Everything was excellent!! We chose because it accepted dogs on the beautiful patio but everything was fabulous from the attention they gave our dog water and biscuits to the food grilled redfish and pork ribeye, southwest Caesar salad and dried cheery and pecan salad. Then we had to try dessert because of how wonderful the meal was flourless chocolate torte and chocolate Norman pecan pie to die for. And the service was also fabulous from Dave and Ava. Friendly courteous and attended to all are needs. Fun to chat with them. If this doesn't come across as a place to go I have done my job writing this review very well. Do go!! read more

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We've come to Pearl's two years in a row on our annual trip to Manchester, and I can't think of much they could do to improve. This time, C and I split all the meats (brisket, ribs, sausage, turkey, pulled pork) with collard greens and coleslaw. It was more than we could handle, so some of it went home to a very happy dog. I struggled to pick a favorite meat of the five. Possibly the fall-off-the-bone tender ribs. Maybe it's the spicy sausage. But don't sleep on the unassuming turkey either, smoked to perfection. Coleslaw was crunchy and cool. Collard greens were tender and flavorful. The pickled vegetables are a great palate cleanser. And if you're an IPA fan, the fact that you can just get a can of Alchemist's Heady Topper might be reason alone to come. It's consistently one of the top rated beers in the country. Bonus points for being open every day of the week. Even with our weird Sunday to Tuesday schedule, we can eat here any time. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Heady Topper and all the meats - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

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We went there for dinner last night as a family - two adults, two teens. Food was generally good with some standouts. In particular the "burnt ends", which are actually pork belly, were phenomenal. Kids enjoyed a chopped brisket burger and a chicken sandwich. I had ribs and pulled pork. Ribs were great and were nicely complimented by their sauce. My spouse had a salad and a crab cake, which were good but not great. The downsides: (1) service was slow, even though there were few people in the large facility; (2) the pulled pork was uninspiring and the mustard sauce was just basically mustard -- I've had so much better; (3) some of the french fries were a bit soggy; and (4) the corn ribs were "nothing special". But overall a positive experience, we'd probably go there again if we were wanting BBQ in the area. read more

Finding a restaurant serving southern food in Vermont seems much like discovering clam chowder in Arkansas. (No offense, Arkansas.) But there it is, as we were surprised to learn when we stopped by on a recent drive through Vermont. For folks like us who grew up in South Carolina and Georgia, Pearl's menu is home cooking, and pretty tasty, as it turned out. Not that everything worked, but we really enjoyed our dining here, will come back, and want to tell a bit about our experience. While there are some menu items that are generalized, the focus is clearly on the South. We were treated to cornbread first on the table -- delicious -- and then went after appetizers starting with biscuits, which were flaky, soft, cooked just right and perfectly served with both peach butter and gravy. And then the okra pickles (yes, no kidding) were crunchy and tangy. There was a couple at an adjoining table who looked at that last dish as if it was some kind of living alien. We tried to explain. The deviled eggs were first-rate: just a squidge of heat and fine flavor. We ordered the country fried steak, pretty good though just a little bit tough underneath mouth-watering gravy. The shrimp and grits was appealing in part because it's so hard to find grits properly cooked anywhere in New England, and the shrimp (4) were very large but not quite as tender as we would have hoped. A good dish, but not a great one. We ended the meal happy and filled. But... Pearl's is not a cheap trip. The shrimp and grits were $36, the country steak $32. The biscuits and biscuits were $16 each. Our server was very friendly but she missed water refills, and our time between dishes seemed a little too long. It was enough to draw our comments about the wait, never a good sign. We thought the level of noise was on the high side, but that was most likely one table of four people nearby whose conversation seemed to get only higher and higher pitched. It's an attractive interior, an older home, we'd guess, with lot of room for tables. There a nice bar area with a lot of seating, a patio and fire pit, so they can fit in a lot of people in good weather. And there's a small section inside where restaurant merch and some Vermont food items like maple syrup and jams are sold. It adds up to a lot of reasons to hang around. And maybe put away another biscuit or two. read more

