West on Warren Gallery + Grill — Restaurant in Middlebury

Hidden Gem in Middlebury – An Unforgettable Dining Experience at West on Warren

I’ve eaten at my fair share of steakhouses — we were originally aiming for a LongHorn or Texas Roadhouse, but stumbled across this little place near our hotel in Middlebury. From the outside, West on Warren doesn’t scream “fine dining” — it looks like a small, unassuming spot tucked away on a quiet street. In fact, I almost drove past it. But then we followed the sign that said “Enter in the back,” and suddenly we were in this charming space with a cozy vibe. After a long day in non-air-conditioned offices, we were just hoping for something decent indoors. What we got was one of the best meals I’ve had — anywhere.

Let’s talk about the food. I was initially bummed they didn’t have a filet on the menu… but I got over that fast. The chefs here are magicians — not in the frilly, overdone, “California experimental” way — but in a way that blends flavors so thoughtfully it feels like each dish has a personality of its own. The bruschetta? Not just a bunch of chopped toppings flung on bread. It was sweetened with just the right vinaigrette, topped with shaved mozzarella, and had this elegant complexity that made you pause mid-bite. Then came the ribs — beautifully tender with a sauce that wasn’t overly sweet or smoky, just right. Even the coleslaw had a little kick to it — warm, zesty, and nothing like the bland picnic slaw you’re used to. The potatoes? Deep fried with a seasoned crust that had us scraping the plate.

And then — oh yes — the brown sugar cheesecake. It had a cookie crust and a velvety texture that made me wonder out loud if the chef might be single. I’m only half joking — I would have proposed on the spot. Sadly, she’s taken. But I’ll just put it out there: if she ever wants to move to Naples, Florida, we’d welcome her with open arms and open mouths. Naples is gorgeous — the palm trees, the beaches — and it desperately needs this level of culinary brilliance. Please. Move south.

In all seriousness, this place is a Michelin-level gem hiding in a small town. The portions are thoughtful, not overwhelming. The prices? Totally reasonable for the quality. And the flavors? Out of this world. Whether you’re treating your significant other, impressing guests, or just want to spoil yourself, this is the spot. I’d give it six...

we originally had reservations at the Reserve on Main thinking it was like how it was when we visited a year ago. I was longing for the poutine. To our surprise they completely changed the format to a 5 course fine dining restaurant. We were just looking for a light meal and our waitress was gracious enough to see our dismay and recommend West on Warren which she stated was their sister restaurant. It was just a short walk away and exactly what we were looking for minus the poutine. The catch of the day was deep fried cod sticks with amazing hand cut fries. I tried the jalapeño popper soup which contained hamburger , cheese and carrots. It was awesome. Not spicey at all. My wife had the Apple pecan salad. It was a generous portion and enough to share. The beer prices are very reasonable , The atmosphere in the room surrounded by glass garage doors which would be awesome in the warmer waather was a great touch. The service was friendly and top notch. We would highly recommend West on Warren and will definitely be back next time in town. If there is a show at Blue Gate when going I would suggest making reservations which can easily be done...

This place tries to be a high end restaurant, but unfortunately the execution did not justify the price.

Despite almost 80% of the tables being unoccupied when we arrived, we were given a 35 minute wait time. Fortunately the actual wait was closer to 15 minutes.

My food was good, although the potatoes were just simply roasted and under seasoned despite their fancy name. My wife's chicken was very overcooked and dry. When we informed the waitress we only received an apology and an assurance to tell the kitchen. However, for the type of establishment we expected more recompense yet received none. Even when we inquired about it after the bill we only received the explanation that it was probably left in the oven too long because they were so busy.

Had the meal been under $20 a plate we would have raved at the above experience, but we expect more from a meal over $75...