Blue Paddle Bistro

Very charming inside and great food if your in the area definitely go here. It is pricey but worth it! I got the steak with Gorgonzola and balsamic omg melt in your mouth goodness!

Add this place to the ever-​growing list of high quality restaurants outside of Burlington. The atmosphere can best be described as cozy and inviting and the food was very good. The menu offers a wide array of options ranging from seafood dishes to vegetarian meals, all of which are very reasonably priced. We did find that parking can be a bit of a challenge on a Saturday night, so be prepared to park on the road if they are busy. Overall though, we had a great experience here and will certainly be returning.

Blue Paddle is always delicious! Went for Valentine’s Day dinner and the owner Mandy was dressed as Cupid greeting everyone as she worked in the front end. Everyone is so friendly here it makes for a wonderful pairing with the perfect food. Surf and turf tonight was my favorite dish so far. The bartender’s recommendation for the Bread and Butter Pinot Noir was on point. We’ll be on the lookout for that wine! Victoria was our sweet and attentive waitress. Mandy came up to offer to take photos for anyone interested and they took wonderful care of the family at the table next to us with a young daughter. I have now tried most of the menu and it only makes deciding that much more difficult! Absolutely worth the splurge! Tonight everyone was sent home with complimentary house-​made whoopie pies!

This place is excellent ! Small but cozy atmosphere, the owner /​operator was an excellent host along with all the other staff who greeted us as soon as we entered and made us feel at home on our first visit. The food was outstanding and our waitress was attentive, helpful and friendly.
We were here for a birthday dinner for my wife’s sister and the staff surprised us with «happy birthday» singing and a desert with a candle — we didn’t set this up, I assume the waitress heard us talking about it, what a great surprise and a nice touch and attention to detail.
We will be back for sure — thanks Blue Paddle !
p. s. Thanks for putting up with our rather rambunctious party of 5 we had a blast laughing and enjoying the place you were nothing but hospitable throughout!

Have heard nothing but raves about this place so it was with great excitement I went with a group of 6 the other night for the first time. My experience began with a ‘vodka’ martini served in a big glass half full. Poor presentation at best but on first taste it was gin. The waitress had specifically given me mine and expressed that it was vodka and to my friend, one labeled gin. Once the mix up was straightened out I still had a half filled glass. Either make a strong pour or get a smaller glass. Next disappointment was my Gorgonzola crusted tenderloin. Ordered medium rare, it arrived well done, not a trace of red or pink. Had I not been with a group I would have sent it back but as it took almost 20 minutes to get the meal I just ate it. Our waitress did come by 10 minutes after delivering the food to ask if everything was ok but at that point the game was over. Bottom line, poorly presented drinks, reasonably priced food, given the type of restaurant but poorly prepared, lack of attention by the wait staff.
Not a recipe to entice my return.

Came here for my birthday dinner, and they couldn’t have been more personable or sweeter for my birthday.
Food: Delicious. I was dying to try their duck breast but they ran out. I went for their butternut squash ravioli instead while my husband tried their blue cheese crusted filet. First, the butternut squash… what an amazingly complex set of flavors. I don’t even know why I eat meat sometimes when veggies taste this good. The dish was well balanced between sweet and savory. Some creaminess from the ravioli was balanced with the crunchiness of the maple crusted walnuts. Amazing. The filet was cooked to perfection and the blue cheese added a new depth of flavor. They also were so sweet to bring out some apple crisp and sing me happy birthday. And that apple crisp was so fresh and flavorful.
Décor: The blue paddle is a house that is converted into the restaurant. The bar is towards what would be the dining rooms. We ate in one of the bedrooms upstairs. The house feel actually added to a cozy atmosphere. There were photos in the hallway as there would be in a house but all about the restaurant. You felt like you were eating some delicious home cooking.
Service: From the moment we walked in, we felt like we were old friends of the owner and servers. They made us feel like we were the only ones int he room and took extra care to make sure I had a good birthday dinner.
Price: Slightly pricier than the other restaurants we went to in Vermont, but your paying for finer dining. For the value, it was well priced.
Other: Just the friendliest service around. Make sure you make a reservation, this place gets PACKED.

Very worth the drive to South Hero. The seating is rather cosy as it is a converted home. The service is friendly, Mandy one of the owners often comes the table to see how things are.
The food is top notch. There can be a wait sometimes but it is worth it. Love it.

Great service, very friendly staff but the food was nothing to write home about. For a 28 $ special my wife got the seabass and it had canned corn. In August. Canned corn in August. Come on, if I’m going to pay that much I expect fresh seasonal ingredient. I had the crab ravioli and the crab cake on top was great but the Sauce tasted like uncooked cream. Not much flavor at all. Overall, try it if you want, but I won’t go back.

Go here for one of the best burgers in Vermont. Also, the blue cheese-​crusted filet is a standout. It’s such a comfortable place to have a delicious dinner… Nothing is pretentious, everything is delicious. The owners and staff are the best.

We had a 5p reservation, which is when they open. Arriving at 4:45p, we were the 2^nd car in the lot. While we had a reservation, outdoor seating is first come first serve.
They have 4 bar seats facing Route 2 on their porch. In the back, they have 2 picnic tables on their back deck. However, if you have a dog, then your seating is further back, past the tall hedges… Almost like going to a secret oasis. There are 3 picnic tables to choose from, as well as some Adirondack chairs to relax in. There is even a dog pool for dogs to cool down. Much better ambiance than their back deck.
Shane took care of us. He was pleasant and friendly.
Now the food… Our friends had the spicy duck spring rolls. They seem quite happy with them! We had a Caprese Salad, Butternut Squash-​Stuffed Ravioli, and Gorgonzola Crusted Filet Mignon. The ravioli was good, but not very filling. The filet was placed on top of the mashed potatoes, which were flavorful, but just slightly too dark for this dish, since there isn’t much of a sauce. The caramelized onions with the Gorgonzola cheese was a nice balance of flavors with the filet.
We’re not in the area often, I would definitely come here again. Very quaint restaurant. Wish I took a picture of the grassy outdoor dining area, it was really a nice environment for dining.

