Wish we could give 4.5 stars. Informal, warm inviting and cozy atmosphere. Food great. Perhaps overkill to always have both family-style mashed potatoes and french fries. Fries were sublime. Mashed potatoes a bit too runny and garlicky (and we were too busy devouring the fries to care). Salmon and pork chop entrees delicious. read more

Staff incredibly rude unless you are a local. Menu very small and not very impressive. Dumpy building. Completely disappointing. Skip this place. read more

Don't miss this place! Menu consists of about 10 starters and 8 entrees. Fresh, lovely sauces. What they don't tell you is that the entrees are served with pomme frites(French fries) with 3 dipping sauces and incredible mashed potatoes- family style. Friendly knowledgeable servers. Quant Franco bistro without pretentiousness.Highly recommend! read more

Black Sheep Bistro - Enjoying an evening with friends! - New American Near Me - Vergennes, Vermont

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Amazing food, amazing vibe and amazing service! This is a must go to. The staff was incredibly helpful and kind. The steak and escargot were some of the best I've had. Definitely come check it out here! read more

Disappointed in the service and food. I got the steak and escargot, both were great. My wife got the bacon brie chicken, of which part was overcooked and rubbery. But the big issue was the service. After we ordered, a ten person party was seated next to us, and our waitress ignored us. She never asked how our food was or if we needed anything else. Another waitress ended up taking our check. I was actually going to get another drink and never got a chance. I know large parties are tough, but you still have to serve your other guests. read more

Great place for a wonderful dinner! 18 years and counting and they never disappoint. We vacation in northern Lake George most every year where my wife and I got married-it's worth's the trip! read more

This cozy bistro is full of charm with a wonderful, friendly staff. Lady is particularly welcoming with fantastic recommendations always forthcoming. The food is luscious and never disappointments. We were celebrating our anniversary and tried the Waldorf salad with bacon, cheddar, walnuts, dried cranberries and apples, absolutely divine. The bistro steak with creamed spinach was so tender and delicious. The salmon with ginger butter sauce and roasted brussel sprouts were so yummy. When our adult children visit, this is the restaurant they always request. It is our favorite restaurant, such a gem, always memorable. read more

I was delighted to find this lovely spot in Vergennes. My salmon entree was perfectly cooked, and absolutely delicious. It seemed a little over-kill to serve two potato sides, but they were both scrumptious. The scallop cake appetizer and flour-less chocolate cake dessert were also quite nice. Service was excellent, and pacing was spot on. read more

We throughly enjoyed our experience. Great service when the waitress noticed there was a better table available and helped us move. Dinner arrived at the correct time, food was delicious as we celebrated our 54 anniversary. read more

We went here based on the great reviews, but were disappointed. The place is dark and dirty. The food is mediocre. I ordered a Mediterranean plate which was 4 small pieces of pita bread with a few sliced vegetables. Looked like a bar appetizer. My wife ordered tuna which was insufficiently cooked, sent back, and what was returned was inedible. The fish was probably borderline rancid to start with. This place might have been cool at one time, but not anymore. read more

Lady was wonderful and so hospitable! We absolutely loved our experience at black sheep bistro and all the delicious food. Unbelievable quality for the price. Great location and excellent hospitality- can't wait to return! read more

One of my favorite restaurants. I often take business visitors to Black Sheep. Sometimes I order two appetizers and skip the entrees because the appetizers are so good. Plus decent portions. On the other hand the entrees are excellent. They include great fries, mashed potatoes and bread with oil. Wonderful attentive staff. read more

Black Sheep is one of my favorite restaurants in Vermont. I am posting in reply to a 1 Star review by a Sandra S which was "disastrously" opposite to my multiple experiences at this wonderful restaurant. The staff and kitchen at Black Sheep turn out deliciousness over and over again at a fantastic price point. The wine list is well curated and has a little something for everyone. Dr. Sandy S complained about the mashed potatoes and fries served at each table. The family style potatoes and fries are FUN! The dipping sauces for the fries are super yummy and I look forward to this potato indulgence every time I visit the Black Sheep. "Lady", the front of house manager, will always go out of her way to make a customer happy! Not to mention, she is hilariously funny and super knowledgeable about the menu. 5 stars to the Black Sheep! read more

