If you find yourself rolling through Waterbury, Vermont — the self-proclaimed food and beverage crossroads of New England — there is one name that every local, hiker, and craft beer devotee will point you toward without hesitation.
Prohibition Pig on South Main Street is the kind of place that smells like a great decision before you even open the door — smoke-kissed meats, house-brewed beer, and a loud, happy dining room that makes you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. 🍺🔥
How Prohibition Pig Won Waterbury’s Hearts
Tucked into the historic district of downtown Waterbury, Vermont, this locally-owned restaurant has built its name on a simple but powerful promise: everything is made in-house, fresh every day, using the highest quality ingredients available.
Prohibition Pig is a proud member of the Vermont Fresh Network, a distinction that means the kitchen is actively sourcing from local Vermont farms and producers — something that resonates powerfully in a state where supporting your neighbors isn’t just a value, it’s a way of life. 🌿
The menu is a masterclass in “Smoked Meats and Libations” — the restaurant’s own motto — pairing slow-smoked BBQ in Vermont with New England’s most carefully curated craft beer selection and a bar program built around proper cocktails and eclectic wines.
Wednesday nights took on their own personality entirely, with a house bluegrass band picking away from 5 to 7 PM — filling the dining room with live music, cold pints, and the kind of communal energy that no chain restaurant could ever manufacture. 🎸
The restaurant also caters to vegetarians and gluten-free diners with clearly marked options throughout the menu — a thoughtful touch that has expanded its loyal following well beyond the meat-lovers crowd.
Prohibition Pig earned its place as a beloved local restaurant in Vermont the hard way — one rack of ribs and one pint at a time. And the community has never forgotten it.
Food Highlights
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Buy the Farm!: Pork, Brisket, Hot Sausage, Fried Ribs, and Wings with pickles, dinner rolls, and a choice of three sides, serving 4–6 people — the ultimate shareable feast and the perfect centerpiece for a group night out in Waterbury, Vermont dining. 🎉
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Sliced Brisket: Half a pound of slow-smoked, tender sliced beef brisket served with pickles, slaw, and a roll. 🥩
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Fried Pimento Cheese Balls: Panko-fried pimento cheese served with spicy jam — crispy on the outside, creamy and boldly flavored on the inside. 🧀
- Mac & Cheese with Brisket: Jasper Hill Chef Shred mac and cheese topped with cornbread crumbs and loaded with smoked brisket. 🧀🥩
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Pig Mac Burger: A smash burger loaded with Cheddar, bacon, lettuce, pickles, a fried onion ring, and special sauce. 🍔
- Smoked Dry Rub Wings: Whole wings in a dry rub, served with pickled carrots and ranch dressing.
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Chopped Pork Sandwich: Slow-smoked pulled pork with ENC-style BBQ sauce and coleslaw on a roll — smoky, tangy, and falling-apart tender.
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House Pastrami Sandwich: Half a pound of house-made pastrami with pickled red onion, cabbage, Swiss, spicy mustard, and rye bread.
Atmosphere
Prohibition Pig radiates the kind of lived-in, joyful energy that only a truly community-rooted spot can produce.
The main dining room buzzes with conversation, the bar is stocked deep with craft pints and classic cocktails, and the whole place carries the warm, hazy glow of a speakeasy that never quite stopped swinging. 🎶
Every Wednesday, the house bluegrass band turns the dining room into the best midweek party in central Vermont — the kind of night that locals put on the calendar weeks in advance.
The covered, dog-friendly patio brings the outdoors in year-round, and the brewery out back on Elm Street offers its own relaxed, sun-soaked vibe for those who want to linger over a fresh pint.
Bottom Line
Prohibition Pig is Vermont’s finest argument for slow-smoked meat, local craft beer, and eating with your whole heart.
House-made everything, Vermont Fresh Network sourcing, live Wednesday bluegrass, and a dog-friendly patio make this Waterbury institution a must-visit for anyone passing through New England. 🐷🍺
Address:
23 S Main St, Waterbury, VT 05676
📞 (802) 244-4120
🕔 Restaurant: Mon–Fri 4:00 PM–9:00 PM | Sat–Sun 12:00 PM–9:00 PM | Bar til 10:00 PM
🍺 Brewery: Open 7 Days, 12:00 PM–8:00 PM | Fri–Sat Bar til 9:00 PM