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We loved this spot. Drinks were pricey but a tasty cocktail and solid eats! We almost made a second trip but $17 cocktails had us go elsewhere. read more

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Had high hopes, but on a slow weeknight, service was crazy slow. After 1.5 hours, getting ready to give up and just leave. Won't be back. Good cocktails though. read more

Holy cow, we have gone to BBQ Heaven!!!!!!!! Chef John's heart and soul goes into his dishes. We might not be from the south, but having grown up in major cities and having traveled across the south for business, we can appreciate great roadside BBQ and many of those chefs relied on the types of wood used in their smokers and of course the famous wet or dry rub secret recipes. Funny how we drive to Vermont and in seeking out a place for dinner one of our 6 nights we landed at Pearls and boy we were blown away. Okay, you are probably wondering what the hoopla is all about. Lets start off with Ari, our server, she was terrific, so friendly and engaging and she walked us through some of the menu items we inquired. Jumping in, we started with the bar of course-- Mac Maple Cider for me and Rose Leos for my honey... off to a great start. Next we started with the crab beignets-- sometimes seeing can be deceiving as they looked overly fried and possibly greasy and crispy (not to our liking) BUT boy we were wrong. DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!! We devoured our order they were that GOOD!!! and boy, we only lightly dipped in the sauce not to take away or cover up the flavor of the beignets. Next for our entrees, my wife went with a standard-- the creole gumbo which delivered on our quest for gumbo with all the fixings including the awesome FLAVOR profile. For me, and frankly, my honey dug into my dish too... thereby we shared my BBQ platter with two meats - ribs and brisket with a side of collard greens (said I traveled through the south for business --- off the beaten path), and candied yams..... I loved the options of the two dipping flavor sauces, couldn't make my mind up so I tried both on both meats. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!! It's a lot of food and since we were visiting there was no option for taking home (or take back to the hotel). We will be back on our next trip through in Nov. Can't wait, already have an idea as to what we'll be ordering. Thank you, John, for delivering our meal and for engaging with us. What a wonderful experience we had. See our pics included. read more

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Well about 3 days ago I went to Pearls, and as someone who loved Laneys back in the day I have been missing ribs in the Manchester area. So here is Pearls it was amazing so amazing that we went back for a repeat. Unfortunately I got the image of ribs below, charred, meat missing and was the consistency of beef jerky. If this was the first time going it would have been my last. They brought out the chef and he said it was a supplier issue and said he had leftovers of the others in the back. He reheated the leftovers and brought them out, didn't bother to take it off the check. Restaurants are all about consistency, they should have never been brought out to the table I feel sorry for those that ate prior to us and also for the patrons after us as they got leftovers since these were clearly inedible! I unfortunately cannot recommend this restaurant as it has only been good 50% of the time. I will likely give them another chance if they make it to next ski season but I will be bringing this picture in to see if the ribs look like this before dining. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - St Louis Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

At here recently and had a 'decent' experience. Our waiter did a really good job. A few negatives: 1. We were seated promptly (party of 6) and our drink orders were taken within 10 mins. After sitting down. HOWEVER, the drinks didn't arrive for 35 mins. after placing the order! We were just getting ready to ask for the manager when they arrived. I noted that two large groups left shortly after we sat down, and the bar was about 1/3 full so I don't think they were that slammed. 2. I ordered a brisket and the ribs. The brisket was decent, but the ribs barely had a forkful of meat on them; there was no meat between the bones. 3. The mac & cheese was incredibly bland/lacking any cheese flavor whatsoever. Other meals were pretty good so that's why I'm not taking them down more. I'd probably give them a 3.5 if it was an option. read more

