On Burlington, Vermont’s iconic Church Street, there is a small, buzzing restaurant quietly doing something extraordinary — introducing the Green Mountain State to the bold, ancient, Eastern Mediterranean mezze traditions of Greece, Turkey, and the Near and Middle East. 🍯
Honey Road is a women-owned and operated labor of love from chef Cara Chigazola Tobin and general manager Allison Gibson, and since opening in the summer of 2017, it has quietly become one of Vermont’s most celebrated dining destinations. 🌿
How Honey Road Won Burlington’s Hearts
Honey Road arrived on the Burlington dining scene in July 2017 with a pedigree that immediately turned heads — and a menu full of words most Vermonters had never seen on a restaurant menu before. 🌟
Chef Cara Chigazola Tobin brought with her years of experience as chef de cuisine at the celebrated Oleana in Cambridge, MA — one of America’s most respected Eastern Mediterranean kitchens — while co-owner Allison Gibson brought deep Vermont roots from her time at Hen of the Wood and Shelburne Farms.
From the very beginning, the restaurant drew an impressively wide crowd: area chefs, out-of-towners, families, and locals all packed in together, united by dishes they had never tasted anywhere else in Vermont. 🫒
The James Beard nomination that followed cemented what locals already knew — it was a genuinely world-class dining experience hiding inside a modest storefront on Church Street.
The genius of Honey Road’s approach was the mezze format itself — small, shareable plates meant for the whole table, encouraging adventurous ordering without the risk of committing to one unfamiliar entrée.
What Honey Road ultimately gave Burlington was something the city didn’t know it desperately needed — a hidden gem restaurant experience rooted in ancient traditions, executed with precision, and delivered with an unpretentious, community-first spirit.
By every measure — the accolades, the packed reservation books, the devotion of regulars who return again and again — Honey Road didn’t just win Burlington’s heart; it redefined what dinner in this city could be. 🍽️
Food Highlights
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Harissa Chicken Wings 🏅: Sweet and spicy brown sugar harissa-tossed wings with a side of dried lime labne for dipping — gluten-free and nut-free.
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Baba Ganoush 🍆: Smoky, smooth eggplant dip with pickled cauliflower and Urfa chili — one of the most distinctive dips on the menu, with the dried Urfa chile adding a dark, raisin-like depth.
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Red Pepper Walnut Muhammara 🌶️: A rich, deeply flavored dip of walnuts, red pepper, and chili.
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Braised Lamb Bun 🥙: Tender braised lamb tucked into a petite house-made simit bun with herb mayo and pickles.
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Chicken Schnitzel: Perfectly fried chicken schnitzel with sumac onions, labne, and brown butter almonds.
- Tahini Hummus 🫘: Creamy tahini hummus with chickpeas and olive oil — the ideal benchmark for the meal ahead.
- Lamb Kofta 🍢: Tender lamb meatballs seasoned with Turkish spices, served with figs, fennel, and hazelnuts.
Atmosphere
Honey Road‘s atmosphere strikes a rare and perfect balance between intimate and electric — dark wood, deep blue upholstery, hammered brass platters, and Turkish teacups create a warmly transportive backdrop that feels miles away from Vermont’s usual rustic aesthetic. 🕯️
The Church Street location sits at one of Burlington’s most vibrant intersections, giving the restaurant a lively street-facing energy, while the interior somehow manages to feel calm and intimate even on the busiest nights.
A neon flamingo perches above the bar amid pink lighting — a quirky, charming contrast to the otherwise moody, Mediterranean-inspired décor.
Bottom Line
Honey Road is a James Beard-nominated, women-owned Burlington treasure that delivers bold, Eastern Mediterranean small plates dining sourced from local Vermont farms, served in a stunning, moody setting by a staff that genuinely loves what they do — and it is, without question, one of the best restaurants in Vermont. Book your table before someone else does. 🍯🌿
Address:
156 Church St, Burlington, VT 05401
📞 (802) 497-2145
🕐 Open Mon–Thu: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM | Fri–Sat: 4:00 PM–9:30 PM | Sun: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM