I have a theory of restaurants. There are three categories. Fast, tasty, and price. For a restaurant to be good, it must be two of the three. Fast and tasty, works for me. tasty and a decent price, works, as does fast and lower price. Handy's hits all three. The breakfast was VERY fast. It took about 5 minutes from order to table. That is huge. I had corned beef hash, 2 eggs, home fries and toast. I watched the kitchen as they fresh sliced the corned beef for my hash, a big plus. Everything was tasty and as it should be. My girlfriend got chocolate chip pancakes and bacon. A second about the bacon here. It was not what I expected, but in a good way. It was relatively thick-cut, not that wimpy see-through junk I've got at other diners, and not overdone. The coffee was good and hot, and the service was friendly and fast. It has a typical diner menu, but that's perfect for me. Breakfast for two with one OJ, coffee and the side of bacon came it at $20. Overall, it was a good experience and one I'll be repeating. read more

If I could give a place 7 stars, this would be the place. Awesome old-tyme diner, owned by a Yankee fan in the middle of Red Sox country. We went here for a late breakfast on the Saturday before the VT Brewers festival. We went to the far end of the horseshoe counter to sit down and when the owner \ chef saw the interlocking NY on my cap he gave a little nod of approval as if to say he had my back. They only serve breakfast and lunch. The service was prompt and the breakfast was well cooked. Everyone in our fam was happy with their meal and we'd definitely come back the next time we find ourselves in Burlington. The name of the place also provides plenty of comedy, as I kept asking the DW if she felt like giving me a "handy" :-) Unfortunately she didn't oblige! read more

Great diner-like atmosphere! Always full of locals, horseshoe counters allow me to speak to everyone in the place, whether they like it or not. Only open for breakfast and lunch, and both are fantastic! I always order the corporate hippie for lunch, basically the best hotdog you've ever had, and like, it might even be two hotdogs. It's perfect. If you're ever hungover, the corp. hippie is the cure. Doesn't hurt that with fries and a soda it's under 10 bucks. Breakfast is perfect as well! You can get eggs, toast, and coffee for like 4 dollars, and Cheap breakfast sandwiches which is always nice on the way to work. They even did a pancakepalooza last year where they had like 8 different things you could add to your pancakes-it was awesome. I brought them to class with me and people went wild while I ate them. Looking back, that was probably an inappropriate meal to eat in class. They even make me bacon chocolate chip pancakes by special request. I'm a big fan of this place. Everything I've ever had is delicious. read more

We found this on Yelp and had a great time! We had just finished going to the local science museum and was hungry. We also had a 22 month old with us and needed a place that was kid-friendly. This was the place! Good sized portions, great service (the kind woman behind the counter even cut the grilled cheese sandwich for our little person into small triangles) and good, hearty, warm food. Loved the feel of the place and was even luckier that we found parking. Thanks Yelp for giving us the heads up! read more

This is only a review for of the breakfast. I ordered the big breakfast which consisted of pancakes, eggs, sausage or bacon, potatoes and toast! Yeah, a carb overload. I upgraded to blueberry pancakes. They were awful. Very dense & heavy. It was the first batch of the morning & I don't know what went wrong but I noticed other diners weren't eating much of theirs either. However, thankfully the rest of the breakfast was excellent. So I didn't leave hungry. I will be back, but I will come for lunch to try their well liked sandwiches. I really like the horseshoe counter, and the service was great. read more

You can't pick your family....so don't go judging this place by the other Handy's you know. While every experience I've ever had with Handy's towing, or gas station, or otherwise has been less than pleasant, I left Handy's Lunch today full and will a smile on my face. I saw old friends, met nice people, and was greeted and served with class. The owner was onsite and he was friendly and helpful, and everyone there seemed to be seeing old friends. It felt like Cheers, but with food instead of beer and no fat dude or mailman to laugh at. For lunch I had a roast beef sandwich with tatertots on the side. They suggested a house sauce to go with it and it was perfect. The sandwich was a good size and with a soda and side it was $11...pretty good deal. I went because I stumbled upon a yelp coupon...but I would definitely go back for a nice, low key delicious lunch. Thanks for the experience, it's clear why you've been in business since 1945! Oh...they even gave me a free cookie for checking in on Yelp. :) read more

