my friend and I were out on the first of spring a wet heavy snowstorm blanketed the roads,we were hungry and didn't want to go far. I heard about a restaurant in Essex shopping center,a breakfast /lunch place. It was 1/2 before closing ,patrons were still coming in. I love the back story of this place ,set in the western mountains with decore to match. it was fun to see all the antlers made into chandeliers . I ordered the flaky waffles, somewhat like a croissant but waffle shaped I ordered mine with cheese . It was melt in your mouth! I ordered the apple dumpling with vanilla sauce to go .I ate it at home ,this was not the dumpling I was familiar with ,an apple wrapped in pastry, it was more like an apple cake, it was ok. The service was good,and friendly. read more

The Pinwheel - flaky waffle - Salad Near Me - Essex Junction, Vermont

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We were staying in Essex Junction for the weekend and looked for a nearby spot for breakfast, which led us to The Pinwheel. It has a really cute, homey feel, and the staff were all friendly and helpful from the moment we walked in. We ordered the Skits N' Gravy, a side of the sourdough pancake, and two coffees. My husband--who absolutely loves biscuits and gravy--was excited to see the Skits N' Gravy on the menu. While it wasn't quite what he expected (the biscuit was much denser than a traditional biscuit and the gravy is bacon-based rather than sausage), he still enjoyed trying something different but said he'd just order a different dish next time as this was not his favorite. I had the sourdough pancake, and for a "side," it was impressively large. It was delicious and came with Vermont maple syrup, which was a great touch. The coffee was good, and we appreciated that they offered almond milk as a dairy-free option. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and would definitely return if we're in the area again--just with a slightly different ordering strategy next time! read more

The Pinwheel - Pancake - Salad Near Me - Essex Junction, Vermont

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There were 4 in my party and 3 of us got the omelet special. The other friend got eggs Benedict. The omelets were decent and there were no complaints about the eggs Benedict. The hashbrowns for 3 of us were nearly burnt. My homemade white toast was burnt. I mentioned it to the server and showed her the toast that I didn't eat and she merely apologized. One friend had left the worst patch of her hash browns on her plate and they were clearly burnt and inedible. Most chefs/cooks would not have plated the burnt items. It's bad business. No offer of discount or compensation of any kind was mentioned, just an I'm sorry. That is on the server. Disappointed to say the least. Enjoyed conversations with my friends so all was not lost. read more

First time visiting The Pinwheel in Essex Junction and I enjoyed my breakfast. There was about a 20-minute wait this particular morning, which honestly felt like a good sign and it moved along smoothly. Once seated, the ambiance was warm, cozy, and welcoming perfect for a relaxed breakfast or brunch spot. The space has a friendly neighborhood vibe that makes you want to linger and enjoy your meal. The service was excellent. My server, Sarah B., was attentive, kind, and made sure everything was just right without being overbearing. As a first-time guest, I really appreciated how smooth and welcoming the experience felt. For food, I ordered the Focaccia Melt - $11 with tomato, spinach, cheddar, and basil mayo. I added an egg (+$2) and avocado (+$3.75), and it was absolutely worth it. The focaccia was perfectly toasted, the ingredients were fresh, and the combination of flavors was balanced and satisfying. The egg added richness, and the avocado was creamy and generous. On the side, I had the hashbrowns ($3.50), which were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside exactly how hashbrowns should be. To drink, I ordered a hot chai tea latte with almond milk ($4.50). It was warm, flavorful, and not overly sweet great pairing with breakfast. Overall, The Pinwheel delivered great food, excellent service, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'll be back to try more of the menu. I recommend if you're in the Essex Junction area looking for a solid breakfast spot! read more

The Pinwheel - Focaccia Melt & Hashbrowns - Salad Near Me - Essex Junction, Vermont

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Very nice interior. The staff were all very kind and acknowledged us whenever they passed by. Very quick service as well. The food was great. Good portions and everything was cooked well. read more

The Pinwheel - Today's special burrito and cheesy grits - Salad Near Me - Essex Junction, Vermont

I guess the Pinwheel does not serve people of color. I was sitting near the kitchen, and servers kept walking by as if I wasn't there. I am a 100% disabled veteran trying to find a breakfast spot, but this is not the place if you are Black or brown, so I just walked out 2 minutes ago. read more

So glad to see the Pinwheel is back! I was a regular at the Burlington location and was so excited to see them reopen in Essex! The space is wonderful, staff is fantastic and the menu and food is just as amazing a so remember with even more options! So excited! Do not miss this spot. It might just become your new favorite breakfast spot. read more

I don't know how I've missed this place for so long! My son has multiple food allergies that make going out to eat really difficult. Our waitress, Emma, was super helpful in finding us exactly what he could eat. She even took a photo of the ingredients in the bread which made me feel so much better. Eating out with a toddler is stressful enough. The food was all delicious, especially the salad dressing (red pepper ranch), turkey sandwich, steel cut oats, and the fruit plate was the best variety of fruit we've ever received at a restaurant. We will definitely be back. read more

The Pinwheel - Fruit plate - Salad Near Me - Essex Junction, Vermont

Food was excellent, service was superb, place was full of hungry diners ,highly recommend. I was there for lunch and will be going back for breakfast after seeing the menu. read more

