The Old Vienna Tea Room, Stowe

The tea room is part of the Trapp Family Lodge, and we opted to eat here while out sightseeing last fall. It was later in the afternoon and they were dealing with an unexpected busload of tourists, so everything was a bit chaotic. I opted for the bratwurst, sauerkraut, and German potato salad platter. It was okay. Not great. But the views from the outdoor deck were magnificent.

The food, ambiance, and service were perfect. The owner, Andre, could not have been friendlier nor more attentive. We travel to New York City every four months for a doctor's appointment and I would pit this restaurant against almost any in that city. It's expensive, but worth every penny. I do not understand the negative review about Andre, since he went out of his way to make us feel welcome and valued without being obtrusive. I highly recommend this for a special dining experience.

I live in NY city and have had my share of fine dining, but this restaurant was terrific. Andre (owner and waiter) was so hospitable and gave us a little background into everything we were trying. He had wine selections (Austrian Red and White) which are difficult to get outside Austria. The food is a revelation. My husband and I each started with soup. He the butternut squash and I had the lobster bisque. The best bisque ever. Delicate and creamy with lots of flavor, but not overpowering the lobster. The entrees were a saurbraten type dish (better cut of meat than usual) and a Natur Schnitzel with mushroom sauce (very delicate and creamy). The evening was finished with Andre's personal suggested of a Tyrolean souffle with lemon merangue in claret suace and inside is homemade brioche and inside that a chocolate truffle. Soooo good. Expensive of course, but worth every penny. Andre's chef is a certified Austrian trained expert and it shows. If anyone likes German or Austrain cuisine this is a must.

Absolutely delicious food. Due to the time of season and the heavy snowfall, we had the place to ourselves. The owner tried to give us some space, but as his only customers, we had a great chance to get to know him and the restaurant. If you're not sure, ask. He picked most of my meal for me and I couldn't have been happier. My wife enjoyed the best schnitzel of her life. I see where people say the service could be eccentric, but take it from a different perspective. They seem to run the restaurant for the love of it -- you're in their home and have to play by their rules. Consider yourself a guest in someone's house and it is great service. We're going to be in Upstate New York this summer and are already planning a day trip across the lake to return.

I've eaten at this restaurant almost a dozen times over the last five years. Many patrons (including myself) make special trips to Vermont just to have a meal here. The food is always first-rate, and is comparable to some of the best places in New York (though in a more casual atmosphere). The owner is definitely quirky, and places a lot of importance on high quality, fresh, made-to-order dishes. Take his recommendation from the menu and you can't go wrong. The atmosphere is very quiet and comfortable and is a perfect setting for romantic dinners. I would recommend making a reservation, no matter what time of the year or what day of the week. I don't give full points for service because yes, the owner can be a bit strange at times. There are people he likes, and will serve well, and people he doesn't like, and will serve poorly. Remember the soup kitchen owner on "Seinfeld"? So you have to prepared to play along with his game and don't take it personally. If you can laugh about his peculiarities, you're going to have a fantastic meal (and you might come away with a good story, too).