Fancy'S

One of the best meals I’ve had in my life. The mushroom dish was magical. Worth the trip a bit out of Downtown Burlington. Their gluten free options were wonderful.

There are very few things I regret in life. One of them is not taking photos of the absolutely INCREDIBLE dishes served at fancy’s. While eating here, I realized this is the whole point - the point of dining out, to enjoy culinary excellence and expression. The Vegan/Vegetarian tasting menu is simply extraordinary. And the best part is that it always changes. You can eat here several times and still try new dishes. If you are within commuting distance of this restaurant, please do yourself a favor and eat here. You’ll learn to appreciate food again.

Rivaling many progressive European establishments in their sourcing of locally grown foods and their innovative preparation and presentation, Fancy’s is hands down the best restaurant we’ve been to in Vermont. Located in Burlington’s Old North End—the oldest section of the city and a rough melange of cultural diversity—this restaurant is nowhere near the more traveled thoroughfares of the city. It is, however, certainly worth the short drive through the neighborhood and pleasant walk from your street-side parking spot. My wife and I arrived for their first seating at 5pm and the small interior soon filled up (had it been a little cooler, we would have opted for a front sidewalk table). For drinks my wife ordered the Pink Panther and I got the ‘non-boozy’ Frisky Sour, which was deliciously refreshing and mildly sweet. Food is served tapa-style, on small plates meant to be shared, the next dish brought to the table soon after the prior one is finished. This timing was great, allowing for some interim conversation and a few sips of our drinks as a palate cleanser in preparation for the next gustatory revelation, each different from the last in terms of ingredients and flavor, but consistent with regard to the use of extremely fresh and aromatic plant-based foods and seasonings in an array of brilliant colors and creative combinations. We chose the following plates: Black Chickpea Hummus, Charred Romano Beans, Crispy Lentil Pancake, Squid & Shishito Peppers, and Ginger Scallion Broccolini. Each was as flavorful as its predecessor, and I sense we could have ordered five totally different plates and they all would have been equally delicious. And, yes, aside from the squid, the Black Cod, and two vegetarian options, each of the dishes on the menu was vegan. For dessert: Vanilla Creemee Sundae, made from an oat milk base. In addition, the service was exceptional—all the waitstaff seemed genuinely relaxed and happy to be there. If you’re anywhere near Burlington, VT I highly recommend you set aside some time for a visit to Fancy’s.

Absolutely top tier. A mainly vegetarian restaurant that leaves no yearning for more meat. Everything was very thoughtfully created, sourced, written and plated. I feel like this spot gets slept on, and I have no idea why they didn’t have a line around the block. Everything we tasted was special, unique, healthy, and absolutely delicious. We ordered the whole menu and a couple of cocktails. 10/10 would recommend.