I know this is a local bar and apparently locals really like it, but staff need to work on their manners and attitudes toward customers. They are in the service industry after all. We were in town and our friend, who lives in the area, was very excited to take us to this place so we went as his guests. I was unimpressed and very disappointed with our experience. For a brewery they don't have much beer on tap, and my burger was burnt and had no flavor. Bar tender, a very young girl, was rude and ignored us the whole time we were there. I added one star because they let us eat on the counter behind the bar, otherwise they would only get 1 star. I left the bar smelling like burnt food and grease. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Burger - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

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We like this place because of the diversity of their dishes and it's one of only a couple places to eat in Bristol. The edamame hummus with flatbread was so good, could have used a bit more bread though. We were happy with our dinner for the most part, one had the taco salad with salmon and was happy but I had a dish called Bibimbap with salmon that said Crispy Sesame Rice which was what I was after. It came in a small cast iron pan so I was excited and expected crispy rice! I didn't get it though, the rice was just there, Not crispy! Very disappointing! Bobby Flay would scoff at this poor excuse, we know what crispy rice is suppose to be like. The dish should just say with rice since I didn't get a hint of sesame either. read more

In the summer of 2021, The Bob Cat emerged stronger and better than ever. Owner Erin has managed TBC&B through the Covid-19 storm and it is thriving! +. Ambiance is more casual than before. They reserve 50% of tables and the other half is for walk-ins. They have a bar seating for food and they are FCFS. Reserve days ahead if you don't want to wait. It was a full house when we visited... common for restos that are open this season as I've not seen VT this crowded. ++. Food was more F2T and innovative from their prior pub fare. Loved their refreshing cucumber noodle salad and the enchiladas. Their enchiladas verde was one of the best I've had and wasn't soupy like many TexMex mess. Erin said they are changing the menu every two weeks now. So check or call before you visit. Beverage wise, they serve some local brews and sodas, but apparently NO Coke products! ++. Price is reasonable. Better value than before. +. Service was mostly good and friendly. I think the staff may have been overwhelmed with so many customers. +. Parking is street and free Actually visited as a destination this season twice rather than a sustenance stop post hikes. The Bob Cat has creative and interesting edibles that's worth a stop! Enjoy! MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe! read more

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Pretty good food, but nothing special. Sorta noisy but that's just because it was popular. Fries were VERY seasoned. Burger was great, but nothing about it stood out. I wouldn't advocate to return, but I would. read more

I bought a gift card for my nephew and his wife because I have been to the cafe and thought they would enjoy themselves. They went to the cafe Saturday night after making a 5:45 reservation. When they arrived they were seated by the kitchen. They asked if they could move to one of the many empty tables and were told no by the hostess. After some negetive answers as to why, they left the restaurant. Guess they won't be back or recommending the cafe to friends. I guess I'm out the money I spent to give them a new eating experience. read more

I enjoyed the experience of dining at this fine establishment twice. I ordered the bobcat smash burger, the garlic dry rub wings, and the mussel stew. All the entrées were superbly prepared and incredibly delicious. The service and ambiance were equally exceptional. The burger is the best I've had in Vermont, and the wings were nothing short of spectacular. The mussel stew was sensationally good; totally the most awesome dish I've had this year. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Mussel stew - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

Food was good but service was terrible. Delayed, not all served at the same time. Kitchen made a lot of mistakes, food was cold and incomplete. The only great thing was the server. He did the best he could although he was new and wit a table of 22 working alone. The manager would had been able to help him as the restaurant was almost empty. We complaint to the manager and he granted us a discount. However, we had preferred great food, hot. without order incomplete or wrong, etc. is a shame because the good flavor and presentation was great. They need more people and the manager should be able to help when needed! read more

This local eatery and pub has delicious foods, often locally sourced and always affordable as well as fresh, flavorful, and plenty!!

Their fries are addictive! Also, they have great dry cider and it costs only five bucks!

