Great place for a nicer dinner. I started with the bramble cooler which was tasty, definitely a sweeter drink. For 3 people we shared the olives, 2 pizzas (o'cipolla was our favorite), and the chicory and citrus salad which surprisingly ended up being enough food for us. Our server was very nice but the food runner just slapped down the food and walked away quickly without saying anything which was odd. The atmosphere is nice inside with a huge pizza oven in the center and farmhouse-esque style. Definitely recommend for an occasion or nice dinner. read more

I've had phenomenal meals here and slightly more lackluster ones. Funnily enough, it kind of seems like the more simple I go with my order, the more impressed I am with the food. For instance, a basic cheese pizza (which I ordered from the kids the last time we went) was the best part of the meal I had last time. I've also had some hit-or-miss cocktails there (the spicy ones have honestly been the big failures for me--REALLY spicy in some sips and then virtually tasteless by the end). But I feel like when it's good, it's so good, so I fully intend to return for future meals. Also, I have never had bad service there. read more

I came here with a couple of friends after a movie a few weeks ago on a Sunday night. We found the host to be quite friendly and the ambience was cozy and inviting. It was as if you were entering someone's home and dining room, thus very inviting. The server was friendly as well. She explained the share plate concept, but did explain that they are more tapas style versus family style in terms of portion sizes. The menu details all the locally sourced ingredients, which is great. For cocktails, I ordered the Painkiller, a delightful cocktail consisting of Rhum Barbancourt, Thai chili coconut, lime, OJ, pineapple, and nutmeg. My friend got the Flora & Fauna, a Barr Hill Gin cocktail with liqueur de Violettes, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon and Prosecco (hers was surprisingly a little too strong for me). We split the house made chicken liver mousse and sauternes gelée served with pickled red onion and toast points); the house baked focaccia; the settlers zucchini bread; oven warmed olives (mixed with garlic, citrus, herbs, piquanté peppers); the salsiccia pizza (topped with colvard spicy fennel sausage, roasted fennel, tomato, mozzarella) and the summer salad, which was a Jericho Settler's lettuce mix, combined with toasted sunflower seeds, vt blue cheese, red wine poached pears in a maple shallot vinaigrette. The good: the mousse was excellent as was the pizza and the oven warmed olives. The salad was pretty good, too. The not so great: the zucchini bread was on the dry side and you could not even see the zucchini nor was it spiced enough. I didn't try the focaccia. For dessert, we ordered the Basque Cake with berry sauce; the Popcorn Crème Brûlée (described as a popcorn custard with kettle corn and citrus), and a Lemon Olive Oil Cake with stone fruit compote and Meyer Lemon Verdict: The desserts were surprisingly underwhelming. The olive oil cake was the best and yet not very moist. Although a neat concept, you could not taste the popcorn flavor in the custard. The Basque cake was just okay as well. Overall, I would say the cocktails, several starters and pizza were mostly good and the desserts were not worth it. I would consider coming back and trying some of the main dishes, as it seems our main critiques were of the baked goods. read more

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Title: Great Atmosphere and Pizza, But Service and Details Missed the Mark This was our third visit to Bramble since it opened. The atmosphere and pizza continue to impress, but a few things fell short. The matzah ball soup lacked flavor, and the kids' pasta with marinara was bland. We didn't mention the soup, but when we told the waitress about the pasta, her only suggestion was that we could buy something else -- disappointing for a restaurant positioned as higher-end for the area. Also, the bathroom sink water was hot with no cold option. My nine-year-old struggled to wash his hands safely, which I confirmed myself. To be fair, we didn't mention this to management, assuming staff use the same restroom and would already be aware. We love the concept and setting, but a little more care and attentiveness would make Bramble truly exceptional read more

We went to Bramble for dinner tonight and left with happy stomachs and big smiles! Everything was delicious, even our toddler cleaned his plate (which any parent knows is the highest praise). The drinks were spot-on, and the chocolate mousse... wow. Pure magic, especially paired with a Proper Pot of Tea. The ambiance was great, and the entire staff was so kind and attentive that it felt like we were being welcomed into someone's home. We can't wait to come back and next time we might just skip lunch so we have room for everything on the menu! read more

The roasted veggies, better than I even expected. The answer is YES to the answer cocktail. That carrot cake, is carrot crack. The plates are beautiful, ask the staff the story behind them. "What's this green stuff?" Their herb oil they infuse with their own grown herbs. Turns out to be the best thing we ever tasted. Ordered extra focaccia to dunk. The turkey meatballs were divine and the gravy was worth asking for a to-go container, the pizza with hot honey, the draft list!! Eating here was a true experience, the ambiance is cozy, they treat you like family and the service was delightful! read more

