Visiting from NH and wanted to check out some different breweries and this one was on my must try list. Black Flannel exceeded my expectations with an excellent selection of beer, great atmosphere and fantastic service. It was also a bonus to have the opportunity to learn more about the business. The logo is fun and I have added yet another brewery sweatshirt to my collection! We will definitely be back next trip to VT and look forward to trying more of the beers and the food!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jared “Sweaters” Bellfield
Black flannel is flawless like always. My visit to them yielded an amazing waitress, an amazing cocktail, and some pretty solid chicken and waffles. Service is quick and fast, polite, and the waitress definitely did not put on a performance but provided a genuine experience.Parking: Parking is a bit of a nightmare. I went on a Friday night and people were double parked, people were staying in line longer than they needed to. And people did not understand. They should just park by hannaford'sKid-friendliness: Black flannel is very friendly for kids from the ages of 1 to 3. There are some kid-friendly options for food. However, this is definitely more of an adult vibe restaurant. If you have young adults they should be okay. Id avoid bringing kids with the age ranges of 4-12. They will be utterly bored.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
Kevin Roach Jr.
Good beer & cocktail selections. They have awesome merch too!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Kayla Robinson
Black Flannel routinely dishes out some of the best food I have ever tasted, quicker than any other restaurant. They frequently change up their menu, keeping some standards around while rotating out others. All dishes are well composed, balanced, and satisfying. Their cocktails are incredible. We also can always get a seat (sometimes it has to be at the bar, which is totally fine), even on a Friday night. I don't know how they do it, but Black Flannel is amazing gem that Vermont is lucky to have. To name specifics, their smash burger is what you WANT a fast food burger to be - and it's ready faster than most fast food chains can prepare their underwhelming burgers. The chicken and waffles (or duck confit and waffles) are sweet, spicy, crispy, smokey... So well balanced. The stuffed delicate squash tastes like ketchup on mac n cheese (which is a huge compliment coming from me, I love it). Their pub pretzel is perfectly salted and has the most amazing cheese sauce and a really legit spicy mustard. I cannot complain about anything at Black Flannel - the food, the service, and the atmosphere are all perfect. It is a big, open, concrete-floored space that is somehow not echoey. You can hear the people you are sitting with without issue. Oh, and save room for dessert - it's just as tasty as the main course!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Pretzel Sticks, Duck Confit with Waffles, Chicken and Waffles
Erik Schmokel
Incredibly underrated in my opinion - Black Flannel is putting out some of the most inspired drinks and elevated bar food in Vermont. Featuring an ever-evolving menu (catch the to-die-for chicken and waffles in their current iteration or the smash burger all fast food joints can only dream of) and an amazing selection of both beer and spirits made in-house, the fact I can still get a table here on a Friday night without a reservation seems criminal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Pretzel Sticks, Beer Flight, Duck Confit with Waffles, Chicken and Waffles
Tim S.
Disappointed. We had the Charcuterie board, sashimi peppers, "pickle sampler", mussels, and the burger. Also the Vermont Heavy beer. And melted chocolate chip cookie and chocolate torte. The Charcuterie Board and Burger Portions were very small so consequently overpriced. Sashimi peppers portions were generous and tasty. We ordered the "pickle sampler" after seeing the how small the Charcuterie Board (for 4) was but turns out it was picklED veggies, not pickles. There are pickle options on the menu so we thought it was a sample of those. It was a generous portion but not what we were expecting. The mussels were good and so was the beer, and looks like a good selection of beer and other drinks. The online menu says that there are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options available but we came to understand this just means some modifications to what is on the menu not options not listed and unfortunately they were out of the pasta that one of our party was hoping for as a vegetarian option. We were seated quickly on arrival at 8pm but at a table that was in an area behind a small kneewall that was close to the kitchen and a service area with bright fluorescent lighting and noise from the kitchen and service area. Not the ambience we were hoping for. There were a number of open tables in the main dining area that remained empty through the kitchen closing. We just assumed they were all booked or we would have asked to be moved. The main dining area and bar had a good vibe. Dirty plates remained on the table through the meal even after we stacked and put at the end of the table. The server was friendly and mostly attentive, but I'd recommend booking an earlier reservation if you don't want to be rushed with the kitchen closing. Twenty minutes after being seated we were told the kitchen closes at 9 and needed to order (it was a Saturday and the website said it closed at 10). We had ordered drinks and appetizers and were waiting for our server to come back to take our dinner order. We hadn't intended to delay anything, so the way the server put it it to us was kind of off putting. When booking we checked the box that it was a special occasion and indicated it was a birthday in the comments. We didn't really expect anything and nothing was said or done, but the deserts were delicious. I wouldn't recommend for anything other than going for beer or drinks. We drove out from Burlington hoping to try a new place for a change but the food and general dining experience fell short of our expectations.