Returned to Pearl's Place during another trip up to Manchester and it still absolutely hit just as much as the first visits! The vibe at Pearl's this time was much quieter than it was the last time we visited (we were told it's currently stick season, which is not just a Noah Kahan song, but a quiet time in the area), but everything was still wonderful from start to finish despite that quietness and some pretty persistent rain. As is usually our move, despite having a reservation we asked if we could sit and eat at the bar versus at a table. I'm SO happy that we went to the bar because we were able to meet and interact with Jodi the bartender, who honestly made our night. Not only was Jodi a skilled bartender, but it was so much fun talking to her and hearing her recommendations about things to do in Vermont. She really was an absolute delight - and her drinks were AMAZING on top of that, so a massive win win! On the topic of drinks, we ordered the Blackberry Bramble ($17, for Hendrick's, fresh muddled blackberries, lemon juice, and honey), glasses of the New Zealand Sauv Blanc ($16/glass), the barrel aged margarita, and barrel aged Old Fashioned. Everything was delicious and again, Jodi was so attentive in making sure water glasses were refilled and seeing when we were low on drinks. The food is delicious as well with an awesome appetizer list and just so many great elevated barbeque options. We ordered the fried pickles ($17 and easily split by at least 3) that were DELICIOUS and lightly fried, so you didn't feel weighed down after, the biscuit basket (4 for $17, with gravy and jam), the stuffed avocado ($18 and legitimately STUFFED with such fresh tasting shrimp and crab salad that was so creamy and delicious), a side of the jalapeno creamed corn, and the country fried steak that apparently had the best tasting mashed potatoes ever. Everything was SO good and just hit the spot, especially on a cold, rainy night. The service on a whole is wonderful at Pearl's - everyone is so friendly and checks in on you. When I walked back to the bar from the restroom, the hostess asked what we had ordered and when I told her, she referenced some of her favorites as well. It was just really sweet and showed a care and consideration for guests. The attentiveness of everyone we encountered was so appreciated and we're grateful they kept the place open for our car to arrive! As if great barbeque with options for everyone (including for vegans) and an amazing cocktail list wasn't enough, the team here is what sets Pearl's apart. We are so grateful for Jodi hanging with us and the kindness of everyone we encountered. I can't wait to be back! read more

Quaint place, food was amazing, service was great. Cool fireplace outside with seating areas. Fireplace at the bar. Looks like a local hangout and a high end Bourbon lover's delight. Definitely recommend this establishment. Has a gift shop as well. The only downside of our evening, and nothing against the great people that work there, was a local family that just let their child scream at the top of their lungs with no restrain and or control. Their grandmother took the time when leaving to apologize to everyone that night but the parents? Total clueless and no respect... read more

Fortunately we were a party of 2 and only had to wait under an hour for our dishes. The table next to us had been there for considerably longer. The service was friendly was excessively slow. This was midweek and the indoor seating was almost empty with about 10 tables on the patio. I can't imagine what happens when all dining rooms are full. The party next to us walked out after getting no real answer about their food. Our dishes were decent but fairly ordinary. The brisket was disappointingly dry. My husband is from the South so bbq is always a favorite to dine out. There was no distinct region represented. Food was mediocre overall. Too bad because we're local and they have live music in the summer. read more

Exceptional Staff. Great BBQ, even turkey! Homemade pickles, gluten free options. Amazing drink menu. Bone dry cider on tap! Nothing here not to love. We were visiting from out of state, but would come back again. We will pass the word! read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

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Our first time here but won't be our last! Jodi, Dave and rest of the staff were amazing - very efficient, professional and fun! We were seated by the fireplace in the bar area - such a comfortable atmosphere. It was our anniversary and we were made to feel so special! The food was delicious and plenty of it! My husband is not a stranger to smoking meats at home and when he says it is very good, that is a sure compliment! Loved the gift shop. Looking forward to returning in warmer weather and enjoying their beautiful outside area as well. read more