DISASTEROUS!! What a disappointment. The "dining room" is about 9' x 9' with 4 small tables (2 of them flanked by hard benches). Everything looks worn and dirty. Food didn't live up to their ambitious descriptions...were boring and inedible. The pork dumplings were terrible and the so-called premier dish if brie and bacon chicken breast was overcooked and rubbery. We expected a superb dining experience and I'm puzzled by the stellar reviews?? Worst dining experience I can recall. By the way, who serves mashed potatoes AND stringy french fries with each entre? If I could give this restaurant a minus score I would....please pass the Pepto Bismal! read more

The food is delicious - everything! I had the salmon and green beans. Our friend had a steak and my husband had another fish. We all had various salads. We were thrilled with our meals. read more

Excellent gem on our way to Burlington, VT. French fries and amazing mashed potatoes with every entree were enjoyed! Lovely night to sit outside. Staff wore masks, and gloves to keep us all safe. read more

Yes yes yes!! We went here for dinner one night when we were staying in Basin Harbor. Our waitress & food was amazing! Got the Brie Chicken dish, highly recommend. Very filling dishes on the menu!!! read more

Perfect dining experience! Food was delicious, waitress was a classic babe - great service. 5 stars in my book!

Best meal I've had in a decade! Truly scrumptious! Bistro steak accompanied by velvety whipped potatoes were both heavenly. Additionally, tried the cheesecake for dessert - it was light, airy and flavorful! Worth the drive -- this is a destination restaurant worth the trip! read more

Great restaurant with excellent food but on the day we visited it was so cold we rushed through our meal so we could leave and go warm up. Other patrons were switching tables and one quest was literally standing in front of a heater when we took off. I'm not sure I will ever go back, at least over winter. read more

Yum Yum Yum. Black Sheep is a gem of a restaurant and, dare I say, the finest dining establishment south of Burlington. It serves consistently great food which is why it has established such a following despite being located in dinky Vergennes, VT. In fact, reservations are pretty difficult to come by because the dining room at Black Sheep is VERY small. If the weather is accommodating, they set up extra tables on their front patio to make room for a few more visitors. Despite the fact I live in California now, I still haven't had the heart to take their phone number out of my speed dial, just in case I need to make a last minute rezzie. Black Sheep offers a lot of seasonal Vermont specialties with an overarching French theme (think: rich food, cheese, bacon, and lots of butter!). Finding it difficult to choose just one dish, I often enjoy ordering a bunch of appetizers ($6) like the duck eggrolls and the lobster ravioli, alongside a salad (also $6) for the same price as one entree ($16). All tables are also served a hearty portion of crispy shoestring french fries with gourmet dipping sauces. What could be better than that on a snowy evening in Vermont? A little anecdote of love for the Black Sheep Bistro: It was a brisk evening and our last-minute craving for a bit of "real" food left my friends and I stuck outside on the front patio to have our dinner. Naturally, we decided to warm from the inside and chose a very reasonably priced bottle of California Zinfandel from the wine list. When the owner/manager came to our table-side to uncork and pour our wine, she pulled the cork out pretty quickly and it made a loud *pop* sound. Surprised at herself, she commented "I'd probably fire any waiter I ever heard do that! I'm so sorry!" Wow. That kind of care for restaurant etiquette in bumblefuck Vermont? You won't find that anywhere else besides the Black Sheep. read more

Good food, good staff, I just didn't leave feeling completely wowed. We received a gift certificate from the Inn we stayed at, and everyone had been raving about it, so how could we not try? The Innkeeper told us we had to make reservations and we didn't entirely believe him, but we went with it. We figured small town, not really a busy season, seriously? Reservations? He was right. At 6:30pm the place was full. We were a little confused by the entrance. You open the door to a curtain. Maybe I have watched the Wizard of Oz one too many times, but I hesitated opening the curtain as i have been brainwashed "Do not look behind the curtain!" I assumed it was there to keep people out, and there must be another door. No, no. Open the door, open the curtain, host(ess) is on your right. Once seated I took my jacket off only to put it back on 5 minutes later because it was absolutely freezing. The table we were seated at was right in front of the kitchen door, but the strategically place a curtain to keep the bustle to a minimum (see? curtain to keep customers OUT!) The appetizers came out quick. We ordered the soup and duck cigars - fancy name for eggroll - and both were delicious. For entrees I had the squash ravioli. It was amazingly good. There were mixed greens on top of the ravioli which was different and it went really well. The filling was fresh and purely vegetables. My date got the steak. He enjoyed it but didn't think it was anything memorable. The steak came with mashed potatoes and fries, both of which we barely touched because we were full. We managed to split a slice of cheesecake at the end. When ISN'T cheesecake god - so no extra points given there. The menu is very simple - a few appetizers with prices ranging $7-$12, and a few entrees, all $19. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 coffees, 1 glass of wine and 1 slice of cheesecake came to almost $90. The one final thing sticking in my memory and most likely contributing to my mehh attitude is this: When we were leaving a chef came out and started yelling at the waitress. It was uncomfortable to watch and even more awkward to hear her profoundly apologizing. read more