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We (husband and I) had reservations and were seated right away. We actually were running 7 minutes late due to slow travel from downpours. Called and spoke with Zach, who was very nice about it, and reassured us that our table would be waiting. Our waitress was lovely and recognized we had been there before. Brought us each a glass of champagne for our anniversary. Beer list was extensive. My first cocktail (bramble) was delicious, the 2nd (Flora and fauna) fell short - too much prosecco. We ordered a salad with strawberries, nuts and feta. The salad oddly had added salt (feta is already salty) and was fairly inedible. We didn't complain, but the waitress noticed and asked if anything was wrong. We explained that it was very salty. They did offer to replace it, but we declined. The did comp it, which was appreciated. We shared the fried chicken and pizza. Both were decent, but definitely not as good as the first time we came. Perhaps the kitchen was having an off night? Still love the environment and service. read more

The food was amazing!! Since it is served family style, my husband and I shared the steak with carrots, and corn. Although this sounds very basic, it was far from it! The steak was perfectly cooked. The corn was sweet with small pieces of caramelized onions. The carrots were small and slightly roasted. The dessert was a creamy refreshing custard like passion fruit square. The ambiance is a perfect blend of family cozy with a modern twist. The staff is so very helpful and efficient. I wished we lived closer because this place would be a weekly visit! read more

What a lovely restaurant! Excellent service, food, and ambiance. The restaurant is located in a strip mall and has a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. For the table: Olives, roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, biscuits, focaccia bread, and a cheese plate. The cheese plate was disappointing, with only two pieces and a smattering of jam. The focaccia and biscuits were good (there are only two biscuits which for almost $8 is a bit out of touch). The roasted chicken was served piping hot, well-flavored, and cooked perfectly. It was accompanied by some garden vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, and a third that slipped my mind). read more

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My partner thought he made reservations here for Valentine's Day, but actually accidentally booked for March 14th instead. Completely our fault and not a big deal. We ended up at a restaurant that was near here and gave superb service - so in a way: thank you to Bramble for being unwilling to accommodate. The reason for my low rating is how we were treated during the process of figuring out that our reservation was for the wrong date. The whole time the host was annoyed and when the manager came over to "help" he rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, we've seen this at least four times today. Unfortunately, our kitchen is all booked so..." And essentially shooed us away like stray dogs. I'm giving two stars instead of one because perhaps the food is their saving grace. I wouldn't know and don't plan to find out. All in all, the pretentious nature of the staff, ambiance, and prices do not match the strip mall aesthetics. read more

This restaurant has a small menu, but every single thing on it is fresh and beautifully made. Bramble tries to source everything locally. I will also say that the weight staff is amazing. They're funny, they're great at their jobs, and they know so much about the menu. Also a really nice atmosphere. read more

Bramble is the perfect place for excellent food, incredible service and fun ambiance. This is a staple in our restaurant rotation, we always finding ourselves wanting to come back. The wood fired pizza, cocktails and can't ever go wrong with any of the small plates to share read more

Half full restaurant with my elderly aunt in tow and we're told by the FOH, the kitchen is over whelmed, and theres a 30 minute delay on seating. When we state we'd be happy to wait at the bar and hold off for the 30 minutes, a hostile FOH aggressively snaps "I WILL BE SEATING IN 30 MINUTES". So we went to Jericho Cafe (excellent), and thats a sign... a 'going outta business' sign. But we can't wait to see what comes in next! Say "hi" to Nector's for us. read more

We ate here on our last night in Vermont and agreed this was the best restaurant we had eaten at on our trip. We tried the pizza, mushroom pasta, half chicken and the veg plate. The menu was a bit short and we wondered if we'd made a mistake, but each plate was fabulous. A little on the smaller side though. The desserts were also so good, we tried the blueberry cake and the citrus gel . So glad we went!! read more

Regrettable dinner choice. Love the idea of farm to table but the menu was underwhelming. I wasn't super hungry so was aiming to stay under $20. Their roasted plums with ricotta cheese sounded interesting but wasn't very good, not flavorful. Got a side of their Red Hen Bread thinking it'd be a good pairing with the cheese, I was wrong. They barely give you enough herb oil, though they'll happily give you more when asked. Service was okay, there was one waitress working the restaurant so she was probably pretty busy. Ambiance is nice. Just a disappointing menu. read more