I ordered the gumbo - BIG mistake. 4 colossal shrimps for $36.00 - no other seafood it. Too buttery... no acid to balance it. My son had the house-smoked BBQ (ribs, briskets, and pulled pork) with 3 sides and this was excellent! Will have to go back sometime to redeem myself. Next time, I load up on the sides as appetizers too (pricing is so reasonable on this) read more

Pearl is near Manchester with nice dining spaces and friendly staff. Despite having a reservation and arriving early we still had to wait almost 20 minutes past the reservation before we got seated. It also took a while before we go our food too. Overall the food was ok. Nothing was bad but nothing stood out either. The salmon had a nice sear but was otherwise bland. The ribs and brisket had a very subtle smoky flavor. The same could be said for the steak and the fixin's too. Not bad but nothing worth running back for either. read more

This place is wonderful. The service is so friendly and accommodating. The food excellent. We had the barbecue brisket and ribs. Delish! Barbecue for 4 meats and two sides is $40.00. Chicken wings and the bacon appetizer couldn't be better. The owner is always there ensuring quality. This will be my place. Reservations are necessary. read more

This place could be so much better. The service is quite good but the food is severely lacking. This might be the driest bbq I've ever had. I'm guessing they bbq once a week and reheat, to death. And they charge A LOT. You can't charge premium prices if you're not going to put the work in. Honestly shameful. read more

All of it is amazing. The food, the service, the setting. It's all amazing. The biscuits were so fluffy and amazing. 100% WOULD recommend. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Biscuits - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

This was a pleasant surprise! There are many restaurant choices in Manchester, don't miss this one. A really gourmet experience. The candied bacon was prepared at our table by a highly talented server. The bacon was perfect--thick, juicy, and maple flavored Don't miss this really unique experience. We got the 2/meat BBQ dinner with turkey and brisket. We are from Texas and the meats were just like our native state. The fried Ockra was tender and delicious, just like my wife loves. The seasonal vegetables were cooked, but not too much. Our server was fantastic-- Ariana is attentive, efficient and informed. The atmosphere is perfect for a ski area. Elegant but family friendly with a sports bar for those inclined to watch. Finally, the bar is well stocked with excellent choices of wines, beers, and liquors. read more

Called in advance for reservations. When we asked to sit outside we were told that was all full and we could clearly see there were empty tables that were not occupied the entire time we were there. Waited 20 minutes before cornbread was brought to the table. There was only one other party of 2 other people sitting inside. French fries arrived cold, the Catfish dinner was served with a different side then what was on the menu. 3 sandwiches were fairly soggy right thru the roll. No dessert or coffee was offered. Water was never refilled. We left saying 'forget that place'. read more

Another year... another sampling. Silly me! Einstein said doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result was the definition of stupidity. I must be a real dummy! $30 Fried Chicken, 3 itsy bitsy pieces likely dredged in nothing more than plain bleached flour. Tasteless! That's some seriously Dave Chapelle, peanut butter and crack kinda pricing! Then again if it was peanut butter and crack I might have been less disappointed. read more

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Great spot! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. We ordered the Texas Twinkies, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, and shared a bbq platter and added two additional sides. Great portions and we were stuffed by the end! The grits were delicious and surprisingly so was the turkey (I typically opt out of getting turkey at bbq spots)! Everything was good and came out quickly. My only complaint is that I wish I left space for dessert! read more

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All things considered, a very good place. A might pricey ($17. for 4 biscuits??), but what isn't these days? Hostess and server very nice. We sat on patio. Hanging bacon prepared at our table excellent. Crab dip kinda greasy (for me) and could IMO use more crab. Didn't like chips: also a might greasy. Biscuits were good if you like a crunchy outside: I like soft ones. Gravy served with it a bit tasteless, but corn bread that comes with food excellent, as was its peach butter. Ribs and pulled pork excellent, as was cheese grits. Husband said gumbo was just OK. All in all, a very good place. Recommended. read more

