The Downtown Grocery

An absolutely lovely restaurant for any time of day. I’ve come for dinner many times and have had amazing dishes every time. To start, the entire waitstaff is extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu. The interior is open, airy with just the right amount of rustic Vermont details. A large chalkboard in front adds a nice touch, displaying the special dishes. The arugula salad is delicious, fresh with just the right amount of fatty and salty elements. The mesulin salad is also lovely, served on a cheeseboard with a hunk of soft and salty cheese, drizzled with honey. The chicken and fish dishes are always a good move. Last time I went, I had the Ma Po Tofu and it was so yummy. It was hot, just spicy enough and filled with delicious vegetables and chunks of tofu. They also started us off with a basket of hot brioche buns that were unreal. Dessert is also always a must here. The black pepper angel food cake and selection of ice creams are always a good choice. Will I be back? Absolutely. Another good move? Brunch. The french toast and chicken and waffles are out of this world. Please check out this spot, it will soon become a place you want to come every week (promise).

Whole Vermont trout, halibut and lobster ravioli dinners on special, following two appetizers of pork belly and gnocchi (in duck fat. wow!). Fresh house made ice cream for dessert. an experience. Waitress and hostess were very knowledgeable, had good recommendations for wine pairings and were very attentive. All around wonderful dinner in this tiny restaurant that filled up in mud season… which speaks to its quality. I’ve been coming to Ludlow for years, and this was hands down the best dinner of any local restaurant!

Best Restaurant in VT. You can find Prosciutto Crudo di Parma and other Italian specialties as the import directly form the old country. On topo: you will find local products from VT. It cannot get any better!

We had another great meal at the DTG, including what may have been their best appetizer yet. We both had the Local Veal Carpaccio which was amazing. There was a light drizzle of oil and then some great fried capers on top. And then on the side, there was a small piece of toast with delicious tuna and just a touch of mayo on it.
My wife had the Ma Po Tofu which was excellent – nice flavors and just the right size – while I had the Seared Yellow Fin tuna special with spicy kimchi. Both were great as was the special white (a Hungarian blend).

We visited over Presidents weekend and were lucky to get in and enjoy a most memorable meal. We didn’t have a reservation but that didn’t deter us from getting a spot at the bar on a very busy Saturday night. Knowing they open promptly at 5:30 the three of us braved sub-​zero temps and waited twenty minutes for the doors to open. We snagged three spots at the bar and went on to enjoy a non-​rushed 2 hour plus meal. We started with the flatbread of the evening and it did not disappoint. Next were salads, both the arugula and the mesclun were delicious. For our entrees we went with the Plew Farm chicken breast, it was very good but if you have a big appetite you might want to skip this dish. The Pimento cheese burger was a great choice, the plate was impressive with the yummy potato stick style fries and the homemade pickles. The third entrée was a special off the board, a pasta bolognese that we all felt was spectacular. The cocktails, wine and beer selections were impressive, The Downtown Grocery is a restaurant that would definitely be on the top of our list if we were lucky enough to have it in our hometown.

The pimento cheeseburger is the best burger I have ever eaten. The pickles and fried potatoes complement it perfectly.

The most accurate way to describe Downtown Grocery is «decent». The food was good, but after doing some research and seeing how they’re represented on their website I definitely expected more. Descriptions about casual fare (mahi mahi, various pasta dishes) were inflated to seem more complex than they were. While they were tasty, nothing I experienced was innovative or great. A fine place to eat, but I would say that even casual foodies will be disappointed.

Excellent VT dinning! Do your self s favor and come here. Great service, tasty food, fun Vermonty atmosphere. Reminds me of Hen Of the Woods and the perfect wife. Everything was really delicious!

Downtown Grocery is a very popular place! My group of 12 and I were very lucky because they had just enough seating to fit all of us before filling up. Typical diner fare that is filling and hits the spot. The waitresses seemed overwhelmed (understandably so) but were still attentive enough. Conveniently located spot to stop by during a weekend away in Ludlow.

I’ve vacationed from NYC to the Ludlow area my whole life and The Downtown Grocery is a very welcome addition to an area where good (maybe even decent?) restaurant options are in short supply. We ordered a mix of dishes from both the specials and the set menu, and I found the specials to be awesome whereas the menu options were just ok. Next time (and there will be a next time, for sure) I will order entirely from the specials menu. Maybe the chef likes his inspiration? I respect that.
Also, I found their wine list to be overpriced.

Exceptionally well-​made food chosen from an imaginative, locally-​sourced menu. The ambience of the dining room was compromised by a large party with a dedicated kids table, and a very underdone décor. But the food spoke for itself. The best fine dining in Ludlow.

Not a bad thing I can say about this place!
Staff was attentive and very nice, food was very good (mussels, pork belly, heirloom tomato salad, striped bass) and atmosphere was cozy but nice.
I would definitely go back and would recommend anyone visiting the area to go. Make a reservation though, it’s popular!