We truly don't understand the hype as our experience was nothing like the reviews I've been reading. It as my birthday and my husband thought it would be fun to try something new. Hearing good things about BSB from co-workers he made reservations for 2 at 6pm. Our sitter got to the house early so we decided to see if we could get in early for a drink and maybe an appetizer to make the most of the night. We asked the hostess about sitting outside and she informed us that we should have asked to sit outside when we called to make the reservation and some nonsense about us needing to call back on the day of if the weather appears inclement, etc. Wowsa - a whole lot of information delivered with authority. How about next time asking when we book the reservation if we want to sit inside or outside? We did get a table outside in the sun and it was fine. The setting was lovely and we enjoyed a drink. Our next bit of fun came when we tried to order an appetizer without having decided on our entrees. When we tried to do that we were scolded and told the kitchen prefers to get the entire order at one time. We explained that we came early so we could enjoy a more leisurely night and we were stared at blankly. Ok, we said. We'll just have our drinks now. Fifteen minutes later we ordered everything after confirming that although we knew we had to order everything, we would still prefer a leisurely pace (we had one round of prosecco, were ordering a bottle of wine, and did not want to find ourselves on the street at 7pm!). We were assured that was our server's plan too. Our appetizers - corn soup and a cold cheese tart (we were warned it would be cold) - came out within minutes. My husband did not like the cumin-forward flavor of the soup (I thought it was ok - not great), and neither of us liked the aggressive tasting and texturely-strange tart. Truly, warming it up would have been a huge improvement because the cheese, when cold, congeals. But, whatevs, we ate most of it and enjoyed some good French bread and reasonably priced and tasty red wine. Maybe 15 minutes later our server comes back and asks if she should fire our entrees. We nod, she leaves our table and comes back in the time it takes to walk to the kitchen with warm (but not hot) entrees in hand. Clearly they had been sitting at the pass for at least 5 minutes. At least. My husband's risotto was bland, and just not quite there. Not umptuous (texture is so much of what makes risotto great), not complex, just kind of barley in a bowl with some peas on top. Meh. My fish, whose description was amazing (and it was our server's personal favorite) was strangely fishy for Haddock and I literally ate maybe 10pct. We had planned to share both but neither was worth sharing. Our server, for her part, came back almost too soon to ask how everything was (it was actually too soon - we did not know at that point) and 10 minutes or so later asked if she could wrap it up to go, as we were clearly not eating. With so much left on the plates, I was surprised she did not ask if anything was wrong. We declined the wrap-up offer, decided that feedback was probably going to be futile (the "kitchen prefers" earlier was enough for me), and we both were a bit stomachs' turned from the fish. So, long and short of it: I hope this was an off night. I hope the owners read this and understand that both the food and the experience matter. I hope that changes are made such that future diners will benefit. For us, the night was turned around when we had a yummy cocktail at Starry Night on the way home. read more

Went there while on vacation. I'm not a big food critic , but. Found the menu lacking in choices , I ordered the Bree and bacon stuffed chicken breast . The portion was a good size but the food wasn't very good . The chicken was tough and looked to be steamed and flavorless. How ever the garlic mashed were great . The service wasn't bad either. In my humble opinion I won't be going back there again , sorry:( read more

