Cafe at Cold Hollow — Restaurant in Waterbury

We were excited about visiting the mill, and decided to grab some lunch while we were there as well. You order at the counter, are given a number and the food is brought to your table, there are laminated menus to peruse while you’re in line as well as a menu board behind the counter. I ordered the Buffalo Blue Wrap ($13) and my wife ordered the Walk through the Garden Salad ($12) with chicken ($6). We paid and chose a table outside, where there is ample seating. Our food came in a reasonable amount of time. Once I began to eat my wrap, I quickly noticed that it was extremely spicy, actually too spicy for me to eat. I know that Buffalo Sauce is spicy but I have eaten it many times and know how spicy it should be, this seemed more like a super hot Siracha sauce. I went to the counter and explained to the young lady how spicy it was, and asked for some ranch dressing to try to balance out the heat. She said she would bring it right out to my table and went towards the back. I waited and waited and no one came. I went back to the counter and a different girl was at the register along with a gentleman. I noticed that the original girl was still in the back talking to employees. I explained to the new girl at the register that I had asked for the ranch dressing and she said she would let her know. I went back to my table and the original girl brought it out and said she had gotten “real busy”, however, there was no one in line. We spoke briefly and she said that is was spicy because it states on the menu that there is Siracha sauce in it. I said that I didn’t see that when I ordered. I couldn’t finish the wrap, it was just too spicy, so I went back inside and ordered a different one, explaining that this one had been too spicy to even eat. I thought I would get at least ½ off a new wrap but I didn’t get any discount, nor any apology. I also looked at the menu and nowhere does it mention Siracha sauce, which I noted to the young lady, (see picture). To make matters worse, when checking out, there is a place to leave a tip, even though you stand up to order and then have to clear your own dishes...

The biscuits here are absolutely delicious; crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and packed with great flavor. My go-to order is the Morning Core with extra crispy bacon. The apple jelly they serve with it really stands out, adding a unique sweetness that complements the savory biscuit perfectly. I always try to sneak on a little extra when I can.

To drink, the non-alcoholic apple cider is a must. It’s refreshing, with just the right balance of sweetness, and pairs beautifully with the crumbly, buttery biscuits.

Their cider doughnuts are also worth mentioning—warm, fragrant, and a true Vermont staple. But if you really want a treat, the cinnamon and sugar–coated mini apple cider doughnuts take it up a notch. They’re lighter, perfectly spiced, and the sugar coating gives them an extra burst of flavor that makes them even better than the classic.

One item I wasn’t as fond of, however, was the cinnamon roll. I found it dry and too heavy on the bread, without enough of that sticky, gooey cinnamon swirl I look for. Personally, I prefer a softer, more indulgent cinnamon roll that balances the dough with the filling.

Overall, though, the Café at Cold Hollow delivers on flavor, comfort, and a cozy Vermont charm—especially if you stick with their biscuits, cider, and those irresistible...

Driving up to Stowe from Massachusetts and the collective stomachs in the car started to all rumble at the same time so we decided to pull into the Cold Hollow Cider Mill and had lunch at the Apple Core Luncheonette and Brew. This great little shop features flights of hard ciders, an amazing lunch menu and some options to leave with, as well.

The kids opted for a turkey and cheddar sandwich on some amazingly fresh white bread and a macaroni and cheese that did Vermont proud with the quality of cheese gracing the cup.

My wife went for the veggie wrap that was loaded with crisp vegetables, ranch and hummus and came with a small side salad, as well. I opted for the turkey Reuben panini but switched the Swiss cheese for cheddar. A cider slaw was on the panini and perfectly grilled marble rye bread made the sandwich a real winner.

While you are there, check out the craft beer grab bags that run just $5.99 and you are guaranteed four different local beers within each bag. Not a bad...