This is such an awesome find in Ludlow, Vermont! Its casual yet brings the most unique options to the table like turbot and deckle steak from their chalkboard wall of specials! All the dishes are well prepared, and they always offer a solid portion size. This is the kind of place I always try something Ive never eaten before, although their simple homemade pasta and shrimp dish is phenom! On top of their unique (although smaller) menu, is a focus to mixology and some serious drink options! They always have some awesome concoctions, and are never lite on the pour! Their version of the manhattan and the moscow mule are the best! The bartender rocks — and so does his mustache :) If you love your dinner, buy the kitchen some tall boys — the best tip around! :) Make a reservation!

We finally made it here– it was so worth it! When we finally digest all the deliciousness we will be back.

Excellent… you’d never know about it unless someone told you to check it out.
The cheese served with the Mesclun Salad was delicious, the Catfish served over Cheddar Grits was to die for and the homemade mint ice cream was actually made with real mint that you could not only see but taste.
While I always appreciate great service the crew at TDG went above and beyond to make sure our experience was perfect. They weren’t only attentive and friendly but our server Brittany was able to offer great suggestions of what to pair with each meal.
Definitely a bit spendy, but you pay for what you get and I can’t wait to go back!
Locals Tip: I was told they have a special menu on Mondays which includes a 3-​Course Meal for $ 33 (roughly the same price you’d spend on an entrée alone any other night) and while the cozy space is dimly lit and charming I can imagine they can get very busy.
You might want to try the TDG on a weeknight, if not, I would definitely suggest making a reservation in advance.

This was my second time and the first time with my wife. We were headed to Vermont for Easter weekend and like to have dinner out on a Friday. The place was booked all weekend so we had a 5:30 reservation, not ideal but it’s a holiday weekend so you just have to chill. They were great right from the start and never rushed us. We had a great Pinot noir which set us up right. I had the pork belly starter which was awesome. Also shares the special chicken wings with an herb sauce/​rub and they were a wonderful savory flavor. Shrimp risotto with pea purée and micro greens had a wonderfully subtle flavor perfect for spring. I would have preferred it for lunch and wished the shrimp were cooked in celery salted water to add a little zing.
Dessert was a mad crime brûlée which was well done if a little dense.
Will go back every chance I get. The staff absolutely rock and if you’re happy you can buy them a round, or three in my case!

Probably the single best restaurant in a 50-​mile radius. While it’s hard to make a reservation, it’s totally worth the effort. I enjoy their apple cocktail just a little too much and always try to get someone else to drive whenever I go here. Apart from that, it’s hard to comment on specific dishes, because everything is very seasonal. I love that they source the ingredients locally, and it all tastes so fresh.

Holly Mother of God just get a reservation and enjoy the ride.
Very creative and somewhat regularly changing menu, specials, and wine list keep you on your toes.
Please get new chairs!!! They resemble (if not are actually) the terrible chairs left over from the former restaurant.
Wonderful ingredients
Well prepared
Nice atmosphere (except for those damn chairs)
Great service
Well attentive staff and mangers
A wonderful experience
Love the Bronzino!

a cute FARM TO TABLE restaurant where you’ll feel like you’re dining at someone’s house
NOTE: Specials of the day are listed on the chalkboard & they can run out within the first hour of opening so make an RSVP for the first seating!
unfortunately we were pretty disappionted considering the rave reviews & the out-​of-​the-​way drive
—complimentary Crusty French bread served w/​pitted olives MMmm
—Whole roasted Branzini w/​lemon brown butter: this was tasty & the best dish of the night
—Veal ribs w/​napa slaw: (2 HUGE ribs): the large portions of this dish were unexpected! ribs were very smoky but not fall off the bone scrumptious
—Fresh mint chocolate chip ice cream: icy! (we asked for a side of crème fraîche which was nothing to write home about either)
not bad but it didn’t live up to the hype or price!
CLOSED ON TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS but they offer a $ 27 three course deal on Mondays & Thursdays… a great deal but we’ll probably never be in the area again!

Had my birthday dinner and drinks at the Downtown Grocery on a Friday night. The restaurant was busy but we made reservations ahead of time.
Everything from the drinks to the dessert was insanely delicious. I tend not to get the specials when I eat out, I always feel like the restaurant is trying to push out items that are about to go bad or have too much of. But as our server did such a phenomenal job describing the specials, we wound up ordering the appetizers and my husband’s entrée (he changed his mind about his original order on the spot). The cheesy bread with arugula or spinach? was incredible. I was so full that I barely ate my burger. He ordered the pork chop which he described as melting off the bone. My burger was tasty but not the greatest. The fries were amazing and the little dipping secret sauce complemented the food well.
If I am ever in the area again I will gladly drop $ 100 again on dinner in a heartbeat.