I've now been to the Black Sheep twice in the last year and have left feeling full and happy each time. Most recently I dined with a party of three on a Friday evening. The atmosphere of the dinning room is cozy and intimate. Some tables are clearly more comfortable than others. Some of the two tops are awkwardly posited in the room, a second dinning area off to the right of the restaurant offers a small amount additional seating although it is still fairly close quarters. Dining with a bigger party would seem to get you a more comfortable table. For this meal we had an enjoyable spot and I was comfortable throughout. We ordered a bottle of wine for the table and three apps to start. We started with the pork dumplings, duck cigar rolls and the green vinaigrette salad. The maple soy demi glaze of the dumplings was fantastic, the filling was simplistic and tasty while the outside of the dumpling was a little soggy but nothing terrible. The cigar rolls were amazing, I've never really had duck and the flavor was bolder than I expected. The meat was tender and the house duck sauce added another flavor layer. The greens salad was great as far as greens go, the vinaigrette was tart and red onion and tomato tasted fresh, a nice light starter. I should also note that the table was given a generous serving a fresh baked bread with rosemary olive oil. The bread came out very warm and was fantastic. As an entree I ordered the Bistro Steak at medium. The steak was severed with a small green salad and smothered in a mushroom red wine cream sauce. The steak as sliced into fairly thin strips when plated. The ends were pretty well done but middle was certainly medium, medium rare. It was perfect for me. The red wine sauce was amazing and full of flavor. It was well balanced as the wine didn't come off as overpowering the meat. The portion wasn't huge but paired with the extra sides I ended up very full. With every meal you are given a cone of fries with ketchup, basil mayo and garlic mayo (which was amazing). You also receive a dish of garlic mashed potatoes. Obviously an explosion of carbs with the bread and potato combos but trust me, it tastes amazing and really makes the price point worth it ($22 entree). Overall a great experience, I'll be back again to try the changed menu later in the winter. read more

This was one of the best restaurants I've been to in a long time: outstanding food, attentive service and a fun atmosphere. Black Sheep Bistro is a funky little place right next door to the well known bakery, Vergennes Laundry. The restaurant is warm and intimate (small) so you'd better make a reservation if you want to enjoy the terrific food they serve there. As you've read in other reviews, the apps and entres come at a fixed price of $7 and $20, and even after adding a few drinks to that or a bottle of wine, you're in for a great value. Only regret: we ended up ordering the same thing, darn it! We were travelling, so I don't know when I'll eat there again, but if you're visiting Burlington or Middlebury area, this is a must. read more

I loved this place! My fiance and I were heading back from a wedding in the area the previous night. We needed to stop for a good dinner that would get us through the trek ahead. My fiance has fond memories of a memorable stop in Vergeness when he was younger so we decided to stop and came upon this place. The service was friendly and prompt. Our water glasses never ran out. The meals were delicious, both chicken and steak. I loved the mashed potatoes and fries. It was a great meal and I wouldn't hesitate to come back if ever in the area again. read more

Cute dinner spot in vergennes but Terrible service... We were seated 15 min before someone came to get our drink order. We got our bread and butter at the same time as the meal. We had to ask for our check twice before it came. And then again 10 minutes to get our credit card back! Ughh Food was good, duck confit was decent but not amazing. My husband had the chicken with cheese and bacon which he very much enjoyed. Meal came with a side of mashed potatoes which were very good and a side of French fries served with aioli, basil mayo and ketchup. read more

The service and servers are phenomenal, extremely nice and hospitable. The bread that comes out before the meal is warm and fresh, the ambiance is wonderful and just warm. Take time to talk to your servers and make sure you thank them for your service. read more

I came up to VT to surprise my sister for her 20th birthday. Her friends were going to meet us there and my family would follow 10 minutes later. The restaurant was her pick, and we were excited for the fresh menu and cozy space. However, the hostess did not get the memo that when my sister and her group arrived, they would be seated as a smaller group so to not give away the surprise. Unfortunately she seated greeted them and confirmed the reservation for 9 and then sat them down at a large table, half of which was obviously empty. Strike 1. Secondly, I did not enjoy my duck confit. The bacon was neither crispy nor salty, just hard and dense and chewy, and the blood orange dressing was so overwhelming I was tempted to wipe down the plate with my napkin. Strike 2. I will say that the bottle of Reisling we ordered for the table was lovely, and other orders seemed to be better received - the Haddock was good, and the polenta got a rave review. Strike 3 came when I specifically took aside our waitress and indicated that she should come out with one of the desserts with a candle and we'd sing. Instead, she came out and asked for our dessert order which felt uncomfortable since we were all expecting a dessert to be brought out on its own. Anyway, I was pretty disappointed overall and thought it was overpriced for what it was. read more