3.5 stars really. Can't say we didn't try it. Went with friends who hadn't been either. I smoke meats with my Weber, so I was looking forward to a professionals "labor of love". I got a Pilsner the rest got specialty drinks that were greatly enjoyed by all. Apps clothesline bacon and Texas twinkies. Bacon was tough,cheese and bits softened it a little. The twinkies were fun and enjoyed by all. Entrees two got the spicy Nashville fried half chicken-Fantastic we all liked, another got the blackened catfish, which she didn't share and ate every bit on her plate. She said fabulous-which we assumed. Next up a $30.00 boneless flavorless chicken breast. Two dollars more than the half chicken special, (Honey chicken aka hot pot of money for rest). She didn't eat and they didn't charge. Offered anything else on menu My meal-bbq brisket and ribs. Sadly my brisket was probably first cooked last week. Reheated enough times to remove any semblance of flavor and make it so it needed bbq sauce to soften it up. If you consider brisket inquire if it was cooked today-if not pass on it. It's easy to tell if it's cooked fresh. Will be moist not tough as leather. Ribs were okay. Much more flavor than the brisket. Sides all 5 stars for the collard greens, baked beans and sweet potatoes. My collard greens were served in a small bowl. mine were better (stayed warmer) than servings dumped on friends plates. Ask for them to be served in bowl and you'll enjoy them more. Beans were extremely flavorful and in bowl stayed warmer. Sweet potatoes exceeded all of our expectations. Service was fine, expect a slow pace. Outside dining is a plus if it stops raining. read more

Great drinks, great atmosphere, and even better service. Brisket and pulled pork were ample. Country fried steak was the real deal. Didn't leave room for dessert, but brought some home for later. 10/10 read more

Well we arrived 15 mins before our reservation. We were sat in the backroom between two tables of small screaming children. After 5-10 mins we were brought water. Another 10 mins went by before the waitress showed up and asked us for our drinks. We then sat for 15 minutes before she came to tell us there was a backup at the bar. She went to walk away when I asked if we could order. After she dropped the drinks and appetizer we didn't see her again for 25 minutes. We didn't see a refill till the meal showed up 20 more minutes after that. The Gumbo tasted like brown gravy over overcooked shrimp and rice. The crab cake was 23$ for a 2 oz cake ??? The prime-rib did not disappoint thankfully. My daughter asked for the banana foster dessert. It came melted and tasted like bananas swimming in butter. All in all for a $200 meal we left very dissatisfied. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

Great fried chicken and FANTASTIC biscuits! Service was also fantastic. It is a real southern experience!

While the food is excellent and the outdoor dining is picturesque, even more important is how gracious the staff is with our special needs son. The team at Pearl's is empathetic and accommodating -- and an extra shout-out to the server Fen (Phen?), who had a stash of fidgets for people on the spectrum. His little yellow dinosaur helped my son relax. Such kindness in a world that's often too harsh for some folks. Thank you! read more