You remember Cheers, where everybody knows your name? That's what it's like walking into Handy's. You open the door and Earl or Jeremy greets you by name before you get to your stool. You look around the horseshoe counter and see many faces you recognize, even if you might not know them by name. If you happen by when it's slow, Earl's always willing to chat sports, politics, entertainment, or just about anything else. (Ask him to see photos of his twins - they're adorable.) The food is good quality diner style. Breakfast or lunch, you don't walk away disappointed. Handy's is one of the few places that I'll order pancakes because they're just the right consistency and (of course) served with real Vermont maple syrup. For lunch, the texas dogs are a good choice. Of course, so is the chicken Phillie with some peper jack cheese. For me, I usually pair either with sweet potato fries. If you're on the run in the morning, the McHandy can't be beat. It's the best breakfast sandwich in Burlington. I get mine with Ham, but you might like bacon or sausage. read more

This is my favorite place for breakfast in Burlington. You don't find to many old style lunch counters anymore but this place is perfect. Earl the third generation proprietor holds court and everyone chats and has a great time over classic diner fare with a Vermont twist! read more

Handy's Lunch - It's no lie it is a great place to eat!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

The BF and I were visiting Burlington and wanted a good breakfast. Thanks to Yelp we found Handy's which is every bit as good as the other reviewers say it is. We were there around 10 am on a Sunday morning and there were only a couple of other customers there. The horseshoe counter was so nice and the owner himself was the one cooking the food. The food itself was fantastic. My eggs were perfect and the bacon was some of the best I've ever had (and my Grandpa raised pigs for a living!). They also had squeeze bottles of Frank's Red Hot readily available to everyone which is always a plus in my book. Fabulous, fabulous place. If I could give it more than five stars I would. read more

Seven fast impressions: 1) Saw a local order straight from the cook and get her breakfast sandwich in about 3 minutes. She was rushing to get to work. 2) U-shaped counter. Old school. No table seating. 3) Yankees fans not only welcomed but encouraged. 4) Highly photo-worthy. Norman Rockwell could have painted it. 5) Decent eggs and sausage. Subpar homies. Superior corned-beef hash. 6) Parking is an adventure. For this trip, parked 3 blocks away in metered spot. 7) Go if you like the diner experience. The food will not let you down. (Visit on 10/8/2011, 9 a.m.) read more

The master black belt is a one of a kinda breakfast sandwich. A masterpiece of perfection? Coffee black as coal and tasty a cinnamon bun!!!

This place has been around for ages, but only recently started going there. It truely is a "locals" hangout; there's nothing fancy about this place, it feels like you're at a friends place eating breakfast at the kitchen counter. The fare is similar to a gas station deli menu, except better quality. They're only open for breakfast and lunch, no dinner. All in all, this place is the epitome of "casual". Don't be afraid to join the conversation. read more

ALWAYS TRUST YELP! While in the area to ring in the New Year my boyfriend and I, recently relocated to Boston from LA, was in need for a diner style breakfast. Handy's Lunch was just the place! Earl was delightful, the food was hot and delicious and the atmosphere truly awesome.. read more

This place has all the faux-wood paneling and Formica counter tops that you need in a local diner. Recommended by a former employee- Handy's really hit the spot for a late breakfast. I had the McHandy's (unoriginal yes, in the fact that it's a copycat of the McDonalds Sausage McMuffin, but way better tasting than that) and a coffee, it was a bit pricey but worth stopping by in Burlington. read more

Great breakfast -- first quality greasy spoon in Burlington that Ive encountered! Friendly waitresses, and Earl (the owner / cook) was quick to come over and welcome us. Its one of those places that you quickly feel like a regular...even on your first time in the door. Hint - get the bacon. read more

I'm not a breakfast person, but my wife is. Given that I'm not in the target demographic for a diner at breakfast, I'd have to say Handy's did a fantastic job of pleasing me--not always an easy task. I'd normally get something sweet, but we were heading out to hike, so I went with some protein. Got the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and sausage. Each component was done perfectly, with a nice bit of spice in the sausage. My wife had the blueberry pancakes with bacon, both of which she found perfect. Real maple syrup, good quality bacon, and lots of blueberries. It was a Friday morning at 10:30, and there were only 5 other people at the counter. So service was brisk but welcoming. I'd definitely return, especially after stopping by Maglianero across the street for a top quality latte--my personal breakfast choice. read more

If you are looking for a place where you can relax have great food and awesome conversation, this is the place to go.

An amazing breakfast with a super friendly staff! Had a breakfast special that was 2 eggs, toast, potatoes, & coffee for $5.95. So good!!

