T J Buckley’s

Lovely little place with friendly staff and delicious food. This restaurant has an intimate and romantic vibe, but my favorite thing about this place is the care and attention the staff puts in its service.
The food is presented in such an artistic and innovative way– even down to the dinner salads. Be sure to bring someone special here and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

The best meal I’ve had all year. Great service, great food, and a great environment. What more could I ask for?!?

Fantastic surprise! We went up for Parents’ Weekend at nearby Landmark College and didn’t have reservations. Not only did Megan rearrange tables in this cozy space to accommodate our party of 8, but we also got to sing Happy Birthday to the chef/​owner Michael. Oh, and the food!!! And the wine!!! Just wonderful all around. We’ll plan ahead and be back soon.

The food was perfect and the presentation was beautiful. I sadly have to say– the portions were too small. If you are serving such small portions at least give more bread so you are not starving when your meal is over. It has a very quaint atmosphere and the service was excellent.

Excellent service, wonderful food great atmosphere — can’t ask for more. They were extremely accommodating to our food allergies. We haven’t eaten that well in a long time!

I’ve been dining at tj’s for years. some of the misconceptions are that its over priced and you need a reservation way in advance. the price of the entrée ($ 40) also includes a beautiful salad. everything is made of the finest local ingredients. Michael the owner has been doing farm to table before it was in style. tj’s does have slower days where you can walk in or call and if they have room they will seat you. If you have a specific time and date you want to dine by all means call for a reservation because the restaurant is small so space is limited. I have always enjoyed my dining experience at Tj Buckley’s, the food, service and experience remains a foodie highlight for me.

I’m sort of not sure how any one could have something bad to say about this place. The menu changes according to what is in season or Michael feels like cooking that night meaning the food is fresh and always changing. Its some of the best food ive eaten in quite some time. There are only about 6 – 8 tables in the small dining car and you can watch the small staff prepare your food right in front of you and I don’t mean benihana’s style, no this is an elegantly done and impressive show before you. The talent that goes into both cooking AND plating their food is impressive to say the least. Also, if they have the olive oil gelato, don’t be scared. It is incredible!

Driving through Vermont and found TJ Buckleys on Unilocal,and fortunately we were able to make a reservation which will surprise those who have already been inside the quaint 15 – 20 person restaurant.
The open kitchen was interesting and the efficiency of a one man operation in the kitchen was truly impressive. The service was wonderful, and the waitress went through the entire menu by memory. All of the food was great, our table had the steak, scallops and fish and we were all very happy. Great mix of fresh local flavors and perfect portion sizes. It was a great dining experience that left our whole group happy.

This is by far one of the most romantic restaurants in southern Vermont. It is tiny, maybe only 8 tables. The open kitchen and size makes it feels as if you are having a dinner prepared by your own private chef.
The service and waitresses were superb.
The highlight of the meal was the smoked trout tarte served with crème freche and caviar. Each bite was fluffy and embraced the natural trout flavor without being overly fishy.
We also split the duck rillette which was served with the traditional cornichons, whole grain mustard, caper berries, pears and a spiced chutney. I thought the duck was a bit bland frankly, although the spiced chutney did help.
There was a refreshing garden salad that came with the meal as well as artfully sliced snd designed radishes, beats, and carrots. We chose to add the optional blue cheese as well. They place great value on intricate presentation here.
For dinner my boyfriend had the rabbit that was stuffed with kale and accompanied by a smoky bean medley and pears.
I had the swordfish that came with a farro type of rice, sweet potato purée, and a light seafood sauce on the slide.
For dessert we had an espresso and two scoops of gelato. One was a spicy Chipotle chocolate and one was rosemary chevre. The chevre was refreshing and earthy. This is by far some of the best gelato that I have ever had. The Chipotle had a nice spicy heat to it.
Overall, fabulous experience. Minor edits: the rabbit was under seasoned and needed a bit more salt. The swordfish was a huge piece and the center was quite a bit under cooked. Would have liked more of that sauce for such a large portion of fish.
Looking forward to returning soon. This is truly a unique and intimate dining experience that is worth every penny.