Elga Gruner
Excellent food, service, and ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips, Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Chicken and Waffles
Chelsea F.
The food is decent but the service is lagging.... We had a 5:30 reservation got there a few minutes early they sat us early and we didn't get even our appetizers until 6:30PM. If you want to actually enjoy your drink with your meal I suggest you go elsewhere
Blade Leblanc
Soooo good!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Clark
Everything was great. Taken back by the KITCHEN APPRECIATION FEE!! 4% on the bill. I saw 4 people on the line, 1 working, the others jawing it up.. (yes I know how a kitchen works). If someone from the kitchen is sent home does the APPRECIATION FEE GET ADJUSTED?How about the Bartender, servers, hostesses, brewmaster, dishwasher, and bussers, are they not worthy of a MANDATORY APPRECIATE FEE.Not tradition in these neck of the woods.
We went on a busy Saturday night and got a seat at the bar. The vibe is modern industrial and very brand forward with lots of logo wear and a cool ravin and anvil logo that we couldn’t figure out what it had to do with the name. Personally I found the atmosphere over lit, cool and uncomfortable with metal chairs that gives the place a cafeteria feel. We ordered the wings and a Caesar salad and both were just ok. The wings were slightly undercooked and the accompanying blue cheese dressing was full-on gluey. It looked and tasted like it was right out of a Sysco container. The chicken Caesar dressing was the same. Meh. Given all of the struggles with staffing that the restaurant industry has had since Covid, I was surprised to see so many staff on the floor but many seemed slightly idle. Given that, I was disappointed that our service was just ok - the bartender was extremely busy and friendly but too busy to pay much attention, while other staff really didn’t bother. I’ve been here once before and had a better experience, both with the food and the service so maybe it was an off night. Try the smash burger and grab one of their home brews and keep your expectations low.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jennifer Cummings
Fantastic establishment. Best fried honey chicken sandwich I've had, bit messy bit delicious. Beers had great selection and varieties. Casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. Would definitely recommend. Deserts were yummy ???? staff was very attentive and pleasant!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries
Rich Douglass
I have nothing to say about this place. Good food, good beer, good service in an attractive place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Fish and Chips, Beer Flights
Kaitlyn Raymond
Andrew B was our server tonight and we were so impressed ! Honestly we have been there over a dozen times and never had a bad experience, but tonight in particular was excellent! The attentive knowledgeable service and great food was delightful! We love the atmosphere, consistent great service , food and good prices. Thank you for being one of the best parts of Essex !
Visiting from NH and wanted to check out some different breweries and this one was on my must try list. Black Flannel exceeded my expectations with an excellent selection of beer, great atmosphere and fantastic service. It was also a bonus to have the opportunity to learn more about the business. The logo is fun and I have added yet another brewery sweatshirt to my collection! We will definitely be back next trip to VT and look forward to trying more of the beers and the food!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Black flannel is flawless like always. My visit to them yielded an amazing waitress, an amazing cocktail, and some pretty solid chicken and waffles. Service is quick and fast, polite, and the waitress definitely did not put on a performance but provided a genuine experience.Parking: Parking is a bit of a nightmare. I went on a Friday night and people were double parked, people were staying in line longer than they needed to. And people did not understand. They should just park by hannaford'sKid-friendliness: Black flannel is very friendly for kids from the ages of 1 to 3. There are some kid-friendly options for food. However, this is definitely more of an adult vibe restaurant. If you have young adults they should be okay. Id avoid bringing kids with the age ranges of 4-12. They will be utterly bored.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
Good beer & cocktail selections. They have awesome merch too!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Black Flannel routinely dishes out some of the best food I have ever tasted, quicker than any other restaurant. They frequently change up their menu, keeping some standards around while rotating out others. All dishes are well composed, balanced, and satisfying. Their cocktails are incredible. We also can always get a seat (sometimes it has to be at the bar, which is totally fine), even on a Friday night. I don't know how they do it, but Black Flannel is amazing gem that Vermont is lucky to have. To name specifics, their smash burger is what you WANT a fast food burger to be - and it's ready faster than most fast food chains can prepare their underwhelming burgers. The chicken and waffles (or duck confit and waffles) are sweet, spicy, crispy, smokey... So well balanced. The stuffed delicate squash tastes like ketchup on mac n cheese (which is a huge compliment coming from me, I love it). Their pub pretzel is perfectly salted and has the most amazing cheese sauce and a really legit spicy mustard. I cannot complain about anything at Black Flannel - the food, the service, and the atmosphere are all perfect. It is a big, open, concrete-floored space that is somehow not echoey. You can hear the people you are sitting with without issue. Oh, and save room for dessert - it's just as tasty as the main course!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Pretzel Sticks, Duck Confit with Waffles, Chicken and Waffles