Bramble - Red Hen Bread - Pizza Near Me - Essex, Vermont

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The food was so good (we tried the chicken, Margherita pizza, risotto, and mushrooms tagliatelle). The flavors were incredible and the pizza crust was out of this world. The passionfruit cremeux for dessert was lovely too - the flavors and texture were unexpected and delicious! Our server, Brian, was awesome as well! Would return in a heartbeat. read more

Great service and delicious clean food. We had a large group so they set us at two tables and we ordered bread, olives and salad and a few appetizers to share ahead of time , and each of us selected an entree. Everyone was very pleased with the service, the quality of the foods, desserts, and the cocktails and mocktails. Another weekend I ordered their pizza for takeout and it was also amazing, especially if you like thin crusts. Great place and you should check it out. read more

Beautiful ambiance, food and service were excellent. We truly enjoyed our experience!

We shared a wood fired pizza and spinach salad. Food was delicious. Wonderful service. Very cool vibe. Highly recommend.

We celebrated a special event here and were satisfied with our fine dining experience at Bramble. All dished were delicious with great presentation. The flavorful lamb short ribs were well balanced with a bed of bok choy salad, the swordfish was cooked perfectly. Most importantly, finally, I found another restaurant with gourmet pizzas from a wood fired oven! Our server was super nice, however, the kitchen was slow (except the pizza). read more

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It's hard to say what we love most about Bramble, the amazing food or the lovey staff. Christine the gracious hostess with the mostest, Zack the affable and efficient bartender, Shawn the congenial owner, and the many wonderful servers are all so professional, knowledgeable, and warmly embracing--they really make you feel like a regular part of the family on your first visit. The atmosphere may be comfortably casual and relaxing, but the food is fine dining, no doubt. Go for Sunday brunch and get the chicken and waffles--I don't care if you've never had it and think it's weird: just do it. You'll thank me later as you crack into the perfectly breaded, perfectly seasoned, perfectly tender chicken. And the waffles? The texture has that enigmatic combination of light crispiness on the outside giving in to tenderness within, and they have a well-balanced touch of sweetness to be the well-matched foil for the whole dish. And as many chicken and waffles as I've had in my lifetime (an amount somehow both embarrassing in excess and yet not enough), rarely has it been served so that there is the right amount of waffles to match every bite of chicken. Now, I only like chicken when it's fried, but I had a bite of my husband's roasted chicken, and it tells you everything you need to know about head chef Colleen. It's like, if you want to really know the talent of an ice cream maker, you sample the vanilla, right? I feel that way about roasted chicken and cooks. Anyone can roast a chicken--but who can elevate this humble basic to crave-worthy gourmet that make you a Little bereft with the last bite? Colleen can. But I haven't even told you about my two favorite dishes... Let's start with the cauliflower. That's right: cauliflower. Again, Colleen takes humble to heavenly! Roasted just right and seasoned so uniquely, and just so gosh-darn *pretty*! (See my pic.) I could have eaten four platefuls. But what I love most is the trout. I suspect it is fresh caught, not only because they have been out of it a few times early in the day, but because how else could it be this good? How can the flesh have the perfect density and texture? How else could it taste so fresh? Lightly seasoned with salt, it didn't need anything more. But the accompanying salad was Perfect for refreshing your palate between bites. My 19-moth old granddaughter fervently agreed. (I almost told her to get her own already, but I let her eat half.) I could go on about how I loved the bone marrow small plate and the olives and the strawberry & frisée salad and everything else, but Yelp has a word limit. So I'll wrap it up with dessert. We've loved them all, but if you insist on only ordering one, try the rhubarb cake. Again, Colleen takes a homey, humble morsel and elevates it. We were hooked by our first visit, and I think we've managed to go at least once a week ever since. We'll be back tomorrow. I keep telling myself that I've got to try the much-raved about flatbreads, but if they have trout... read more

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This is my first visit to Bramble. I love the atmosphere. It is spacious clean and inviting. I decided to site at the bar. Talked to the bartender. My most favorite thing to do when visiting a new place. Bartenders know what is good and they always take care of you. Ordered the Turkey Meatballs. Then Biscuits and Gravy. Both excellent flavors. They will not disappoint. The first time the Turkey Meatballs came out they did not have the heat and had to send back. The second batch was perfect. If you are in Essex Vermont and looking for a nice place to have a drink and eat, I recommend you check out this place. read more