Go where the locals go. "Cute" and "fun" are the words for this family-friendly neighborhood diner. I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn around the corner and paid a pretty penny for a burger last night that could not hold up against the patty melt I had here for lunch at half the price. read more

Cute little diner! We all had breakfast and it was delicious. The homemade corn beef hash was cooked with just enough crispy-ness. Great place to stop by for good food and conversation. The owner is an awesome guy! I will eat here again :) read more

Handy's Lunch - The King Richard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

i am from Georgia, so my group was looking for some home comfort food. I yelped this place and we were staying about 3 blocks from the place. It's a local hangout so that told me right then that I was going to have some good food and conversation. The place is nothing fancy so if thats what your looking for forget it, if you are looking for some down home country breakfast then this is the place. Eggs anyway you like them, fried Tatar's, sausage, bacon, ham and did I say boars head meats on top. The owner was great and so was the waitress. This is a must try... You will have to sit around a bar but thats what I liked. Everyone was talking to everyone. I almost forgot. They own the Vermont Teddy Bear company and was gracious enough to invite my group to go visit. Try it out, you will like it.. read more

This is, hands down, the best diner in town. You walk in and feel like you're in someone's kitchen. For all I know, this used to be the Handy's kitchen. And when you're there, you feel like a guest in a friend's home because the staff is super friendly and if you want to talk sports with the owner, he'll gladly oblige. The diner is frequented by locals and some of whom have known the family owners since before they were born. There's always a free copy of the morning's paper to be found on the counter. The seating area is essentially one big horseshoe of a table, which only further encourages a friendly social scene. And then the food. Diner food is pretty easy and yet, you can go wrong with food in a diner. There are certain places in town that will leave your stomach second-guessing your choice in establishments. Handy's is not one of them. The food is simple but doesn't disappoint and doesn't make you sick. I love the sausage omelet, where rather than cut up the sausage into tiny pieces, the owner throws two whole sausage patties inside the eggs. It's an egg and sausage sandwich without the bread and it's great. And if you want to add bread, go ahead. They have your typical assortment of breads ready to be toasted. And, OK, I feel kind of dorky describing the finer details of what will only ever be a diner. So let me stop and just say again, Handy's does the diner scene right. You will leave this place with a smile on your face every time and believe me when I say that isn't a sure thing at other places in town. read more

Great diner atmosphere and food! Definitely a local go to spot, we are from NC and felt at home with a good "southern" like breakfast.

Can't really miss if you're looking for real local ambiance, good prices and a filling breakfast. Earl cooks and talks to the patrons, half of whom he seems to know, and a couple young waitresses stand around waiting to take your plate. Hard to find parking, but it's just out of the way enough to usually have a few seats open. read more

Generations of practice clearly paid off. Spent a hot afternoon walking downtown and were recommended we try Handy's. It was awesome.

Atmosphere that is hard to match anywhere. Best Reuben in Burlington! Daily specials, tater tots and cookies too! Same price range as most lunch spots in Burlington, but they put way more meat and toppings on theirs. Great for breakfast and/or catering too. read more

Handy's Lunch is the place that if you're new to Burlington VT you will walk in a customer and leave a family member. I came to get a famous Handy's Lunch breakfast sandwich before conference started and met Mrs. Handy (mom), Earl, and his sister Mary. I took my breakfast sandwich to go yet stayed and sat down and talked with Mrs. Handy for almost 40 minutes as we talked about the diner, the family history, and the wall of pictures of the four generations of Handy family photos. First of all, the breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheese was phenom. But even better is the extreme friendly openness and warmth of this lovely family that makes you want to come back again and again only to see their smiling faces. Bravo, Earl, Mary, and Mrs. Handy, on providing me a little spot that feels like home to a newbie to the BTV scene. read more

This spot has been bookmarked in my Yelp for too long, so when my wife had a craving for breakfast mid day we decided to hit Handy's. WOW, outstanding service and delicious food. The owner recommended a tasty Italian sub. My wife's breakfast was so tasty (especially the hash). Do yourself a favor and check it out! read more

Handy's Lunch - Nice looking Italian wrap! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

thank you my fellow yelpers! i never would have found this place without you and your recommendations. GO. GO IMMEDIATELY. you won't regret it. if what you are looking for is a great, home cooked, truly local Burlington eatery - this is your place. get the Super G which is a breakfast sandwich consisting of ham, sausage, bacon, cheese and two eggs on a roll. heavenly :) it is not fancy - at all, so if you're looking for that, head elsewhere. if you are there on a good day, if you check-in through yelp, you'll get a free cookie made by Earl's mom. can't wait to go back. read more

