The Skinny Pancake Burlington — Restaurant in Burlington

The Skinny Pancake Burlington strikes me as an "all around option" for grubbing down - by that I mean they have crepes, coffee, booze, burgers, vegan meals - it was a lot more than a pancake place. I pretty much go ape crazy for anything laden with hazelnut or whiskey but I ventured into crepe territory today with something called a Sugar Shack and lemme tell you I would have gladly paid double the menu price for it. It was that good! Now I always thought that crepes were just pancakes for the alternative lifestyle people but No Siree Bob this New England breakfast dish they call the Sugar Shack is for everyone. Sure it sounds dirty but its a clean tasting Maple Sugar / Maple Syrup combination of breakfast joy. I highly recommend it! The restaurant itself gives off a 90's vibe with some hard rock considerations. The server greeted us at the door and said that it was a "semi service place" and I was tempted to ask if I should lay down a "semi tip" but I was scared that my wife would kick me again like the time I asked a manager why they fill the urinals with ice in the mans restrooms and while I have him on that subject could they put up some partitions in between the urinals. She kicked me hard that day. Speaking of kicks the sweet potato fries were well received by my beautiful bride, who has Pacific North West influences but still had the good since to marry a Texan. She carried on a while about how good The Skinny Pancakes Sweet Potato Fries were and how it reminded her of some place called Oregon - even though we are here in Vermont. I dunno, I tried to pay attention. She was right about those fried though. Now this place did not have a dedicated restroom...you had to go down the hall and use a special code which struck me as unusual, but alright. The Skinny Pancake looked like it was set up for live music maybe or poetry or my favorite - stand up comedy. The last time I told a joke in public my wife kindly reminded me that some jokes play out funnier when unspoken - anyway there was a small stage, and some basic lighting and sound above the makeshift staging area which is not too far from the bar. I want to come back here, I dont know if I will but in the interim I encourage you to drop by and get that...

I took a trip to Vermont this weekend and was highly recommended to try this place. Upon asrigeibg, there was a hostess outside who greeted me and said that a wait for a table for 1 would be 20ish minutes or I could sit at the bar which was first come first serve. Lucky for me there was one seat open so I took it. I then sat at the bar waiting to be acknowledged.. for ten minutes. There was one person tending the register for those ordering done-in/to go. There was another person making drinks and taking orders for bar patrons. There was only two other people sitting at the bar at this point besides myself . Finally, a young woman was bussing the bar and I asked her - after noticing others holding menus in the order line - if I was supposed to grab a menu from somewhere or if it should’ve been given to me. She promptly went to the host stand and grabbed me a a menu. Bout another 10 minutes and the person tending to the bar came over and asked if I was ready to order. They were kind but seemed disinterested in being there. I placed by drink and food order. I had also asked for a water - which I didn’t know was self serve until I watched other restaurant customers go over to the red cooler. My food did come out pretty quickly but it was not the greatest. It wasn’t bad just felt overhyped .it also didn’t help my experience to hear the person tending to the register get annoyed about covering someone else’s break nor the person tending to bar patrons complain about wanting to go home. I get we all have that general “work chat” but it shouldn’t happen in front of customers. It also was a bit weird to be asked to pay before k received my food and then directly asked how much I wanted to tip when I hadn’t received anything at that time. Nonetheless, it was an experience. This is just my humble opinion and urge everyone who wants to try this place to check out for themselves! Hopefully it’ll be better...

A Loyal Fan with a Custom Favorite

I’ve been a regular at The Skinny Pancake for well over a decade, mostly in Burlington and Quechee, though I’ve visited a few of the other locations as well. It’s one of those places that feels familiar and comforting, with food that rarely disappoints.

I’ve even developed my own special order a crepe variation I think deserves a spot on the permanent menu. The last time I was in Burlington, an employee actually came over to ask what I got because another guest saw it and wanted the same. After the guest had finished their own meal, they let me know that my dish was delicious. That kind of interaction says a lot about the appeal of the atmosphere and the food there: fresh, flavorful, and inviting.

The crepes and poutine are consistently excellent crispy, warm, and full of flavor. The side salad is crisp, light, and sweet. Portion sizes can vary a bit depending on the visit, and once in Quechee, my eggs were served on top of the crepe instead of inside, but those are minor inconsistencies in an otherwise delicious lineup.

The atmosphere is fun. I do miss the Hanover location’s full service model. It added a touch of comfort and ease to the experience. Quechee used to feel a little chaotic in terms of seating at times, and I did have a confusing experience once where staff gave curt, conflicting instructions about how and where to order and where and when to sit. But even those moments haven’t kept me away for long.

Overall, The Skinny Pancake continues to be one of my favorite spots for a casual, satisfying meal with a local Vermont twist. I’m always happy to bring friends and family, and I always look forward to coming back.

I do wish they offered root beer among their bottled beverage options.

I hope that one day, my custom crepe makes it onto the...