We stopped in here on the way back from the races in Saratoga. It's a small resto & we were lucky to get seats as walk-ins at 5:45 on a Monday. Amazing! This is, after all, Vergennes. This is a truly great little restaurant. We started with escargot & French bread. For the main course we had the Maple Chicken stuffed with brie accompanied with green beans & corn and the Duck Confit accompanied with sausage, home-made, I think, and julienned apples, mashed potatoes and French fries, made and served French style in a paper cone family style. All this with an Argentine Malbec.This was an excellent meal. Everything was delicious. Food - 4 STARS Ambiance/Decor - 4 STARS Service - 4 STARS Location - 4 STARS read more

Felt inspired to write this review after being very impressed by the service here today. I ordered the Haddock with Green Curry and Toasted Almonds and really did not enjoy it, especially since I didn't realize that it would be so creamy (The name on the physical menu was different than that on the menu, which does specify tat it's made with cream sauce) since green curry is usually made with coconut milk. I didn't have much of it but I didn't send it back because I hate doing that. When the waitress came to collect our plates I mentioned not liking it too much and they were very sweet about it, received several apologies and had the dish taken off our check. Also, badass duck cigar rolls. read more

My waitress was terrible. She was cold, rude and even demeaning. It was too the point where I was so frustrated that I couldn't really enjoy the meal. (I won't comment on the meal, but I feel like I couldn't properly rate it, I was so annoyed with the waitress.) I usually never complain, but I felt the need to, and the supervisor made me feel much better. I went because someone told me how great it was. I'll have to go back to give it my full attention. Now I know to make sure that a particular waitress NOT serve me! read more

Outstanding food! It's not a wide selection but what they do here is done very well and with the utmost love and care. It's the kind of place where even the bread they serve at every table is delicious! I walk away a happy diner every time. Service is also very attentive and friendly. I feel cared for as a customer and never had a blip in service. The dining area is nice but feels a bit cramped. They have gone for the small-bistro style of dining but tried to squeeze in a bit too many tables and chairs which makes for a bit too small of a space for me. But the atmosphere is nice and I've never had an issue getting a reservation. I highly recommend this for a couples night out in Vergennes. read more

Black Sheep Bistro - Summer roll and duck cigar. - New American Near Me - Vergennes, Vermont

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We had the extreme pleasure of dining at the Black Sheep Bistro and had one of the best evenings ever. The duck confit was excellent as was the brie and bacon stuffed chicken. The salmon with tahini and wasabi and the broiled haddock with coconut curry sauce were delicious as well. Our server Alethea was a delight and pleasure to be with. Our chef came out and was gracious enough to provide a recipe for the red lentils. We recommend Black Sheep Bistro to anyone looking for a fine dining experience. read more

We've been coming to Black Sheep for years, and it remains our favorite. We have never had anything but wonderful experiences here. I love, love the food -- always a tough decision. Minor point: I love that all items in each category are the same price (appetizer, entree, desert), so I don't have to sacrifice frugality for what I really want. I'm married, but back in the day on dates I always ordered something modest even if I really, really wanted the lamb (assuming my date was picking up the tab which wasn't always the case). The wine list is good, and they have always been helpful if we had questions. It's consistently busy -- make reservations. The best! read more

Right on the main street - this bistro has so much charm. The waitress was a delight and the food was to die for. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, it had a high-end flair but the pricing was reasonable (read a tad expensive but for a good reason). Especially if you are visiting Vermont get the creme brulé. It sums up the state into a very delicious dessert. read more

I don't know what those few "bad service" reviews are all about. I went there twice this month during my vacation and the service was up there with the best I've ever experienced. Menu is unique and choices are fun. Great bacon/pea soup. Steak was perfect. Bacon brie chicken breast was delicious. Presentation is excellent; the entrees looked like a picture in a magazine. Beautiful. I'll be back next time I'm in town. read more

Anyone giving this place less than 5 stars is either on crack or owns a competing restaurant. This place is heavenly. Super friendly wait staff, amazing food, and nice atmosphere. read more

Black Sheep Bistro - Black sheep - New American Near Me - Vergennes, Vermont

Another delious dining experience at the Black Sheep Bistro. The vichyssoise was such a treat. It is always a wonderful experience, from the food to the service. read more