The best place to go in Bristol, being from NY we found the prices very reasonable. Had burger which was ok, and appetizers which were good. Enjoyed house beer, has Bombay martini which was very diluted after being shaken with crushed ice. Always come here when in Bristol. So recommend reservations limited seats & bar is always full on Friday & Saturday read more

We didn't have reservations but we were able to get a seat at a high table. Their service was awesome, and the food was delicious! I got the mushroom cheddar risotto on squash and my partner got the enchiladas. Both were really good, the risotto in squash was delightfully sweet and salty, and the crispy quinoa definitely added texture and crisp to the dish. I also loved the atmosphere & look of the restaurant, would definitely come here again. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Inside - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

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The smell of fried food more than greeted us as we walked through the door of this dark restaurant for dinner. Actually, it was more like the grease slammed us up side the head. Not exactly the start to our meal I had anticipated, however, the company more than made up for it. So we settled in and started to browse the menu. Bobcat is an eclectic mix of an attempt at gourmet and bar food. Past the basics of a burger, none of it really works well. I tried the chicken and waffle sliders only to find the potato wedges the best part of the dish. The other dishes we tried were just ok. I must say here though that someone told me the fish tacos are good. After eating here, I don't believe them. My advice, don't go out of your way while in Middlebury to find this place in Bristol. You can find better options in town. However, if you do find yourself at Bobcat, stick to what they do best. Try a burger and a beer. You'll thank yourself later. Ciao! read more

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A wonderfully varied menu. Delicious smells as you walk in the door. Gracious and accommodating staff. Our food had interesting, well blended flavors. We could've identify then all, but so delicious. We had the cucumber gazpacho (a hint of mint, cumin, maybe, and roasted coconut garnish Vietnamese beef noodle salad, with many fresh vegetables and lovely flavors. Pork chop was perfectly done and a generous portion, with a flavorful sauce on the side. Good price point. And we enjoyed shopping at 3 nearby stores. We'll to be back when we're in the area again! read more

Meh. Quality is going down on the takeout. Fries were always awesome and now barely seasoned. Dipping sauce for fries aren't consistent in taste. On and on. Giving this place a long break. read more

Oh my lord, how much do I love this place? The man and I were driving around all day, just taking in the beauty of Vermont, and we got hungry. We stopped in Bristol and spotted the Bobcat. It said "Brewery" so we were in! The interior looks great. The menu made me swoon - the chef has put INTERESTING vegetarian options on the menu...imagine such a thing! I ordered the jerk tofu and the man ordered the burger. Both were out of this world. I am always impressed when chefs do something imaginative with vegetarian cooking AND it's delicious (everyone: please stop serving portobello mushrooms). We LOVED the Bobcat. Oh, and the beer was great, too! read more

Great food, the fries were spectacular and flavorful. AMAZING service and the food came out hot and quick. 10/10 would recommend. I hope you to come back soon!!!! read more

A fun place to eat. Good food and good beer. We are here 2 nights in a row. Good service, the food came very fast.

Loved our server, the venue, being seated without a reservation, and great menu choices. We were splitting food and it was brought out in two plates! Very thoughtful. Really would only give less of a rating because we were not fans of the beer- not up to our liking. read more

We loved it! The pork chop was excellent, moist, Cooked perfectly. I want to return to try other things. They have great and each different types of foods. I also really enjoyed their own golden ale. read more

First off, I completely understand staffing issues. This was not the case. We arrived 5 min after open. There was only one other table of two. 3-4 employees not counting kitchen staff. The service was absolutely horrible in every way possible! It took a solid 10 min. before our drink order was taken. Not one of the 3 people who took turns waiting on us seem to want to be there or put any care or pride in what they were doing. There were multiple mistakes and missed items that were ordered. It's a shame, cool atmosphere and they're open on a Sunday in Vermont which is rare. We're local and won't be going back anytime soon. read more

- their attempt at international cuisine seems to fall short for the most part - I've gotten take out a couple times and felt left down. I feel the price doesn't match the food quality or quantity - I got charged almost $27 for ONE gin & tonic. When I inquired about the high charge she told me it was an added extra fee for the staff??? This was the last straw. read more

Great food and service. Interesting, unconventional menu and almost everything we've tried has been superb. Menu changes frequently and is very creative and they seem to have fun coming up with new menu items. Small but solid selection of beer on tap that is very reasonably priced read more

Great food, beer, service, ambience and value here. Never disappoints. Menu always has something new and delicious.

we love sitting at the bar, sharing a couple appetizers, after hiking, skiing in the area. Service is great, love the vibe.

Friendly service and fresh ingredients. Can't beat that. The carne asada tacos, tofu enchiladas, and kale salad are superb.