Bramble - Turkey Meatballs Alboondigas. - Pizza Near Me - Essex, Vermont

I was a few miles away at a concert and decided to give this restaurant a try. In the middle of the old Essex Outlet sits this really nice restaurant. A very impressive pizza oven grabs your eye as you enter. The food is good with a caveat. I ordered 3 oysters for $10 . I have never seen oysters that small, anywhere, from Seattle to Maine and in Europe. They were so small that the stomach sack had not developed yet! Served on a bed of ice with a drop of bloody Mary sauce. I wish the kitchen had not served them. I ordered Adam's Farm 1/2 chicken beautifully presented on a bed of mixed vegetables. It was 1/2 chicken minus the drumstick. Unfortunately, it had been brined to death with salt water. If you should not consume too much salt, do not order this dish. The chicken was very tender, and if you forgot the saltiness, tasty. Service was very good, plenty of servers. read more

Exceptional. My wife and I went there for our 19th wedding anniversary. Not only was our server amazing, informative, and helped us get the best possible culinary experience, she gave us a card saying happy anniversary when we left. The absolute sweetest. Everything from the drinks to the food to the staff were way above and beyond. Before we left we were already arguing about what we were going to order the next time we come, and who we are going to bring. Do yourself a favor : get the scallops. And the gluten free pizza (holy sh*t this was unbelievable). And the desert. Never mind, get everything read more

This review is from two weeks after opening. They are still working through some kinks but overall, a great experience with great service. Everyone was happy and attentive. The pizza here is the best I've had in the greater Burlington area, it's very fresh, brick oven pizza with delicious sauce. It reminds me of NYC pizza, which is very hard to replicate in VT. Duck rillette was very savory and had a strong duck flavor. The NY strip was cooked perfectly but definitely could have used more of the red wine reduction. The broccolini, was good, you could taste that it was cooked over the fire, with a nice char. The pork loin was phenomenal, especially with the homemade peach mostarda. The cauliflower was nicely cooked with the brick oven, but the sauces need more refinement. The rhubarb and buttermilk dessert was fresh, not heavy and very moist. We thought the french press coffee could be shared by two people. read more

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Service fine, food average, price very, very high for the quality and quantity. Ambiance was very busy with waitstaff bumping into our table. Very limited menu. read more

Service was attentive and casual. The waitsperson provided accurate descriptions of menu items. Coffee, served in a small pot, about two cups each, was brewed when ordered, so fresh and rich. The coffee and food is locally sourced, so fresh and tasty. We'll be back. read more

We were a party of 14 and were seated promptly. Service was friendly and efficient. Drinks and starters arrived fast. The menu was smallish but well executed. Almost out while party got the prix fix Wednesday Night Supper which was fried (boneless) chicken and slaw. The flavors were spot on and savory. Light crispy breading, juicy meat inside, crunchy tangy slaw (no mayo here) paired together perfectly. The honey drizzle was perfection. All other diners at the table were thrilled with their meals. We will be back again. Funky, classic , European meets industrial vibe. read more

Bramble is the best-kept secret of the Vermont fine dining scene. What I love the most about it is that both the food and service is completely unpretentious. I am a Vermonter transplanted to the Bay Area and Bramble has become a highlight of my trips back East. My partner and I stopped in on a recent Sunday night, and the first thing I said was, 'oh wow, it smells like Chez Panisse!' The Alice Waters slow-food vibe carried through the crispy, falling-off-the-bone duck leg and transcendental still-crunchy but sweetly charred oven-roasted vegetables with a miso and tahini glaze that we practically licked off the hand-thrown bowl. We were hemming and hawing over wines (since we knew we'd be ordering a variety of foods) and the brilliant sommelier, Philip - kindly, knowledgeable, honest, and - yes - totally unpretentious - helped us find the most delectable, chillable bottle of Sardinian red (Praha Cardedu) which complemented the food gorgeously without overpowering it. The wine is bedecked in a festive pink label that calls out the distinctive rustic undertones, perfect with Vermont farm-to-table fare (and suggested canned mussels as a pairing). For 'dessert' we shared a pizza smeared with butternut and sage puree and drizzled with hot honey, and I was compelled to ask for the sauce recipe for our ongoing pizza experimentations back home. We left full, happy, and cozy. Would give 6 stars if I could. read more

I love this restaurant. Amazing service, delicious food and very friendly & helpful staff! My daughter was at a movie with friends and I walked over to kill some time. It was an unexpected treat & I can't wait to go back again soon. read more

