Restaurant Poco — Restaurant in Burlington

We were really looking forward to trying this small, cozy spot during our trip to Vermont. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so we were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away around 7:30 PM. That was, unfortunately, where the positives ended for us.

After placing our order—including a clear request for no onions in any of the dishes—we settled in with a couple of cocktails and looked forward to our meal. We started to notice that tables who ordered after us were receiving their food, and after about 30 minutes with no sign of ours and no check-in from our server, we began to wonder what was going on.

Eventually, our server came over and told us—somewhat casually—that he had accidentally thrown out our order and asked us to remind him what we wanted. We were shocked but stayed patient and reordered everything, assuming the kitchen would prioritize our food given the error. Instead, after another few minutes, he returned to tell us that one of the items we ordered had sold out. When we expressed disappointment, his response was simply, “We’re a small, busy restaurant and we run out of things.” What was most frustrating was that there was no accountability—if our original order had been put in properly, we likely would’ve received that dish.

When our food finally did arrive, it took just as long as the original would have, with no sign that it had been prioritized. To add to the frustration, one of the pasta dishes was topped with chives, despite our earlier discussion about avoiding anything onion-related. No one checked in to see if our food was okay, and nothing was offered or comped despite the experience.

I understand mistakes happen, but how they’re handled makes all the difference. Sadly, this felt like a missed opportunity to turn...

Worth whatever wait it takes! This relaxed, friendly, cozy place has terrific food that makes you forget whatever wait you had. I believe the menu changes, so be prepared for something new when you go in. I started with the Crispy Duck Leg which was prepared in a way to make the meat very mild. The meat inside was fall off the bone tender, while the skin was, as advertised, nice and crispy with a delicious savory seasoning. The accompanying mixed greens complemented it very nicely, being fresh sweet and tangy. Next was the Grilled Shrimp Satay - another amazing dish with perfectly cooked shrimp (not chewy or rubbery, cooked correctly to allow the shrimp to still be tender). Each shrimp was nicely seasoned in lemon fish sauce marinade, then they took turns with slices of mango, julienned carrots, and ginger for another set of excellent complementary flavors. The Orange Blossoms mocktail was surprisingly flavorful, with each flavor being present without any overpowering the other - it was light, refreshing, and very satisfying. The grand finale was the cinnamon ice cream - WOW! I had no idea cinnamon ice cream could taste that good! They are excellent at making ice cream smooth and creamy, and the flavor was hard to describe because it was boldly cinnamon without being hot and spicy. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The service was very friendly and quick even though they were very busy - they seemed to thrive on it! The atmosphere is tastefully done with a nice array of different books, pictures, and a few odds and ends in nooks and crannies. The seating is "cozy" so be prepared to scoot in now and then, but it's not cramped or uncomfortable. This is certainly the best meal I've had while in Burlington. I hope to make it back here and...

This restaurant is FANTASTIC. My wife and I spent a weekend in Burlington eating at some of the better known and respected restaurants and happened to walk by this place one morning on our way to the bakery, August First. Intrigued, we decided to check it out on our last night and we fortunately saved the best for last. They don’t take reservations and despite being busy we were able to grab a window table. You’re able to see some parts of the lake from the outdoor and front window seats which is nice. The staff, including the owners, are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is inclusive and fun with great music and an eclectic mix of patrons.

The entrees are meant to be shared and come out as they’re completed. While the suggestion was 2 dishes/person, we ended up fine with 3 selections but did get dessert.

There’s definitely an Asian slant to many dishes. Our impression is that you could end up mixing and matching entrees that don’t work well together but we had the charred broccoli with peanut sauce and cashews, then the dandan noodles, and finally the pork belly and pears. All three were amazing, worked well together and had brilliant flavors. The cocktails were all very refreshing and, for some reason, pink. They have a great beer and wine selection as well. For dessert, we ate the one dish they had, poached peaches with cinnamon ice cream and a pistachio crumble on top. The ice cream and crumble were great.

We’d be back tomorrow night if we were staying longer. Make sure to eat here the next time...