Inn At Shelburne Farms

We visit the Inn every year at the same time and it’s always a huge treat to stay at this gorgeous, friendly place.
The food itself can range in quality from 3−−5 stars and is sometimes a bit too fussy. But the setting is really cozy (old room, roaring fireplace, beautiful views of the sunset on the lake) and the service is wonderfully friendly.
We’re already looking forward to next year!

Oh if you want the best place to have breakfast in the area couple with peaceful surroundings, the best view make a reservation to step back in time with breakfast at the Inn at Shelburne Farms. A reservation gets you in the gate and you can drive right up to the Inn. Stepping out of your car and walking to the manor house is like stepping into another world. The world of the Webb’s and Vanderbilt’s. If the weather is nice you want to sit outside on the covered patio with amazing in fact breath take views of the former gardens and then Lake Champlain. You can imagine yourself back in the day reading your paper and enjoying your breakfast. We have found the breakfast here to not be any more expensive than others in the area and the silence and the view are worth the price. Everything we have had has been prepared to order and tasty and delicious. Except to their Scrapple. i didn’t really care of it but their chicken sausage is great. Most of their food is local from the farm or from Vermont. After you eat take a stroll through the many levels of the formal gardens down to the lake. Oh my.
We would love to come back for dinner sometime and they have special local rates for rooms a few times per year which we might try. They are closed in the winter as the house has no heat so make sure you call or check their web site.

Had such an amazing evening at the inn at Shelburne farms! Started out the evening by touring the grounds, don’t miss out on their delicious bakery with beautiful breads and tasty cookies/​croissants. Also not to be missed their greenhouse with a variety of gorgeous flowers. The highlight of the evening was sitting outside on the Adirondack chairs overlooking lake Champlain for the sunset with some champagne. Simply breathtaking. We were quite impressed with dinner, the service was very good and the ingredients mostly sourced from their working farm. To start some delicious bread from the bakery, as an appetizer some of the best tasting tomatoes I’ve ever had with mozzarella and basil which I wish there were more of. Also had the flatbread which was incredibly flavorful with beets, goat cheese and tomatoes. As our main dish we got the trio of lamb including chop, braised lamb laid upon a delicious chick pea purée. My hubby had the beef duo which he said was phenomenal. We ended the meal with some cheeses which were pretty good. Highly recommend this spot for a beautiful farm visit, delicious meal and gorgeous lake views!

My family choose the Inn for a special get together. We made reservations for Sunday Brunch. When we arrived the waiting area was full of people, most without reservations, and asking if they could be seated. The host said there was a short wait. The dining room and patio were full.
Many of the people waiting were dressed in tank tops, torn cutoff shorts and flip flops. Several individuals desperately needed a bath and a haircut. One fellow was wandering about in a filthy tank top with the saying «Shot Drinker». It looked like the entrance to a soup kitchen. We wrote it off as a sign of the times.
When we were seated, 45 minutes after our reservation time. Our server approached the table and looked at the floor, and began mumbling something about the menu. It appeared she had some kind of speech impediment. I had to ask her three times to repeat what she was saying so we could get our order in.
We had chosen the Inn because the last time, five years ago, we had a good experience.
Little did we know the nightmare was still unfolding. Our food arrived promptly. I looked at the plates and was just disgusted. The pancakes were BURNT, the burned portion on top. The Sea Bass had no fish to be found, and the cakes were BURNT on the bottom (even worse, trying to «hide» the kitchen disaster. We asked for the check and got out of there.
I want a explanation from their so-​called Chef. I have had better food served at a homeless shelter What a shame this stunningly beautiful place could have been allowed to sink to this pathetic level.

Check out their gift shop — you do NOT need to go onto the main farm. It’s a great place to pick up picnic items or just good food.
Tried 3 cheddar cheeses and the best is their aged 2 year that won an award
OMG — it was the BEST Cheddar cheese I’ve ever had!
We bought 3 packs and thought we’d take 1 home — no such luck — my family gobbled it up in 2 days.

