Blackback Pub — Restaurant in Waterbury

We've eaten at many restaurants in the Capital Region and were looking for something new. We were leaving the house around 8, so we tried calling a few times in advance to find out what time their kitchen closes. The phone rang endlessly and had no voicemail. We decided to head into Waterbury, as there were plenty of other options in case they were indeed closed.

When we arrived, we found there were a couple people at the bar, and one other table of patrons. Our server told us that they were usually very busy, but had been dead all night. I was perplexed as to why our phone calls were not answered if that was the case.

We were then rushed to order. We received plates from our server, the bartender, and the cook himself, but upon delivery, one would not clear from the previous course, so it all felt very clunky. Unfortunately our dessert was delivered to our table about 1 minute after our main. So it sat for roughly 15 minutes while we were working on the previous course.

We ordered the Mushroom Manchego toast, the baked brie cheese board, and a New York strip to share.

I can't possibly say anything positive about our meal, and this is the first time I've felt compelled to ever review a place we've dined. The toast was hugely underwhelming, some white mushrooms, sautéed, no seasoning and a very thin very small slice of cheese ( far smaller than the bread). I wish I had taken photos. One thin slice of Elmore Mountain bread, with maybe 1/4 cup of mushrooms and I'd say the cheese was smaller than a post-it. $12. Between the two halves were a small row of greens, totally undressed. The plate was scattered with tiny nibs of raw carrot. It felt very 1990's diner, like the thing place do with the parsley with the orange wedge for garnish.

The cheese board was equally as underwhelming. A quite small ramekin, 4 crostini, 4 very small pita wedges, a handful of walnuts and perhaps a 1/4 of an apple. $11.

The New York Strip came with zero seasoning, fat totally unrendered from the edges. Dry plate. Steamed veg. $27.

We ordered a bottle of wine, as they had one berry cider on tap, and none canned (my husband enjoys just about every IPA, but I'm strictly a cider drinker). It was a decent Pinot Noir. $21.

Lastly we shared a slice of peanut butter pie (my favorite), and it was decent.

The total bill for dinner was $85, plus tip put us over $100. I could have easily been far more pleased at Prohibition Pig or Zen Barn.

We first checked reviews here and found it rated highly, so we were looking forward to another great meal.

We will not...

A+ across the board! Amazing Food! Attentive Customer Service and Great Atmosphere! (our menu selections at the end of this review) We recently took our entire company up to Waterbury/Stowe Vermont area for a holiday/end of year/new year celebration. Dogsledding by day & The Blackback Pub by night! Lynn, David, and the entire family/team was incredible. We had about 60-people in our party, perfect number to book the entire restaurant to ourselves, they were so gracious to do that. (6pm-10pm) and then opened to the public after 10pm. We probably could have fit a few more, but perfect to mix-n-mingle, and get through the buffet lines & still everyone had a place to sit and enjoy their food. Chef and the kitchen cooked and prepared such a superb menu!! You can't go wrong with this place. Everyone in our party/team was thrilled with this dinner location. They all commented how terrific the customer service was, the bartenders super attentive. Not a dirty plate or glass in sight, they took care of us, and they were even quicker to refill, replenish, whatever we needed. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. 5 stars all the way on everything. Their appetizers were delicious! The main courses/entrees were the perfect comfort food and the beer list is world class! And the drinks and wine was spot on. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Next time you are in Vermont, downtown Waterbury at The Blackback Pub is where it's at! Tell Lynn, Dave, and the entire team, our MassPay Team sent you! CHEERS! ~With Gratitude, MP.

You can't go wrong if you order any of the following: Chicken Marsala Heavy Beef Barley Bowl Shrimp dish over rice Meatballs Pub Nachos (can't miss!) Shepards Pie Shishito Peppers app (a must get!) Grilled Cheese Mac-n-Cheese (plain mac & one with bacon) Berry crisp for dessert...

Yesterday, we visited Blackback Pub for the first time, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The pub has a warm, inviting ambiance with a laid-back vibe, making it the perfect spot for a relaxed evening out. The service was impeccable—our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout the meal.

We started with three small plates, and each one was a hit. The Korean Vegetable Pancake was perfectly crispy, with the zucchini, cabbage, and carrot giving it great texture. The sweet and spicy dipping sauce was the perfect complement, balancing the savoury pancake nicely. The Broccolini with Gochujang Peanut Sauce was another standout—pan-seared to perfection, with the house-made sauce adding a deliciously unique flavour. Finally, the Batata Harra was a delightful surprise. The spicy fingerling potatoes paired beautifully with the garlic, lemon, and chili pepper, and the vegan charred scallion aioli was the perfect finishing touch.

From the specials menu, I opted for the Baby Tai Chicken Sandwich, which was simply amazing. The cumin mayo marinated chicken thigh was tender and flavorful, while the Indian-inspired tomato-onion chutney and maple curry aioli added a fantastic blend of sweet and savory. The soft brioche bun and side of kettle chips made this dish a winner. For dessert, we couldn't resist the deconstructed Key Lime Pie—the lime custard and whipped cream were light, refreshing, and full of flavour, with just the right amount of tartness.

To drink, I had a refreshing lemonade, and my wife enjoyed a glass of Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon, which paired perfectly with the food. Overall, Blackback Pub exceeded our expectations in every way, and we’ll...