The Bobcat Burger is by far the juiciest burger I've had in a very long time. The fries were perfect. Service was spot on. Highly recommend this establishment! read more

Was expecting something more from what I was hearing, however, i'm told the menu changes regularly. Our menu was really limited. The shrimp ramen was bland with some pepper flakes sprinkled. Service was fine. Typical pub atmosphere. read more

So thankful for the presence of The Bobcat! Always a warm, competent vibe, good food, down to earth staff, excellent service through thick and thin. read more

Alex and the other bartenders were great but could t overcome a very strange and not good menu. It's a bar. Why not make really good pub fare? The noodle soup was a mess and the falafel fries eh. The rings did look good from afar. So there that. read more

This is my first visit to Bristol with family. We were not sure where to go for dinner and Bobcat appeared busy and very dynamic. We were lucky to get walk-in table, the place was packed. We ordered food and drinks and the reason for the crowed was obvious. The food was great, from burgers and fries to blackened salmon over cabbage salad. Locally brewed beer on top of that, and it could not be better. Very warm and inviting. We'll be there again very soon! read more

Always a treat! Always happy with the variety of food the quality of ingredients and the changing flavors.

This was our first dinner experience while vacationing in Vermont. We didn't know we needed a reservation but they were able to accommodate us which was great. The staff was friendly and everything came out in a timely manner. We started with the garlic herb wings which to be honest lacked flavor but the wings themselves were well cooked. I ordered the scallops which i really loved. The cauliflower puree with the caramelized onions and bacon on top was AMAZING. And the scallops were perfectly cooked and tender. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

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Really good dining experience. Attentive and friendly service. Was a hard descision just picking a couple menu items because it all looked so good. Everything we ordered was super yummy and our cocktails and beers were great. We were in a rush and they were happy to accommodate. We need a place like this in middlebury!! read more

First off let me start with saying it was 95 outside in Vermont. Therefore finding The Bobcat was a reprieve from the heat. Sat down at the bar to be greeted by one of the best bartenders I have had in a long time. On my receipt the name said Dana. The architecture is amazing! Beautifully preserved woodwork and vintage tin ceiling. My one hangup was actually hung up over head. There are pieces of material through out hung from the ceiling, which detracted from the beautiful tin ceiling. Onto the food and beer. My beer was cold and refreshing. I love a wedge salad on a hot day and was very excited to see they had one. It was amazing! I am not a huge fan of tomatoes or pickled thing, but apparently pickled tomatoes I love, which is one of the finishes for the salad. Had the bucket of wings, which my poor white napkin might never be the same from. I love spicy hot and their three Chili sauce was pretty yummy they have for their wings. All and all a great way to spend the evening outside of the Burlington area. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

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Bobcat definitely wins for the best food I had in Bristol while on vaca. Great beers and innovative food. I had the Farmer's plate for an app, which came with awesome flatbread, local chicken liver pâté, local goats milk cheese, and veggies. It was fantastic. Followed that up with the taco salad (with tofu) and it was delicious. Bobcat, to my surprise, was very kid friendly and offered a solid kids menu. They were happy, which means we were happy. Service was friendly but on the slow side. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more

The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery - Vermont Farmer's Plate - Comfort Food Near Me - Bristol, Vermont

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I absolutely love the duck breast here, and the scallion pancake is a wonderful surprise. I would only wish this dish comes with fewer sauce so that I can taste the texture of the scallion pancake better. Also I had the downtown brown beer. I would recommend it if you are looking for a beer with low bitterness, which is just how I like it to be. On weekends, it's better to call first and make a reservation or there might be a wait. read more

I made a reservation to take my son to dinner for his 17th birthday. I had made the reservation days in advance. I hadn't seen him for a long time and we don't go out much because I can't afford it. When we arrived the hostess couldn't find my reservation. She didn't apologize and stuck us at a table at the back of the restaurant next to the server station. The server acted extremely bored and once we got our food he only checked on us when we were almost finished our meal. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The only positive part of our experience at the Bobcat was the food. I've worked in restaurants for over 20 years. I will not be returning or recommending anyone to go to this place. read more

A local favorite that uses local fresh ingredients and always has great drinks. Small menu but always has a few of their go to items as well as flavorful rotating dishes. We love it and can stroll down from home easily! read more

Had an amazing dinner here on our final night in VT. Service staff were friendly. Food was delicious. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area. Would go back in a heartbeat. read more

This was my first visit here, and I'll most definitely be back in the near future. Started with the onion and chip dip. Really good. Dip could use just a tad more seasoning and garlic. Also tried the Hefeweizen beer, and while it wasn't the best I've ever had, for $4 it's hard to go wrong. Continued with the Bobcat Burger. Asked for medium cook, got perfect medium cook. Texture of bun perfect. Seasoning of the meat was perfect. Asked for sides of salad and mashed potatoes, both super fresh and tasty. Finished with some sort of chocolate and cherry tart. It was really good! But a tad expensive. Still worth it! Definitely recommend this place. read more