This review is about the restaurant. I really had some high expectations here for the food and service, but was strikingly disappointed.
Our server for breakfast was very nice, but did not give good service. She was scattered, serving espressos without cream, serving toast without butter, no salt shaker set on our table, didn’t refill our water, didn’t check on us until 10 minutes after receiving our food, and then comes the really annoying part.
They were unfortunately out of the biscuits and gravy, and I later find out that they just ran out of biscuits. You mean no one at any point could have mixed more biscuit dough and baked it? I make biscuits at home all the time in under 20 minutes. But I had already ordered, and I guess they were out!
I settled on the eggs benedict, which arrived to me with a hollandaise sauce that was tasteless and starting to break. The eggs were poached okay, slightly over, and the wilted greens had a very bitter taste to them. The pork was tender, but so incredibly bland.
My dish came with home fries, but they really just seemed like roasted marble potatoes from the night before to me. They had no spices, no seasoning, and no color. A couple of my potatoes still had the indelible sprouts attached. So, to kick up my potatoes I asked for ketchup. Nope, they were out of ketchup. Seriously? That’s ridiculous.
At what point today, when they knew they were going to run out of ketchup or realized they didn’t have any, did no one just send someone out quickly to get a few bottles?
Seems like this place is pretty happy to put up their hands and say «oops, sorry!»
This ketchup issue actually surprised me another time as well. There is a food cart at the barn, I’m presuming the food gets prepped by the kitchen here at the inn. I ordered a burger. The burger itself was not seasoned and overcooked, the bun was not toasted and it isn’t served with anything but cheese. No condiments, no garnishes. They were nice enough to add some tomato and lettuce to by burger, but there were no condiments! I want aioli, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, bacon, not just meat, bread and cheese. No one seems to care.
There seems to be an air of negligence regarding service, consistency, common sense and standards. I think a few folks need a slap on the wrist.

The property gets five stars. If you read other Unilocal reviews you can get a sense of how amazing this place is. In the future I would definitely come back for a day visit but wouldn’t stay over night. Shelburne Farms has an impressive history of one of the Vanderbilt daughters who married a doctor and they decided to buy 3,000 acres in the late 1800’s with the vision of making this farm. The farm is now about half that size, and the landscape was designed by the guy who designed central park.
The adirondack chairs scattered all over the lawn overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mtns offer a relaxing experience during the day which was pleasant.
It’s important to know money you spend at the Inn goes directly toward keeping the farm operating. That way you aren’t disappointed with the nightly rate and what you get for it – it’s not in the room, it’s outside. We booked the least expensive room, which was $ 350 a night. What would you expect for that much money? A lot, right? Like, Four Seasons type accommodations. Our room had a small uncomfortable bed, paper thin walls that allowed us to hear our neighbors arguing and a tiny airplane sized sink. And there was no TV, although the not-​so-​fast wifi was available. I had to go get a massage in Burlington to help my back which was in pain after sleeping in this bed two nights. My wife said to me on the third night, «I wish we could sleep at a Hilton tonight.» That’s not a good sign.
As for the restaurant, it was hit and miss. Our braised beef short ribs for our «special» anniversary dinner were disgusting. They were tough and gamey, however, our server was awesome as were the appetizers and wine list. The next morning, breakfast was good but we didn’t see a server for over ten minutes after sitting down. We decided not to eat there the third day.
The long story short is Shelburne Farms is an incredible farm rich in history and education. The Inn is also full of history. A place like this takes a LOT of money and people to keep it running (which is why the original family turned it into a non profit). It’s a great place to visit, just make sure your expectations are adjusted so you know what this place is all about.

