The Taste of Independence

Our footsteps seemed to create an opening scene soundtrack for the journey as we stepped backwards in time, first from the stomping on modern pavement, next to the crunchcrunch of gravel beneath our feet, and finally to the smooth glide of marble slabs leading up to the threshold of Ye Olde Tavern, the oldest restaurant in Vermont.

Built in Manchester Center in 1790, a time when Vermont was still an independent republic, this beautiful old building that played host to political meetings and social gatherings was originally known as The Stagecoach Inn. Since that time, the location has been called the Lockwood Hotel, Thayer’s Hotel, the Fairview Hotel, and finally stands as we see it today as Ye Olde Tavern.

Our evening began with a refreshing Blueberry Lemonade (made with Green Mountain Blueberry Vodka…I wish I’d brought some home!) and a robust Circa 1790 Unfiltered Amber Ale crafted specifically for the tavern by Switchback Brewing Company. The house made cranberry fritters were perfectly timed, as was the entire service for the meal.

Larissa was our server, and she delivered a spectacular presentation throughout each course. Knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and thorough, Larissa created a personalized and cozy ambience around our table that takes a special touch in the restaurant industry.

The menu was eclectic while still being familiar enough, the specials had an inviting Vermont flair, and each of the small rooms within the tavern held a unique charm within themselves. You could be seated outside on the marble terrace or indoors in the Hearth Room, the Colonial Room, the Garden Room, or the Tap Room, which is where we found ourselves dining amid antiques and memories of a time when Vermont fought fiercely for its independence.

The walls of the tavern have seen the Green Mountain Boys planning their next movements, socialite gatherings on a spring floor located in the 3rd floor ballroom, the first telephone line in Manchester, meetings of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a movement to license the sale of “spirituous beverages,” early installation of electricity in the 1920s, and finally an extensive renovation in 1976, just in time for America’s Bicentennial celebrations.

Although the menu offered plenty of other options, with sections called “From the Oceans & Streams,” “Bounty of the Land,” “Birds of a Feather,” and “From the Garden,” we both selected options from “Yankee Favorites.” After all, we were sitting in the heart of Yankee country, in a place where the Green Mountain Boys not only gained independence from the New Hampshire Grants and the hated “Yorkists,” but also helped win the War of Independence that established our country.

I had to pass on the Calves Liver. I just can’t do it. Instead, I followed my perfectly-sized house salad and Crab Cake Beginnings with “Not Your Mom’s Chicken Pot Pie” that has a crust of mashed potatoes and a layer of Vermont Cheddar baked over the top. We also tried the Roast Tom Turkey. It did not disappoint. Nothing did.

In fact, as we retraced our steps back into the modern world, from the marble-slabbed terrace to the crunchy gravel to the pavement beneath our feet, we realized that the only disappointment had been the seemingly wise decision to turn down dessert. But trust me, the decision was not based in a lack of solid options…it was simply a matter of feeling perfectly satisfied and not wanting to overindulge.

Cheers to independence! To the Yanks! And to the incredible staff and setting of Ye Olde Tavern…well worth the trip.