Smuggler’s Notch: Morse Mountain Grill (September 2018)

Morse Mountain Grille - All-Day Dining at Smuggs

My spouse and I dined at the Morse Mountain Grille two times during our two-night stay at the Smuggler’s Notch Resort in late September 2018. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm. The interconnected pub is open daily from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Morse Mountain Grille is located at the Smuggler’s Notch Resort near the Village Center (where guests register and where they can visit the Hearth & Candle restaurant and the Country Store). Guests enter Morse Mountain Grille from the ground level near the main parking lot, then climb a long flight of stairs to reach the host stand/bar room level, followed by a short climb of stairs to reach the dining room. A handicapped entrance is located around the rear of the building, with doors that lead to both the bar room and dining room levels. The bar room offers seating a regular-height tables, high-top tables, and at the small bar. High ceilings and a fieldstone fireplace create a spacious yet cozy feel. The main dining room is located a few steps up from the bar room and has both booth and table seating. Sometimes the main dining room is reserved for private parties, and the restaurant has some clever ways of using room dividers in order to camouflage the booths that line two of the perimeter walls.
Our first visit was only for drinks and a light snack, so we sat in the bar room at a high-top table. We shared the Vermonter flatbread (with apple chutney, spinach, red onion, cheese, and bacon); however, the base flatbread seemed pre-packaged. Afterwards, we ordered the cinnamon bun bread pudding, which was neither warm enough nor moist enough.
Our second meal was breakfast in the dining room, where we sat at a table with several friends. We enjoyed the veggie omelet (which included Cabot cheddar cheese, a red bell pepper strip, green bell pepper strip, and portabella mushroom strip), served with a choice of toast or English muffin, and a side of breakfast potatoes (which were well seasoned and tasty). Our Bloody Mary cocktail was a bit disappointing, delivered without the black pepper-and-salt rim that was described on the menu.
Our experiences at the Morse Mountain Grille were acceptable, but next time, we’ll try the Hearth & Candle instead.







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