I really liked this restaurant when it was in Burlington and was sad to see it gone. I had no idea they were reopened in the new location until driving by it to get to the Essex Experience. What a nice surprise! My hubby and I decided to check the place out for a lunch date today and I am absolutely delighted!! First of all, they were packed! We were lucky that a table had just left and all they had to do was clear and clean it for us. The food and the service were top notch!! I had the TBLT (blt with baked trout) and it was SO, SO good. Hubby had the pecan salad and it was super tasty too. I had a Bloody Mary which was made perfectly with a fair amount of garnish...including an orange wedge which seemed odd but it was delicious with the spicy tomato flavor. I'll definitely be back, and I highly recommend!! read more

Fabulous breakfast and lunch place with a wonderful menu and excellent service. I highly recommend!!! read more

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Glad they're back! Love and missed the popovers! As always, good food, service. New place is larger. Cute. read more

By far my favorite place to eat out.. absolutely delicious and they have some very unique items!!! Each dish is handcrafted by the owner/ chef, who is also the kindest! Management is top of the notch quite open too. When I come to VT, after living near Essex for a year, this is the place I desire to be first! From the energy of the servers, the happy customers, to the overall design, music choice, and ownership..it's all over the top! Best place in town.. don't miss out! Thank you Wendy and Andrew, for sharing your passion and feeding so many happy tummies. Empty plates at every table!! read more

We went in and asked to order food to go. We were told they had to ask a Manager because they don't normally do that. The Manager came out and said it depended on how backed up the kitchen was. The place was almost empty, so we were really confused. But she said we were "in luck" and they could "accommodate" our order. So strange. read more

Good service Food was fine and came out quickly. Very busy day with lots of people wanting seats so I couldn't relax as much but good for the restaurant read more

Terrific food with lots of breakfast stuff you don't see everywhere. I had apple dumpling French toast(delicious) my husband had a spaetzle dish and a great salad. They have the usual stuff too (eggs Benedict, homemade corned beef hash, huevos rancheros) so there's something for everyone. Good coffee, charming staff, and a great playlist(country western, folky). Prices good. read more

Food and service were top notch. We just kind of stumbled into this place and were delighted by the choices and prices. It was so good I told the owner he should open one in Stowe. Highly recommend and you will be hooked read more

Excellent breakfast! We had the trout and pastries. Everything was yummy! Amanda provided great service. Everyone in the restaurant seemed happy and enjoying themselves. It was a great experience. read more

Celiac and GF people- this place is great! Everything is clearly labeled and the staff are knowledgeable and take allergies seriously. I got the Haystack Hashbrown and it was to die for! read more

Four for brunch/lunch -- chili was good but had way TOO MUCH cilantro thrown on top; biscuit sandwich was tasty but hash browns were not crispy (oily? wet? weird.); yogurt and granola was tasty; small but adequate fruit plate. The kitchen got backed up right as we ordered evidently...was a very long wait for our food. We had to bolt as we were afraid we would be late to our next thing... We were expecting pinwheels and wind-themed items, not old west decorations. read more

We had breakfast this morning and it was fantastic! My daughter had the Apple Dumpling French Toast with a side of egg and I had the Waffle for Waylon. Both were delicious! The French toast was sweet and my waffle was a flaky waffle with apple compote--not too sweet--it was perfect! We also shared a special of grilled zucchini bread with maple butter. Delicious!!Service was so friendly, too! A great way to start our day! read more

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My wife and I were visiting the Burlington area so I did a Google search for the best breakfast spots in Essex Junction. Pinwheel was one of the restaurants that came up in the search so my wife and I decided to try it. And boy, did we hit a home run. Great doesn't even begin to describe it. Firstly, they have have a menu which sounds incredibly original, bringing together many differing kinds of flavors and textures. And as great as the menu sounds its execution is off the charts. I had a plaintain corn cake topped by pork chile and a jalapeno creme fraiche with a side of link sausage. Let's look at the details. A corn cake can be excruciatingly dry, ( as in Rhode Island johhny cake) but this cake was incredibly moist and flavorful. The pork chile was also super flavorful along with the jalapeno creme fraiche.And instead of the usual bland tasting pork sausage link this one exploded with flavor which initiated a playground for my tastebuds. Just fantastic, all around. And as an aside I rarely write reviews, only for places that are very bad or very good. I guess you can tel which category Pinwheel fits into !!!!!!!!!! read more

Fantastic Breakfast and Lunch Spot. The Wafflini was amazing!! Perfect sized portions and super service. Nice friendly and professional waitstaff!! Hooray for the Essex Experience!! read more

I had breakfast here this morning. My cousin forgot our date, so I sat waiting for nearly a half hour. The staff were nothing but professional and personable, making me comfortable. The menu was interesting and the food met or exceeded expectations. I had a popover and the piglet in a pancake. The popover was outstanding. Put all of the butter into the popover while it's warm. The piglet was also excellent. The coffee was a little strong for me, but I was raised on weak coffee. I cannot wait to drag my cousin there next week. The lady at the next table had the trout and said it was great. I want to try that, or maybe the stuffed popover. read more