After reading all the glowing reviews, my wife and I decided to give Pearl's a try. the fact that the parking lot only had about ten cars in it at 6 PM on a Friday evening was the first clue that maybe Pearl's wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Strike 1. Nonetheless, we continued, and were seated directly under a wall-mounted air conditioner. Since the outside temp was only 62, why the AC was on in the first place would be a good question. Not that the dining area was crowded - there were only three other tables in use. We could have been seated literally anywhere else. Strike 2. But you know what? We came for the food, and that could have saved the evening. And it started like it would. We started with the smoked chicken wings with buffalo sauce appetizer, which were very tasty, with a subtle and pleasant heat at the end. Take one strike away. We shared an entree of two smoked meats and two sides, turkey and brisket with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The meats came with a mustard-based sauce for the brisket and a traditional BBQ sauce for the turkey. Both meats were very dry. Have you ever had real BBQ? It has lots of flavor-packed liquids. These didn't. Both sauces tasted store-bought. If someone told me the BBQ sauce was Sweet Baby Ray's, I'd have been less than shocked. The mashed potatoes were bland, as was the coleslaw, and there were no salt and pepper available to help. Worst of all, everything was (charitably) lukewarm on arrival and cold by the end of our meal. Back to Strike 2. Oddly, the thing that bothered me most was the service. Clearly, the servers were trained to be attentive. Ours stopped at our table about every 5 minutes (or less), so at least 7-8 times after we started eating. Annoying overkill. Other servers were the same. Here's the worst part. It was obvious that, despite her feigned concern, our server took zero interest in any answers we gave. Server: "How is your meal so far?" Me: "Did you know your hair is on fire?" Server: "Great! Glad you like it". No connection, no attempt at making conversation, very robotic and completely disinterested. I don't use this word often and haven't in relation to service at a "good" restaurant in years, but the word "patronizing" captures it perfectly. And it's the worst word to apply to any restaurant staff. Bad food? Slow service? We all have bad days. Patronizing? Steeeriike THREE! We will not be back. Despite other reviews, this was not good Southern BBQ. It wasn't even good Northern BBQ. Whoever wrote those reviews have probably never even had authentic BBQ. Don't believe my review? Fine. Go and try Pearl's for yourself. You'll be $50+ per person lighter in the wallet, and you'll wish you listened to what I'm telling you here. read more

The food was very good! The biscuits are to die for! Large expansive menu for bbq fans! It definitely isn't authentic authentic but it's still so good! If you're in the area and hankering for some bbq it's a must stop! The employees were very very kind! And it's very cute in there's read more

Thanksgiving 2024 was catered by Pearl's Place. The food was excellent and plentiful. Will do this again next Thanksgiving 2025 but will order extra, extra biscuits. read more

Excellent Southern food in VT - who'd a thunk it?!?! Had a light meal of fried green tomatoes & deviled eggs. Both we're delicious. Hadn't had FGT's since I left ATL many years ago. Those are Pearl's brought back fond memories. Give it a try. The staff are a little harried, as the place is new and they're working out the kinks, but the flavors are wonderful! read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Fried green tomatoes & deviled eggs. - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

The atmosphere is charming and home-y! We sat at the bar and had a drink and food. Everything tasted good, but I wasn't blown away. A little too expensive for the quality. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - a tray of meat and sides - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

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The food and drinks were excellent. The place is beautiful. I loved that the barbecue sauces were served in the side and not already right on my meats. All of our food was tasteful. So happy this place is in Manchester now. read more

We had a wonderful total experience. The food was delicious. I'm a collard green snob, and their collards met my high standards. The staff was incredibly friendly. We were so impressed that the chef was the one who brought out our food and spoke with us. He was so affable, we thought he should have his own show. The only problem was the food came out so fast, we didn't have time to enjoy the ambiance, so we ordered another drink, just to hang around! Thank you for a great anniversary dinner. read more

Pearl's Place & Pantry - Kentucky Mule - Barbeque Near Me - Manchester, Vermont

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Amazing food great atmosphere we love coming when we're in Manchester. The bbq and pulled pork sandwich are our favorite.

Came here with 3 buddies on Labor Day. Jodi our server was FANTASTIC and the food was delicious. We were all blown over by the portion sizes for both food and drinks. To say this place offers a great value would be a gross understatement. We dined out on the patio area and enjoyed the giant flowers, mountain view, and the warm fire pit as we ate and drank our way through golden hour. I HIGHLY recommend this place for any group of hungry guys, anyone looking for good southern cuisine, or just great food in a relaxing atmosphere. read more

Food was pretty good, place was large. Crab dip was delicious. Everyone was really nice

We have been here a number of times and the food is decent to good, and tonight was the same- but the service was really terrible, probably 45 minutes in between courses. Understaffed and overbooked. read more