Stowe: Michael’s on the Hill (September 2018)


Michaels on the Hill - Good Food, Beautiful Setting
My spouse and I visited Michaels on the Hill for a wedding ceremony and reception on a Friday evening in late September 2018. Although we didn’t order from the regular restaurant menu, we did try a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres, including arancini (rice balls), beef tenderloin biscuit sliders, grilled peaches, chicken satay, and soup shooters. We also enjoyed a cold buffet of smoked salmon, fruits and cheeses, and breads and veggie/grain dips like eggplant and edamame. The food was yummy, and the service was great.
The chef-owner for whom the restaurant is named is Swiss-born, and he worked previously at NYC’s now-closed Lespinasse and the Lodge at Koele in Hawaii. In addition, he has received awards including Vermont chef of the year and one of the best chefs in America. He and his wife opened his Vermont restaurant in 2002, and it has received many awards since that time, including most romantic restaurant in Vermont.
Michael’s on the Hill occupies an 1820s farmhouse just outside of Stowe (a 10-minute drive) in Waterbury Center. The property offers great views of the Green Mountains and the bucolic surrounding terrain. When we visited, the pathway leading to the restaurant’s front door was beautifully decorated with fall foliage. Inside near the host stand is an intimate lounge area that is surrounded on two sides by an enclosed wrap-around porch that affords lovely views. Another dining space leads to the cozy bar area, and a small outdoor deck is nearby. But the majority of diners are seated in the original 19th century renovated barn, which has vaulted wood ceilings, post-and-beam construction, and unique rustic decor and Americana. (Our event was in the renovated barn room.) Attractive color schemes, furnishings, and decorations adorn every room in the restaurant.
We loved our group experience at Michael’s on the Hill, and we would like to return to eat a traditional dinner someday.







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