Did not feel welcomed at such an intimate and local dining spot. 4 staff people walked by me without even a hello I’ll be right with you. Had no idea who Mandy is, never came by to say hello how was your meal. Very «island» attitude. Good food, service was marginal. Snobby atmosphere for a local spot in Vermont. Maybe try again but if greeted the same way again will be the last time. Could be rumors are true that they don’t pay the staff on time that would be reason for crappy service

Went here for a birthday dinner after walking along the water in South Hero. The restaurant is a converted house with a large porch and chairs to sit outside. We ate upstairs in a ‘bedroom’ with some others celebrating as well.
They give free bread (so rare these days) which was a pleasant surprise! For dinner I had the coffee crusted pork loin with goat cheese mashed potatoes (yum!) and asparagus. The serving size was substantial and I cleaned my plate (something I never do). Even my dining partner drank the liquid from his lobster sauté like soup to get every little bit.
The wine glasses are comically large, we had a good laugh!

It’s hard not to love this place. When they have brunch it’s so good and so much fun. For a unique Vermont experience in a beautiful setting it’s a must.

Went out for a birthday dinner, first time ever, and loved it. The staff was very friendly and we even got a couple of laughs in. The food was beyond good. We all had to taste each others plates to get the depth of how amazing the food was. No one got anything that was less than amazing. Overall I will return and can’t wait

Awesome. You don’t want to miss this dining experience. Fabulous FRESH food and the staff/​owners are top notch. We are now regulars after discovering this bistro! Love!

I was tooling around Lake Champlain and the Champlain Islands when I realized that I was getting hungry. Checked Unilocal and found this wonderfule bistro. The reviews were so good, I had to try it.
I got there at 5:00′ when they open and people were already pulling up and standing in line. Although I did not have a reservation, they fit me in at the bar since I was by myself. The restaurant quickly filled up.
After looking over the menu, I chose the glazed salmon on cranberry risotto. And yes, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. Served on a bed of wilted spinach and asparagus spears, the portion size was a perfect size and the risotto was creamy goodness.
Definitely stop by here if you ever get the chance. I’d love to try their other dishes!

This place does not disappoint. Great atmosphere, delicious food. I love when I go there an they have live music! Local ingredients and a great wine selection. We just ate their last night and my husband was blown away by the gorgonzola filet mignon. I went with the salmon on top of cranberry asparagus risotto which was equally delicious. Although a little pricier, we love coming here and enjoy it every time — definitely worth the 30 minute drive from Burlington!

Great food and great service. Filet minion with Gorgonzola. Ravioli with crab cake. Appetizers — veggie egg roll. Everything was very delicious. Beer and drinks were also good. Check out the pics I uploaded. Small place but great food. Sat outside.

We just had our first meal here tonight, and, to put it mildly we were both absolutely gobsmacked. The entire experience was nothing short of perfection.
We reserved a table at 7pm on Saturday. We arrived right on time, parked, and were surprised to see how busy it was. There were throngs of folks enjoying the evening on the porch and all around the exterior of the restaurant. Super ambiance. We entered the front door and were greeted almost immediately. We were both hungry after a busy day doing yard work so we were thrilled to be told that our table was ready right away! We were taken through the restaurant to the back of the house to a cute little table in the corner. Absolutely beautiful little spot and I highly recommend it. We later learned this is table «B1». We’ll be asking for it again.
To start we shared a large Caesar salad, and it was everything you want from a Caesar — Crisp fresh hearts of romaine, tangy freshly-​made dressing, crispy croutons and just the right amount of shaved Parmesan (and by that I mean lots of it!). Our waitress also brought us a nice house bread basket and some Cabot butter.
For main course I had the veggie burrito and french fries, and my wife had the soy-​glazed salmon with ginger & cranberry risotto and asparagus. Both were remarkable. I snuck a few bites of my wife’s risotto and salmon, and I have to say I was blown away. Never tasted a risotto like it — the flavor was truly exceptional. The salmon perfectly cooked and just melted in your mouth.
The veggie burrito was top notch too, and without doubt the best value I’ve ever had for just $ 11. Incredibly perfect french fries. Huge portion too… I could only eat half of it.
We never get dessert, but we just had to try one here. We got the chocolate lava cake a la mode. I am not a dessert person, but let me tell you, words can not describe the decadence of this delectable dish.
We can’t wait to return and enjoy more yumminess from the menu. I really don’t remember having a more delicious and perfectly prepared meal.
It’s hard to describe this little place… we both felt like we had our own personal chef cooking for us. Even though the place was crazy busy, everything was served quickly, piping hot and perfectly presented. Our server was always available but never overbearing. I honestly don’t know how they do it.
My new favorite restaurant. By quite a long way.

This is the only real restaurant in South Hero, and thankfully, it’s excellent. The restaurant itself is situated in a beautifully restored farmhouse. It has lots of nooks and crannies for a more private experience if that’s what you are looking for.
The food is always great. It’s all locally sourced ingredients with a lot of attention to detail, and it shows. Every dish I have had the opportunity to try has been delicious and well-​prepared. This place holds it’s own against many of the better restaurants in Burlington.
The service is always top notch and the owner is a very sweet lady. She gave us gift tokens for coming on a slow night as a thank you.
If you are looking for a great spot in the islands this is the best choice.