The location is a 5 star plus. The buildings, the architect, the gardens, just absolutely breath takingly beautiful. I think the most important thing to remember when booking a stay here is that the facility is a step back in time. The rooms are elegant, but one must remember the plumbing and it’s fixtures are antique, which is a charm in itself. Such as, our tub was a four claw tub with a shower curtain on a round rail. The bathroom sinks are very old fashioned with the left faucet hot water, the right side cold water. The bed was very comfortable, the room very spacious. (The White Room). Not sure why, but housekeeping did not make our beds or replenish our soaps. Not a big deal for us. We requested an ice bucket and one was brought to our room instantly.
The food was fresh, delicious, and service was excellent. We never left the estate, enjoyed our stay, and would love to return.

Shelburne Farms was amazing! We went for Sunday Supper last weekend which was a great dining experience.
Pros: Service, food, atmosphere, and the menu.
Cons: None.
Let me begin by saying the service was perfect. Chris was very friendly and knowledgable about wine. He recommended a perfect bottle of white to go with our dinner. I do not typically like chardonnay but he was right on the money with his recommendation.
The food was excellent. I highly recommend checking out Sunday Supper. Everything on the menu is tasty. You really cannot go wrong. Each course was delicious. The salad and the celeriac-​cabbage gratin were both very good, but my favorite was the roasted Misty Knoll chicken (which was also recommended by Chris).
All in all it made for quite a remarkable evening. We will definitely be back!

The Inn at Shelburne Farms is in an architecturally interesting building that was built with Vanderbilt money in the late 19^th century. It is a beautiful property right on the shores of Lake Champlain with a great view of the Adirondack Mountains. However, the place has collapsed as a restaurant. What was once an elegant and savory dining experience now is a poorly serviced, i.e., lack of staff training, with mediocre cuisine. I hesitate to call it cuisine. Dinner was remarkably low in quality for what the property has always delivered. They have no sommelier (per an overheard discussion) and a poorly trained staff («Could you bring us some olive oil to go with the bread. No one has ever asked for that before; I’m not sure we have any” – and this is just a small illustration).
The intermezzo cheese course: literally a one square inch piece of one year old cheese. The piece of cheese was so small that a mouse would not have bothered to go after it.
Something has drastically slipped at this property. The only thing it has going for now is its location.
This now appears to be a kid friendly property, which is fine if this is what you want. However, that property calls out for something far better. It now is a major disappointment as compared to what it once was.

I didn’t stay at the Inn, but had dinner there one night with my husband and WOW. The meal was one of the most delicious meals either of us had (he had pork with mashed potatoes and I had steak with au gratin potatoes)!! The service was lovely and the views are breathtaking. You can eat in the dining room within the inn or on the porch, so naturally we chose the porch. We watched the sun set from our table and there were adirondack chairs available for lounging after the meal. Would come back in a heartbeat if only we lived closer!
Tip: Make sure you make reservations early. Seems like they fill up quickly.

I had high hopes for my meal at the Inn at Shelburne Farms, but left disappointed. My friend and I went to the Inn for Sunday dinner and had their prixe fixe menu. The salad was amazing, my entrée was mediocre, dessert was good, and our waiter was strange.
We started with a family style salad that was the highlight of the meal. Spinach, apples, butternut squash, and shredded cheese were among the ingredients that made up this delicious starter! It set the bar high.
Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. I ordered the lamb, and found it bland, boring, and nothing special. The braised greens the lamb was served with were tasty, but the roasted potatoes that accompanied the dish were also not particularly flavorful. My dining companion ordered the vegetable napolean and was not impressed either. I actually enjoyed the few bites I had of her dish better than my own.
Dessert was a doughnut like pastry served with cream and maple syrup. I had a few bites and enjoyed it, but did not feel compelled to eat the entire serving.
In addition to the food being a disappointment, we also did not know what to make of our waiter. He was nice, but very soft spoken and mumbled quite a bit. I could barely understand him half the time. He also wasn’t terribly knowledgeable about the food (based on the one question I asked him when I ordered).
Overall, I had heard great things about the Inn at Shelburne Farms and went in expecting to be impressed! I was not. What a shame.