Went there for dinner the other weekend. Was a mixed experience. Service, exceptional. Atmosphere was very nice. Food was underwhelming, but between the price and it being "family style", can't recommend. The braised brisket must be a new menu item for the season but it was inedible. Cooked to completely gray and impossible to cut with the provided butter knife. Au jus was flavorless gravy. I had to send it back. The substituted pasta was very good but for $32, was hard to consider worth it and still left hungry. Main issue other than the bad menu item, saying family style with portions less than other restaurants that charge less or similar (think trat in btown in regards to the pasta but the 3 dishes we got would qualify) for an meal is a hard sell for me. Just charge what it is, make it nice and present it as such. It's not family style for what's offered. read more

Sadly the service brings the experience of this restaurant down. Obviously there were VIP guests in house which weren't us. So when we asked for extra plates, wine , water it was an inconvenience. The chowder, halibut and chicken were the best we ever had. We are traveling and looking for Vermont food... found it. Desserts need work. Chocolate torte ..too tight as a chocolate lover and as Pru says "not worth the calories". If you are advertising popcorn in a dessert you should be able to taste the popcorn. read more

It's been a long time since I've written a Yelp review, but I have to write one for what has genuinely become my favorite restaurant in the area. My wife and I have been many times, and we are consistently blown away. The menu is always changing, so every return brings something new. And every dish that we have been served has been truly exceptional. The wine list is great and the cocktails are delicious. But what truly sets bramble apart is the service. The host is amazing, and sets the tone for the experience ahead with her enthusiastic greeting. It's clear that the servers are given the chance to try the food and wine to speak intelligently to the restaurant's offerings, and they always approach with a welcoming spirit. And of course, the owner (I think?) makes the time to greet and chat with every table, making you feel that he is genuinely appreciative that you've taken the time to dine with him and his family. bramble has become our go-to restaurant for visitors and occasions, and I can't recommend it enough! read more

Not much food for the price. Had to make more food when we got home because of the scant portion sizes. Food was good but not great. Pizza was great but not big, it the whole pizza fit on a dinner plate and " share sizes or family style" where you were encouraged to share your meal with your dinner party was, huh? I am encouraged to share where there was barely enough for each diner let alone share? If you go to brambles, expect to be still hungry when you leave. The leek& pea soup was bland as well, I wish I had better news about this restaurant. read more

The food was great. Loved to wood fired pizza and practically no wait for the food. The employees were kind and respectful!

This was one of the best meals I had in a long time. Beautiful ambiance. Staff and service were excellent. The food was outstanding. Start to finish, everything was perfect. read more

We are so lucky to have this restaurant!Bramble is the gorgeous blown glass pitcher full of bright and refreshing lemonade that Shawn and Colleen have made out of the lemons that were left when brick and mortar retail shopping died, and our beautiful eco-friendly outlet mall needed to reinvent itself. The Essex Experience is unlike any other shopping mall, in that the old storefronts are now incredible EXPERIENCES: localvore dining, distilleries, beer gardens, spas, an art gallery, a 3D movie theater, and a repurposed barn for live music. Bramble is one of the jewels in the crown of the Essex Experience. The upscale food and friendly service, combined with the casual elegance of the decor and menu, make each meal there a truly unforgettable experience. I've had some of the best pizzas in my life here, and also seared scallops to die for, and artfully plated and inventive desserts that left me swooning. If you want a truly special meal, make your reservation today. read more

Bramble - Vibrant menu and setting. - Pizza Near Me - Essex, Vermont

Everything at this place was perfect. Food was delicious, staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was perfection. We didn't have a reservation but we're able to get seats at the bar. I wish I lived closer as I would 100% go again and again and again. read more

Bramble - Bone marrow and rillette - Pizza Near Me - Essex, Vermont

Wanted to love this restaurant more than I did. They called us to confirm reservations and to "confirm" that one in our party was vegan, which I assumed would mean we would get a separate menu or something of that sort. This wasn't the case and the waitress seemed caught off guard when I asked for my risotto to be made vegan. When it came out it was so unbearably salty with an offensively small amount of vegetables for $30. The cocktails were good and I'm sure it's wonderful if you're a meat eater but my dish was not edible in the slightest. read more

Drinks are superb. We picked a bunch of apps at the bar and all was delicious. Reservations for tables is definitely recommended. The space is a bit stark and doesn't feel very intimate, but it was still a nice atmosphere. read more