As a native Brattleboro-​ian (?), it pains me to see some of the negative reviews posted for TJB’s. I know, I know… to each his own, but I feel that it’s important to write a review that really lays out what to expect for first time visitors.
As a family (and large party of 7) we went here the night after Christmas (so I’m still riding the TJB’s high as I write this), so, obviously, this is not based on experience from years past, but experience as of three days ago.
1. TJB’s is expensive. Don’t trip. Just don’t go here if you can’t swallow paying $ 40+ per head. It’s well worth it on a special occasion, but that’s just my humble opinion.
2. You can’t walk in. A reservation is a must. And chances are, if you didn’t make that reservation a month ago… you aren’t getting in for that last minute meal two days from now. To put this in perspective… the dining room was an old rail car. It seats 14 – 16, MAYBE, on a good day. Our party of 7 took up over half of the space.
2a. You better expect to wait outside if you show up 10 minutes before a reservation. If you have seen the inside of this place… you kind of understand why they would ask this of you. IT’S TINY. If you add a couple bodies in there, the waitress can’t get to her tables. Plus, if you are the one dining near the door, you’d be appreciative that you aren’t elbowing someone’s groin as you try and cut your steak.
2b. There is a bar, right next door. Two in fact. Also of note, the restaurant is right across the street from one of the town’s fire stations. You’ll see loads of folks milling about if you turn right and walk down Elliot Street. McNeil’s, Kipling, Hazel… plenty of places to wait it out.
3. There is no menu to peruse. There is one waitress who serves all the tables. She also plays sous chef at times as well. And busser. She works hard and she knows her stuff. At the beginning of the meal, she will recite the options for appetizer and dinner. There is a salad course built in.
3a. There is a wine list. There is also a small selection of beer. If you order a soda, they will literally pour you a glass out of a 2 liter bottle. Get some wine, the Malbec they have is stunning. Though I can’t remember the name of it (for shame).
4. The food (insert audible groan of delight). We shared several appetizers… duck confit pâté, crab cakes and Camembert cheese plates… each dish more satisfying than the last. Crab cakes were moist, not too fishy, cooked just right. The duck confit pâté was incredible, especially with a little schmear of the coarse spicy mustard. Every dish available on the dinner menu was ordered at our table. Three people had hangar steak, three people had scallops and one ordered the rabbit. There weren’t any complaints. Each dish was well-​seasoned, each dish was complex with layers of deliciously composed, well-​tuned and well-​thought-​out flavor profiles.
4b. Food fact: they forage their own mushrooms. They source many (if not all) of their ingredients locally. And it’s just pure love on a plate. Art.
4c. The hangar steak has such a wonderful flavor to it… and sometimes flavor (in my opinion) is more important than the cut. But maybe that’s just me! :)
Finally, dessert. Crème Brulee, Gelato, Chocolate torte… take your pick because they all are amazing. My favorite: the Mexican chocolate gelato. I loved the spicy notes juxtaposed against the cool iciness of the gelato.
Just an amazing meal, served by a really amazing waitress, and made by a truly amazing, superb and talented chef!
Hope that lays it out in a way that sets up expectations… and I hope that you decide to try it if you are in Brattleboro!

An interesting night out for a special occasion dinner. The location is just slightly off the beaten path in an old rail car. It seats about 14 – 18 people cozily at café tables. One waitress makes the whole dining room hum and she is incredible — she had the full menu memorized, kept everyone’s glasses filled and had the tables turning over almost instantly when parties switched over. It’s fun to watch the chef prepare your food, as well. We had salmon and steak — both were great, on par with the price, but I think it was the atmosphere that made the trip worth it.
Sidenote to the earlier poster’s review regarding arriving early for their reservation — the exact same thing happened to us the next night, 8:30 reservation, we showed up at 8:20 and we were afraid to come inside due to that Unilocal review. At 8:26 we poked our heads in and the waitress was really sweet, said they were just waiting for a party to finish up and she was sorry that there was nowhere inside to wait. No big deal. I waited in the little heated doorway while my husband stuck it out outside. Well worth it and they were nothing but kind regarding the situation.
Finally — they do take credit cards, contrary to what you may see online. No need to haul a few fifties across town with you!