Drive through the gates into history. The atmosphere is so beautiful, the staff is very kind and accommodating and the food is always to die for! You must visit the Inn for dinner and stay for the night if there is available room at the Inn.

We are big fans! Service was great and the food was delicious. We were here for Brunch on Mother’s Day and were able to sit outside overlooking the lake. The menu items were creative and all used fresh, local ingredients.
We will definitely go back as often as possible.
When you go, plan to spend a lot of time exploring the grounds and taking in the amazing countryside.

The food is good, but is outmatched by the beautiful Web Estate and surrounding grounds. Overall, a great experience that’s worth doing at least once. If the food suits your tastes you’ll be very pleased, if not, the ambiance should help to make your visit positive.

My husband and I stayed at the Inn last year for our 1 year wedding anniversary. What we thought the Inn was like and the reality were two TOTALLY different things — it was SO much more than we could have hoped for!
Driving up to the Inn, we felt as if we were in a fairytale, the picturesque view and ambling road welcomed us with the only buildings on the large property being those owned by the estate. The Inn itself is amazing, decorated tastefully with period pieces, warm and clean. The staff was wonderful both at the Inn and on the tour (which we highly recommend).
We dined on the patio and had a unique experience when a quick storm rolled through. It was an awesome meal and one we won’t soon forget!
Probably the best part about the experience was the freedom to walk around the large property from building to building and not feel that we bothering anyone. It was really fun to explore the non-​restricted areas (most of the property) and it contributed greatly to the peace and relaxation we both felt.
Amazing time — we’d highly recommend it to anyone. Even if you are just looking for a place to explore during the day!

The setting is fantastic, the food and service first class. If you reserve breakfast here after-​wards you can tour the grounds at the farm, which make for a very relaxing entertaining morning.

There is absolutely nothing as idyllic as an evening at Shelburne Farms. The beauty simply cannot be put into words. If you find yourself with a free evening, and want to step back into a gilded era, take the drive to Shelburne and wind your way out to the Inn. The Double Mock Orange is in full bloom at the Inn, and its sweet scent beckons you to the house.
Start with a Farm Cocktail, individually created by Tim. Ask him for his favorite, and he’ll respond that they are all his favorites. Each is like a baby to him. I highly recommend the June Bug (although they can change weekly depending on the availability of ingredients), which is a fantastic blend of local strawberries and pure heaven. I could have easily had 4 of those and been set for the night.
After picking up our cocktails, my dining companions and I strolled out onto the lawn and into Lila’s Flower garden. They really transport you back to a time that no longer exists. Strolling through the gardens leaves you feeling calm and completely ready for a meal that, in this reviewer’s opinion, cannot be matched.
Our table was not quite ready, as we had requested to move outside, but we had no complaints because it gave us time to walk through the public rooms. Ask the host (ess) if there is a function in the East Dining Room. If there is not, ask about the Webb’s plans for what the Shelburne House was going to look like. The building that became the Shelburne House was originally a temporary home while they decided where to build the actual home. Lila and William decided they liked being right next to the water, and so they expanded on the current building.
Once seated, we were served warm ciabatta from O-​Bread, the bakery on the property. We then started with a Strawberry Salad and a Roasted Beet and Snow Pea Salad. Each were exquisite in their own way. The Strawberry Salad was garnished with candied almonds and triple crème cheese, topped with a light vinaigrette (maybe rhubarb). The Beet Salad was just as delicious, lightly topped with crispy leeks and a blue cheese vinaigrette. Both were made with Market Garden greens and the flavors just exploded in your mouth.
For dinner, I ordered the Day Boat Scallops, served with a bit of lobster and bacon. When the dish was brought out, one of my dining companions commented that the scallops looked like petit crème caramel, because they were so perfected browned on top. Talk about a perfect summer meal for a summer evening. The scallops were not over cooked, the lobster complemented the flavors, as did the crumbles of bacon scattered on top. My mom ordered the Boyden Farms beef, which was excellent, but for me, too heavy on a hot summer evening. The flavors in the beef dish were amazing, and she managed to eat every last piece. My other dining companion ordered the Tempeh. I am not a vegetarian eater, so I have to take his word for it, but he said for a tempeh dish, it was out of this world. I did have a bite, and it was delicious, but I have no comparison.
When the dessert menu was brought, there was no way we could say no. We ordered the crème caramel, mocha cupcake and the chocolate semifreddo. The consensus was the crème caramel was the hands down winner. It seemed so light, and not overly sicky-​sweet, which sometimes can be the case. The other two were excellent, but nothing rivaled the crème caramel.
To summarize this long (although I could go on and on…) review, go to Shelburne Farms for the experience. A written review cannot do it justice. A picture is worth a thousands words right? Well, a bite of food from the Inn (and David Hugo) is worth way more than a thousand words.