Handy's Lunch - the super g - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

The guy there was so nice, and the food was delicious. We brought our 8-month-old son with us, and the owner brought out a booster seat that literally connected to the counter; it was the neatest thing! He even got "heavy handed" with my husband's fries, since mine didn't come with any. Super fresh, as he made it right in front of us, and made conversation with us and the other patrons in there. You can tell it's a local place, as he greeted people by name as they came in. read more

Came in and tried the Wednesday special, The Hilly, so good that I came in the next day for breakfast! The Super G was off the chain!!! The diner sports a horseshoe bar as its sole seating arrangement, giving the atmosphere a very personal touch that is livened up by the variety of friendly staff. Would love to hit them up next time I'm in Burlington! read more

Handy's Lunch - Super G was super g - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I'm in Burlington on business. I came across this wonderful diner by chance. Great food, wonderful family. I found myself bringing my Co workers in for breakfast each day. The prices are VERY reasonable. read more

Handy's Lunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

MC Handy & Supe G are delicious. The employees are friendly and very polite. We are tourists and they made excellent suggestions.

One of the great things about living in Vermont is breakfast and brunch. The unfortunate side is the hour-long wait at most of the top spots around town. A great alternative is to hit up an old school diner. I love that Handy's has the horseshoe-shaped counter for that old diner feel. There was no wait on a Sunday morning and our food came out quickly. While the menu doesn't advertise anything eye-popping like locally organic seasonal fruit in its pancakes, the breakfast lineup was solid and relatively cheap. I got the SST sandwich, which had sausage, egg, and cheese between two slices of French toast. It was one of the most satisfying breakfast sandwiches I've had in a while. On top of that, the owner is super friendly and offered a free cookie if you check-in with Yelp. It was kind of cool to see a diner as generational as this one embracing the advent of social media. read more

That's why I'm a regular. I started eating here back in the late 70's. That's when Bob, may he rest in peace, was running the place. Back before there were tablets, Outlook and Blackberries I would plan my week around their lunch special. Now Earl, son of Bob, runs the place and it is as good as ever. You can't go wrong with anything here. The best part, for today's lunch I had the 2 Texas Red Hot', fries and a soda for $8.95.I used a YELP coupon and the lunch was even that more tastier. Eat at Handy's Lunch. You'll love it.. read more

The cheeseburger of my dreams... Handy's Lunch is a classic joint full of students and tourists. Find a seat at the lunch counter and enjoy excellent old school diner fare. The double cheeseburger, Texas, was awesome -- the just right spicy chili livened up what would have otherwise been a basic burger. One of my all time favorites. I liked the Texas hot dog as well -- I haven't quite sorted what the difference between this and a Michigan is, but this was one of the better dogs in my trip through upper VT and New York state. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area. read more

Nice diner feel with good service, reasonable prices and friendly staff. Service: Quick, responsive and attentive to their customers. The environment really caters to this as it has a classic diner setup surrounding the staff. They make conversation with customers and give the impression that you can ask for anything. Food/Drink: I ordered the SSG which was a monstrous breakfast sandwich. Absolutely delicious with good meats and well-cooked eggs. Simple but delicious and quite filling. Atmosphere: Love it. I typically eat at the bar if I am dining alone so this was a great situation for me with the seating purely being a bar setting. I always enjoyed the classic diner environment. Overall: I gave it a 4/5 since purely based on principle the place does not have the most amazing taste. It's not anything real special but definitely beats more common breakfast joints/diners. read more

One of the most pleasant diner experiences I have ever had. Food was awesome, owner and staff super friendly, made you feel right at home. And seriously, his mom makes the cookies! Amazing spot to hit for quick breakfast or lunch! read more

Handy's Lunch - I forgot to take a picture before we ate the food, but this was the end. Delicious :-) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

This is such a wonderful local place. The food is great and the people who run it are incredibly nice and accommodating. It is a pure delight every time we go there. Breakfast is especially good and the pancakes are served with Vermont maple syrup, of course. read more

Ever since my brother found this place in Sophmore year I have been waiting to come and try it. After three years I can say that it was worth the wait. The service is fantastic! Attentive, personal, and gives off a familial vibe. The food is absolutely amazing and is prepared quickly - especially considering how much food needs to be prepared with such full menu items. The atmosphere couldn't be more inviting and casual. Almost every person there was engaged in a contented and intriguing conversation with the stranger sitting next to them. Handy's is a must for any visit to Burlington or just a nice meal: read more