Very disappointed. We had a reservation at 830 pm that cold night and we walked in around 8:20 in which the waitress snootily said, «It would be better and if you left and came back at your reservation time.» Meanwhile there is obviously an empty, clean, all-​ready– set-​to-​use table in the corner which I ASSUME was out table. OK So she wanted us to wait out in the cold night (in not such a great neighborhood of Brattleboro I must say), while that empty table just sat there (yeah, like they are going to seat someone and have them finish in 10 minutes to squeeze in before our reservation), just to come in and sit at that table? Makes no sense unless you are trying to promote a «We-​are-​doing-​YOU-​a-​favor» establishment. Congratulations you put that vibe right out there!
So we went to *Whetstone Brewery* up the street and had the most amazinggg French dip sandwich and the dessert was out of this world. Whetstone is friendly, upbeat, clean and unpretentious AND the bill was only $ 48. Whetstone has Gourmet, fresh, savory food without the attitude, the reservation that «never works out» and the inflated price. SO glad it didn’t work out at TJ Buckley’s!!! WHETSTONE WINS!

Eating at TJ Buckleys is a divine and memorable experience. I have lived in and around Bratt for 30 years and this is by far the best food in Vermont and possibly New England. You MUST experience this place at least once in your life. My hubby doesn’t even have to ask me where we should go for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, etc.
Here’s how good it is — I loved the scallops. I know, right?!? I NEVER like scallops! What’s up with that, you ask? They are incapable of serving anything that is not orgasmically delicious. I seriously think the chef could turn kitty litter into an outstanding meal.
And the ambience? Don’t even get me started. It’s like having your own personal chef and waitress at a cozy gathering of your 13 closest friends.
Go. Just go. Now.

My best meal in Brattleboro. Exquisite cooking and presentation. The steak was delicious, cooked just right. The scallops were beautiful. The stuffed rabbit was amazing. Even the salad that the meal began with had wonderfully complex tastes that just work well together. Such a cute little gem of a restaurant. The setting was intimate but fancy. Definitely a place you shouldn’t miss if you are in Brattleboro!

I have been to TJB a few times now in a group and also as a pair.
I am so impressed with their hospitality and engagement with customers. The follow up to phone conversations and reservations is beyond any other restaurant I’ve engaged with.
The service is spectacular and impressive. The servers do not over burden during dinner, yet are always keen to fill glasses, clear plates, serve bread, and customize the visit.
The cuisine; I cannot adequately give enough favorable descriptors here outside of «perfection».
I have tried every appetizer and something new each visit. I have yet to not love something. My personal favorite is the Hanger Steak, especially with the short rib addition. Although, I do love also really enjoy the rabbit.
Scallops were cooked perfectly and so flavorful. I am looking forward to the salmon next.
The attention to detail is impressive. Every detail. TJB will remain a regular stop.
I would really enjoy seeing the Short Rib become it’s own entrée. It is delightful and would probably become my new favorite!

Excellent dinner, Appetizer thru Desert. Halibut plate was the best combination of fresh flavors and textures I remember — San Diego, LA, Boston or NYC.

My girlfriend and I stopped here on a little weekend getaway to a B and B a little further north. We had read the reviews and thought this place merited a stop.
We were right! Both of our meals were great. I had the rabbit and my babe had the scallops I think. Even more than the meal, the atmosphere and experience were very memorable. You’re in this little old train car in a very intimate setting with a super friendly waitress eating yummy food. It just makes you super happy. You won’t forget this place!

This little diner hole is the wall is a trip. Every foodie should eat here at least once in their life.
Everything here is incredibly good and incredibly fresh.
My spouse thinks its the best restaurant she has ever been to, and considering it is in the middle of this little town in Vermont. It truly is AMAZING!

What a find! The food is outstanding and the staff are topnotch. My wife had the Hanger Steak, yum! I had the Salmon, double yum. The place is tiny, only seats 16 people at a time so call for reservations. Price is on the high side but for the quality of food and service, you won’t mind. BTW: Looks can be deceiving. From the outside TJ Buckleys looks like a diner and that’s exactly the décor. This is definitely not your dad’s dinner hangout.

A magical event. The food is spectacular — works of art! Yum. The pâté and scallops are the best on the planet.