ran into him again in the pitch black parking lot after dinner where he barked and howled at customers and then relieved himself on their cars. Uh...no...we won't be coming back...and we'll send you the car wash bill. read more

Do you remember the food at any wedding you've been to? Probably not. Well our guests do! Even 3 months after our wedding, our guests are still raving about how delicious their meal was. If you're looking to have a wedding (or any event) in Vermont, you should not look any further than the Barnard Inn. The people are friendly, the location is beautiful, and the food is freaking amazing! We were looking for a venue for our fall wedding and we only had a few requirements. We wanted an outdoor wedding at a venue that didn't feel like a "cookie cutter" wedding venue, that would let us extend the wedding past 10pm, and that could serve our guests great food. Will and Corinna at the Barnard Inn checked every single one of our boxes. The property (restaurant, barn, garden, and pond) is very well maintained and absolutely beautiful. There is a gazebo by the pond that makes for a stunning wedding ceremony backdrop. Will took the time to sit down with us and the parents of the bride to go over the wedding menu and other details of the venue. He listened to all of our concerns, took notes, and was able to address them far beyond our expectations. From making sure there were enough bartenders serving our specially requested drinks, to having plenty of meat in the chicken pot pies, Will was on top of everything. The bride + entourage got ready in the recently renovated space below the barn and Will made some luncheon food for the bridal party to eat throughout the day, which was delicious and we had to stop ourselves from overeating. Corinna came in every once in a while to check on things, and even went out of her way to bring the bride (who was sick) some extra tea, honey, and lemon. We decided on pumpkin risotto, chicken pot pies, and braised short ribs for our wedding meal (as well as horderves during the cocktail hour) and we were not disappointed. All of the food was locally sourced, and the quality and presentation were what you would expect from a high-end restaurant. As an example, the risotto could have been simply plated, but each one was served in a miniature pumpkin! When the meals came out, everyone was envious of everyone else's food because it all looked so good. Even though we had 100+ people at our wedding, the food was served to all our guests hot, simultaneously, and on time. We could not have asked for more from a wedding venue and are so incredibly happy with everything that Will and Corinna did to help make our wedding as special and amazing as it was. read more

First of all, the inn is a nice establishment. HOWEVER, when asking a simple question about our bill's shockingly high built in service charge, we were read the riot act by the manager as she retorted "I'm not sure if you know what's going on in the world right now, but a 23% service charge is standard all over the world!" Well first of all, this is untrue, which we attempted to explain to her. It is also not the fault of the customer to have a restaurant need to charge high prices on top of expensive food and drinks. I am also very aware of the staffing shortage and how difficult it is to run a restaurant these days, but you also need to treat your customers with respect if you'd like their business. It's a two way street. We were also only a table of 3, not a customary 6 for that kind of charge. She rudely attempted to make her case that all restaurants in the area were at least 22%. This is untrue. My intent was never to stiff her out of a bill for her staff and I am always a generous tipper, but instead of kindly explaining the shift in the pricing breakdown she simply said "I need to seat this table again, so if you'd like to email me we can further discuss this." When I said I did not believe her assessment of surrounding establishments charging this amount on top of an already expensive bill was accurate, we said that we probably would look elsewhere next time. To which she responded "good, we don't want you back!" I have never in the history of extensive traveling throughout the world (and being a local to the Barnard area) EVER been spoken to by anyone that way in the hospitality industry. Pandemic or not, the way this manager dealt with customers was absolutely uncalled for, unacceptable, rude and entirely unprofessional. Also our meal was average. So $300+ for average in addition to condescendingly rude staff was a huge disappointment. read more

Consistent, great food and fun atmosphere. Love the Tavern in the summer. Dining room is great to for more formal date night!. One of our favorite places in the area!!! read more