The Stic Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Northfield

The Stic has always been a landmark in Northfield Falls, and for me, it’s personal. My dad, Gary Davis, once co-owned it with longtime owner Mark Ruel, who had taken it over from his brother as their father’s legacy. I was just a baby when they renovated, but I grew up in the restaurant and commuted to school with the Ruel kids. I watched my stepmother work there with Mark and Helen. It was more than a place to eat: it was central it was to our small town. It was where the Rotary Club met, where locals came for dinner, played pool and gathered for games, and where community life unfolded.

Back then, the layout was wide open—you almost felt like you were on display when you ate there. Today, under new ownership, The Stic Kitchen & Bar has been completely transformed. The dining room has been built out with clean, blue, modern, and private booths that make the space feel more intimate. But the bar is still there for those who want to sit and watch the game or visit with the bartender and their fellows.

You’ll notice a gallery of photos along the walls. There are snapshots that chronicle the changes in Northfield Falls and those who made The Rustic (and now The Stic) what it is. Among these are images of past owners and the bar itself through the years. There is even a special cameo photo of Clovis Davis, a personal friend of my father and I.

I learned that Clovis served as a Marine in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. He fought in the battles of Peleliu and Guadalcanal, and later was assigned to the Fourth Marine Regiment, 6th Division, which was among the invasion forces at Okinawa. I had the privilege of working alongside him site with my dad installing leach fields. I can attest that he carried the same honor, grit, and warmth in everyday life that he showed in service. Seeing his photograph honored here is both humbling and deeply meaningful — a reminder of the real people who built and carried this community.

Back to business…. The Stic offers a mix of hearty Vermont comfort dishes and creative twists: poutine, wings, tacos, burgers, and pizzas that range from traditional to inventive. They are named after members of the community, even Clovis. Prices are fair for the area, and the refreshed atmosphere makes it a great spot for both casual dinners and special gatherings. Even the bathrooms are beautifully redone with stylish wallpaper and clean, private stalls. Details that make a big difference.

Like any reimagined place, it’s still finding its footing—some dishes hit better than others, and customer feedback has noted room for improvement, especially with certain menu items and service responsiveness. Even though we were some of the only people there, they came out with the dishes and weren’t sure who got which plate. I remember that Jamie could take the orders of a table of 30 people without writing a single order down. Even if they switched seats she knew who got what. But overall, the new Stic honors its legacy while carving out a fresh identity.

For me, walking in is a mix of nostalgia and excitement. I remember the open floor, the pool tables, the familiar faces of staff and regulars—including my own family—and now I see a polished, modern space that will hopefully still serve as a community hub. The Stic has always been about connection, and it’s good to see that tradition continue...

The food is reasonably priced and pretty good and the staff is very friendly. I debated giving the place three stars because it's a pretty average restaurant, but I liked it and google says that's worth four stars. The food menu is somewhat limited, but finding something you'll like won't be any trouble unless you're a vegetarian. The place prides itself as being a family-owned home style "meat and potatoes" restaurant, and that is exactly what you'll find there. I had the Ramsey burger, which is basically a burger inside a grilled cheese sandwich, and liked it a lot. The menu doesn't say much about what the items are, (like what's a Ramsey burger?), so I encourage you to ask.

It looks like a great place to hang out on a Saturday night with enough pool tables so you and your friends probably won't have to wait around for one to become available. The drink selection is decent too, but in truth I didn't take the time to see what they had on tap after seeing the keg of switchback from across the room and ordering that. You can probably get better food and better drink at the new place downtown (Cornerstone Burger Company), but you'll pay a little more at that place too, so...

Daughter is attending Norwich University Military and wanted her last civie meal with us to be at a recommended restaurant she heard about. She had shrimp fettuccine alfredo, Dad had the Rustic Ramsey Burger with french fries and gravy, I had the Rustic steak sandwich with the "famous" hand cut potato chips. Daughter reported not enough sauce and what sauce available was thin. "Tasted like it was from a jar, I wouldn't order it again". Husband was happy with his grilled cheese hamburger. He was on the fence about the fries and liked the gravy. "A lot of flavor". I thought my sandwich was ok. Not super amazing, tasty though. Meat between toasted white bread, pretty much it. I used husband's gravy as a spread, that really bumped it up in flavor. The potato chips were mostly over cooked and then somewhat "soggy" as my daughter stated. I had a couple of good ones. however, they lacked seasoning. Good splash of garlic salt or something would have brightened them up. The waitress, Rachel...