Incredibly underrated in my opinion - Black Flannel is putting out some of the most inspired drinks and elevated bar food in Vermont. Featuring an ever-evolving menu (catch the to-die-for chicken and waffles in their current iteration or the smash burger all fast food joints can only dream of) and an amazing selection of both beer and spirits made in-house, the fact I can still get a table here on a Friday night without a reservation seems criminal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Pretzel Sticks, Beer Flight, Duck Confit with Waffles, Chicken and Waffles
Disappointed. We had the Charcuterie board, sashimi peppers, "pickle sampler", mussels, and the burger. Also the Vermont Heavy beer. And melted chocolate chip cookie and chocolate torte. The Charcuterie Board and Burger Portions were very small so consequently overpriced. Sashimi peppers portions were generous and tasty. We ordered the "pickle sampler" after seeing the how small the Charcuterie Board (for 4) was but turns out it was picklED veggies, not pickles. There are pickle options on the menu so we thought it was a sample of those. It was a generous portion but not what we were expecting. The mussels were good and so was the beer, and looks like a good selection of beer and other drinks. The online menu says that there are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options available but we came to understand this just means some modifications to what is on the menu not options not listed and unfortunately they were out of the pasta that one of our party was hoping for as a vegetarian option. We were seated quickly on arrival at 8pm but at a table that was in an area behind a small kneewall that was close to the kitchen and a service area with bright fluorescent lighting and noise from the kitchen and service area. Not the ambience we were hoping for. There were a number of open tables in the main dining area that remained empty through the kitchen closing. We just assumed they were all booked or we would have asked to be moved. The main dining area and bar had a good vibe. Dirty plates remained on the table through the meal even after we stacked and put at the end of the table. The server was friendly and mostly attentive, but I'd recommend booking an earlier reservation if you don't want to be rushed with the kitchen closing. Twenty minutes after being seated we were told the kitchen closes at 9 and needed to order (it was a Saturday and the website said it closed at 10). We had ordered drinks and appetizers and were waiting for our server to come back to take our dinner order. We hadn't intended to delay anything, so the way the server put it it to us was kind of off putting. When booking we checked the box that it was a special occasion and indicated it was a birthday in the comments. We didn't really expect anything and nothing was said or done, but the deserts were delicious. I wouldn't recommend for anything other than going for beer or drinks. We drove out from Burlington hoping to try a new place for a change but the food and general dining experience fell short of our expectations.
Excellent food, service, and ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips, Pub Pretzel, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries, Chicken and Waffles
The food is decent but the service is lagging.... We had a 5:30 reservation got there a few minutes early they sat us early and we didn't get even our appetizers until 6:30PM. If you want to actually enjoy your drink with your meal I suggest you go elsewhere
Soooo good!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was great. Taken back by the KITCHEN APPRECIATION FEE!! 4% on the bill. I saw 4 people on the line, 1 working, the others jawing it up.. (yes I know how a kitchen works). If someone from the kitchen is sent home does the APPRECIATION FEE GET ADJUSTED?How about the Bartender, servers, hostesses, brewmaster, dishwasher, and bussers, are they not worthy of a MANDATORY APPRECIATE FEE.Not tradition in these neck of the woods.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich
Restaurantji Recommends
Kid-friendliness: Awesome staff, awesome service!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hooray for Craft Beer
We went on a busy Saturday night and got a seat at the bar. The vibe is modern industrial and very brand forward with lots of logo wear and a cool ravin and anvil logo that we couldn’t figure out what it had to do with the name. Personally I found the atmosphere over lit, cool and uncomfortable with metal chairs that gives the place a cafeteria feel. We ordered the wings and a Caesar salad and both were just ok. The wings were slightly undercooked and the accompanying blue cheese dressing was full-on gluey. It looked and tasted like it was right out of a Sysco container. The chicken Caesar dressing was the same. Meh. Given all of the struggles with staffing that the restaurant industry has had since Covid, I was surprised to see so many staff on the floor but many seemed slightly idle. Given that, I was disappointed that our service was just ok - the bartender was extremely busy and friendly but too busy to pay much attention, while other staff really didn’t bother. I’ve been here once before and had a better experience, both with the food and the service so maybe it was an off night. Try the smash burger and grab one of their home brews and keep your expectations low.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Fantastic establishment. Best fried honey chicken sandwich I've had, bit messy bit delicious. Beers had great selection and varieties. Casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. Would definitely recommend. Deserts were yummy ???? staff was very attentive and pleasant!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Smash Burger w Bacon and Fries
I have nothing to say about this place. Good food, good beer, good service in an attractive place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Fish and Chips, Beer Flights
Andrew B was our server tonight and we were so impressed ! Honestly we have been there over a dozen times and never had a bad experience, but tonight in particular was excellent! The attentive knowledgeable service and great food was delightful! We love the atmosphere, consistent great service , food and good prices. Thank you for being one of the best parts of Essex !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5