This place lived up to the hype. Incredibly beautiful grounds and building — it feels sort of like eating in a museum but you can touch everything. Service was excellent.
We started with a beverage — pricey but totally worth it for one of the most interesting cocktails I have ever had complete with sorel and a raw egg — sooo good.
We had quail appetizer, ravioli, and beef — all were fantastic.
The only thing I was disappointed about the the whole evening is that they were out of strawberries for the strawberry short cake. Dessert that we had was good (but I don’t remember what it was so not great).

Set amongst the rolling Vermont hills on the edge of Lake Champlain, the Shelburne Farms Inn is a lovely mansion from the days when mansions were really mansions. A Vanderbilt lived here on these 400 acres back in the day, and now it’s a tremendously well kept Inn and absurdly delicious restaurant.
Take a walk around the grounds while you’re waiting to be seated and bundle up against the fresh lake breezes. Soon you’re escorted into the marble dining room which is dressy, for Vermont. The whole place has a certain WASPy vibe to it, but in kind of a quaint, sweet way that makes you want to slip on a Ralph Lauren sweater over a collared shirt. Why not? Everyone else is.
The cuisine is based in classic French and employs primarily locally grown, organic ingredients. It’s very seasonal, particularly the produce which is grown in the farm gardens.
After ordering you’re treated to several roving treats (gratis), which the more sophisticated among you will call amuse bouche. In my case, I had a chilled watermelon and tomato purée which more or less blew my mind and did indeed amuse the tongue. Next there was something I’d describe as a beet pudding; essentially pureed beets layered with some kind of sweet cream which tasted incredibly fresh and sweet but earthy at the same time. Last, there was a tomato and cauliflower bite; both of which tasted as though they’d been plucked from the garden that afternoon (and indeed they probably had).
The highlight of my meal was the appetizer: fried Island Creek oysters with kimchee, pork belly, and sweet chili mayo. If you aren’t familiar with Island Creek, they are exquisite oysters which you’ll find served at the French Laundry amongst many others. They were fried very lightly and the combination of the pork belly, kimchee, and chili mayo defies description. It was better than good. It was worth the trip to Vermont for these oysters alone.
My entrée was Vermont-​raised grass fed beef with pickled heirloom tomatoes and roasted potatoes. The tomatoes formed a kind of sweet relish which I dipped the potatoes in as well as the beef, which was unilaterally served rare. I wouldn’t call the beef life-​changing, but I enjoyed it despite it being a bit tough.
Last but not least, I enjoyed a crème fraîche cheesecake with rasberries. It made me happy.
On the way home, as you wind along the mile gravel road from the Inn to the edge of the property, you’re blessed by the sight of the full moon reflecting off the lake; the waves gently lapping a good-​bye as the light dances along the shore.
Around $ 65 a person including tax and tip, but not wine. Open from mid-​May to mid-​October. In the Winter, it’s like THE SHINING.