Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup — Restaurant in Burlington

The dice were, admittedly, loaded. We visited in early September, just as the first flickers of color were beginning to blush, on a sun-drenched-but-cool afternoon. A lazy weekday after the lunch rush isn’t challenging for service, but ours was still very charming. The ambiance is like a country cafe fell in love with a gourmet delicatessen: rustically elegant.

The food was superb.

I began with an impressive curry-split-pea soup, then tried the menu’s first item, a vegan club sandwich. I finished my meal with an apple cake I will discuss below.

Vegetarians outnumbered omnivores at our table, but everyone’s plate was as different as it was wonderful. Clearly dedicated to flavor as much as ambiance, the team put care into everything we ate, and we lunched with gusto.

Then we had dessert. Finding a lovely restaurant isn’t all that challenging. From food trucks to haut cuisine, many establishments have at least one inspired course. A smaller set have two. Three is rare.

My soup was very good. My imitation meat deli sandwich could not have been more delicious so I used ugly adjectives in this sentence and I still want to give that sandwich my phone number.

The astonishing apple cake absolutely should not be making its’ first non-cameo appearance at this point, but you’re going to have to deal with it.

That cake will haunt my dreams.

Our party’s other desserts were also excellent, but the best was mine.

Good bakes cut well, and this did. Apple cakes have weight, and this was pleasantly substantial, without being claggy, but every mouthful had just the right springy, airy texture too. Spice in commercial apple cakes is often cheap and excessive, and occasionally one finds a bland effort, but this masterpiece was fragrant, giving just the right amount of both the intensity of the spice and the perfume of the apple.

Bliss.

Perfectly planned, mixed, and baked cakes are insanely difficult with the random variable of fruit added. I’m so, so, ….. sssooo glad the baker is using their skills to make the world a better place.

Everything...

This morning, I stumbled upon Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup while looking for a cozy spot to get some work done. I had originally set out to find a nice coffee shop but ended up discovering something even better. When I first walked in, I wasn’t entirely sure what they offered. As I stood at the counter, trying to figure out what to order, one of the two owners noticed my indecision and kindly stepped in to help. He recommended waiting until 11 a.m. when their buffet line opens, and I’m so glad I took his advice!

The buffet is self-serve and priced at $15 per pound, with an incredible selection of vegan and vegetarian options. Everything is focused on health and sustainability, which really resonated with me. It was clear from the start that this wasn’t your typical buffet. The ingredients were fresh, and the dishes had a home-cooked, wholesome feel to them.

What stood out to me, besides the food, was how involved the owners were in the day-to-day running of the restaurant. You can tell they care deeply about their business and their customers. They made sure to check in with everyone, offering recommendations and genuinely taking the time to chat. It’s rare to see that level of attentiveness, and it made the experience feel personal and inviting.

The ambiance is warm and welcoming, with a laid-back vibe perfect for sitting down with a laptop or enjoying a quiet meal. After my first few bites, I knew this place was special. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, making it hard to believe the dishes were so healthy. I particularly enjoyed a hot ginger tea, which added a nice, comforting touch to the meal.

Afterward, I looked up reviews out of curiosity, and everything I read matched my experience—the high praise is 100% deserved. The staff were all incredibly kind, and it’s clear they take pride in what they do. I’ll definitely be coming back, and I’m thrilled to have found this place...

First time visit, as a suggested place for lunch. The owner greeted us and sat with us as he explained the options.

There's a menu board with a a few sandwiches and soups and a hot bar option. They sandwiches are mostly vegan besides turkey tuna.

He suggested the hot bar so that's what we went with.

It's not huge and is a pay by weight. The day we were there there was a vegan Mexican pie and and a vegan lasagna, as well as a Red lentil Dal and a tofu curry. There were chicken wings which was the only meat protein besides hard boiled eggs. The wings are always on the hot bar. You can also ask to get some curry tuna from the sandwich person. There were salad items too. They can slice any of their fresh breads too.

Everything was delicious. I'd definitely go again and go with the hot bar. There's an option for them to make a hot bar plate for you for a flat fee. Each of our plates were about $20 when we weighed them up. Which I think was the flat fee.

The self service style includes using real plates and silverware and you bus your own table.

They had several tea options and coffee, as well as some canned and bottled beer. I don't recall the other beverage options.

It was busy with people coming and going and some chilling out. The tables are considered communal since there's not a lot of them. There are a few outside tables too.

Looked like they can do take out too.

I'd recommend if you are up for some home style cooking...