Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge, located in picturesque Waitsfield, Vermont, serves up New American inspired vegan and vegetarian clean cuisine. Good food speaks to everyone and Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge is fluent in food. Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge brings the best vegan and vegetarian cuisine to Vermont residents and tourists.
Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge – Fine Dining in Vermont
This restaurant, the culinary child of a couple who had a successful vegan/vegetarian restaurant in LA, sits on Main Street in Waitsfield, Vermont. A town practically in the shadows of two major ski resorts, with the Green Mountains to the west and the Northfield Mountains to the east. Situated between them in the Mad River Valley, Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge brings the finest of vegan and vegetarian dining to this beautiful spot.
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After a day of skiing at Sugarbush Ski Resort we tidied up and drove to Waitsfield. About 10 minutes from the Sugarbush ski resort itself, Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge came highly recommended. So I was immediately interested in experiencing the farm to table dining Vermont is known for.
First of all, the drive to Waitsfield is well worth it any time of the year. Take a camera along to shoot some of the covered bridges and the shops. Go before the sun sets and make plans to dine at Mint (open Wednesday to Sunday 5 to 8:30 p.m.). The superior food and warm, welcoming vibe of Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge makes for a dining experience that is a lovely cap to a day spent taking in the beauty of the region.
On our last ski trip to Vermont in February 2017, we had the pleasure of dining at Mint, and it is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a restaurant. We each tried to sample different options so we had a feel for menu and chef’s talent. The Moroccan lentil is a perfect winter soup. Soups in many restaurants rely on salt and pepper for flavour which sells the soup, and the customer, short. The Moroccan lentil features lemon juice, ginger, coriander and one of my personal favourites – cilantro. It was a wonderful combination.
My mint salad was exceptional. Can’t say enough about the salad selections at Mint. They are unique, clean and fresh. These are the kind of salads you wish you could duplicate at home, but know full well any attempt to do this will fall flat by comparison. The Mint Salad featured arugula, pears, assorted micro greens, dried cranberries, dressed in mint olive vinaigrette, topped with Pecorino Toscano, toasted almonds and pink peppercorns. Off the hook delicious.
Our kids both ordered Pappardelle, with handcut wide egg noodles, layered on top of asparagus and spinach, sprinkled with sage and walnuts. Walnuts were a nice touch and we loved the Pecorino Toscano, a firm textured cheese made of sheep’s milk. The Pappardelle was a hit with both of my girls. They also had the super salad featuring lentils, black beans, basil and mint, carrots, beets, tomato and micro greens.
Stir fried rice noodles with fried tofu was my entree choice which was also gluten free. The rice noodles dish contained eggplant, broccoli, carrots, garlic, ginger, mint, basil and a tamarind-agave glaze. You’ve never had tofu this magnificent.
Although I strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Mint actually inspired me to work harder on creating some beautiful vegetarian dishes at home.
Mint is a comfortable, posh – but not pretentious – restaurant with flavours of cuisine that is both complex and easy to appreciate. Service was attentive, but with ingredients like sprouted greens, toasted breads, fresh mint and a few vegetarian standbys, food is the star here. After you’re finished enjoy one of the many amazing desserts.
This is without question some of the most creative food we’ve had anywhere we have travelled.
The Menu changes often to accommodat
Mint Restaurant and Tea Lounge – Worth the Trip
It is impossible to eat poorly in Vermont. Fresh ingredients are bountiful and whether you ski, snowboard or hike, you are sure to always be hungry. Mint in Waitsfield, Vermont, is pretty near flawless and is one of my top two dining experiences of all time. Vegetarian or not, you will love Mint in Vermont.
We were guests of Mint while visiting Vermont recently. My opinion is all my own and it is always truthful.