Waterworks Food + Drink — Restaurant in Winooski

I'm going to break my review down into three sections; Initial impression, service, and food

Initial impression upon arrival a was poor as the hostess was not friendly or accommodating and very condescending. We had 6:15 reservations and learning that there was construction between where we were staying and the the restaurant I called to see if we could bump our reservation back 15-30 minutes to account for the traffic we were going to face. The person I spoke to mentioned their two hour seating window policy and said that if we arrive by 6:45 we would still have our table until 8:15. That was fine and fair and I did mention that we'd try to be there as close to our res time and she was good (actually were able to make it there by 6:20). At the restaurant I checked in and mentioned my conversation. The hostess snippily said, well, that may have been the case when you called but that is not the case now, you have to wait until 6:45. I mentioned that it was explained to me that the table was ours from 6:15 - 8:15 and she wouldn't budge. We stayed and were seated promptly at 6:45.

Our experience once at our table improved. We were greeted by Mycah our server a very nice and polite young man who was friendly, helpful, prompt, and attentive during our time. He certainly made us feel welcomed at the Waterworks.

The food was also very good. We had a couple apps to start with which were the wings and the Burrata. Both were great picks. Entrees included a duck confit, the braised short ribs, and the pan roasted salmon. Each were delicious.

If I were to base a future visit on first impression I'd struggle to come back. Basing it on service and food I would definitely go back. I understand the spot restaurants are in these days with staffing which is why I called ahead to mention that we may be late. I don't feel that same respect was extended to me once we arrived only a few minutes after our original reservation time, and still within the two hour seating window as explained to me...

First and foremost, I must state how accommodating the restaurant was. We are visiting on our honeymoon and setting a reservation wasn't on our minds. We were able to still get a seat despite being packed. The staff was delightful and ambiance was a memory in the making. Now to the important bits. The restaurant boasts a large drink menu, surpassing it's food choices, in many cases, my experiences have taught me that this means the food is an after thought. I must say, this was not the case. I made the decision to try the lobster and shrimp scampi at a respectable albeit on the high end of 33$. The dish was nothing short of delightful, the sauce complimented with hints of fresh mint and perfectly cooked pasta. The lobster was well seasoned and cooked with expertise typically found ocean side. My husband opted for the steak and fries. While he asked for his steak for medium rare, it was medium. This happens to the best of kitchens and I won't tag them too hard for this. The fries were done with perfection. He was originally skeptical of the garlic when ordering. Garlic is often overused and in turn does little to improve the experience. Again, I am happy to say this was not the case and they were delightful. For desert, I opted for the gf chocolate cake. Elegant and delectable are perfect words to describe this. The raspberry coulis that adorned the plate was magic when added to each bite. A must have if you choose to make this a destination, and for nine dollars, it's worth it just for the treat. My husband chose the ice cream. I must tag them here for the presentation. While it's very clear this was a store bought frozen cup of ice cream, they would do well to at least put it in a bowl and elevate it. The cup of ice cream was 4$, and after an 90$ meal, his desert seemed that of an after thought rather than the final chance to grab the customer and bring them back for more. All in all, 4 stars is perfect for this restaurant and absolute recommendation for those...

Visited Waterworks tonight for my wife's birthday with two friends. We were very excited as we are all from Winooski and haven't been there in years. We reserved outstanding outdoor seating next to the river which is hard to beat. We started with an appetizer which was great as well as drinks. Everything was perfect until the entrees came. My friend and I ordered the shrimp and lobster gnocchi. The portions were extremely small for $32 each. The lobster and shrimp in the gnocchi was also almost non existent, but the taste was ok . My wife and her best friend ordered steak frites, both medium. When the came to the table neither were even remotely close to medium. We don't typically send things back, but for almost a $30 plate it was not up to par. The second plates were returned piping hot and had clearly just come out of the broiler and had not been rested. As soon as the girls cut into them juices came running out and we're immediately soaked up by the napkins resulting in dry steaks. Not only were the steaks dry, they were again not medium and extremely hard to eat. Neither of the woman could even finish their steaks and left very hungry. We actually stopped for fast food for them on the way home for my wife's birthday!!! The meals were taken off our bill and we received desserts for free, but to be honest, what's dessert without getting a main course? Our final bill came to an outrageous $249!!!! Not only were our meals overpriced for the portions but so were the drinks! The ONLY bright stop to our night was Ellie (I believe that's her name). She was the most amazing and attentive waitress. She brought out dessert with a candle for my wife and we couldn't have asked for better service! If the food matched her service it would have been remarkable. Overall, not a great experience after a long waited return on a special occasion. Probably won't ever return sadly. The two star review is purely for...