SoLo Farm & Table

We dined there last evening (2÷25÷2016) and had an absolutely wonderful meal! Cannot wait to return, because we will.

This place is adorable! It’s modeled like a real house or maybe it actually is a real house? I did have to ring a doorbell to get in. There’s a roaring fireplace and separate rooms that resemble living spaces. Although the place was packed, most people had reservations, so we only had to wait half an hour to get a seat at the bar.
The bread was incredibly fresh, with a crunchy exterior and a soft center. However, the real star here was the homemade herbed butter. I requested more bread to eat with the butter — it was that good. The crispy octopus is the most popular dish. I don’t even like octopus, but this did not taste like octopus. It wasn’t chewy or rubbery at all. It was well-​seasoned and pretty tasty. Given the starter, I was a tad disappointed with my ravioli entrée. The pasta was homemade, but too thick for my liking. I also tried the chocolate crème pot, which I felt was too sweet and not really that special.
Although I did not enjoy my entrée and dessert, I’m still giving this place four stars for ambience, service, and the BUTTER!
Note: this place is pretty expensive.

Great atmosphere! Great service! It was simply amazing. What i love the most was their PEI oysters! Absolutely delightful– A MUST TRY! I am a fish lover so when they replaced their cod with stripe sea bass, i gave it a try either way however. i wasnt as impressed due to the fact that it didnt taste as fresh as it suppose to be, it definitely left me with a strong fishy aftertaste. other than that, i didnt really mind. the service took over the flaw.

Am a zing. Seriously one of the best places I’ve ever been to. If you happen to be around here, you absolutely MUST visit SoLo!!! Wow can’t get over it

A for presentation and our server, C+ for taste and F for the price tag given the taste. Just cause it’s farm to table, doesn’t mean what you try to feed people deserves the price tag.
Our server was polite, observant and knowledgeable, soft spoken and he was totally able to anticipate your need before you even start asking.
Food portion was good I found, the pheasant tasted like firewood. My husband’s lamb needed salt and literally no one on the wait staff besides our server knew how to smile– almost gives you a creepy feeling like what is so bad here that the servers don’t even have the energy to put on a smile?
I found this place to be a pretentious shakedown of your wallet. No to next time.

I don’t know where all these 5 star reviews come from. Just finished a meal with 10 in a beautifully staged dining room in a wonderful old Vermont Inn. That is the only positive experience we encountered. We felt the waitstaff was rude, pretentious, unhelpful (when asked about a recommendation between 2 dishes, you get a roll of the eyes and the waitress just reads a description off the menu and says «if we make it, it’s good». Each time I asked the waitress a question «can you bring the kids meals out with the appetizers», she got flustered, displayed an attitude and walked away… These are very common dining requests. The dishes were odd, and proportions minuscule. We all found them to be lacking in flavor, and overpriced. It seems they are overthinking and overpricing the menu items under the guise of «farm fresh, wholesome food». We are not an unsophisticated group of diners, but the type that appreciate a GOOD meal at any price. In the end we walked away unfulfilled, unhappy and amazed by the depth of these positive reviews. Absolutely terrible, especially with a group of 6 adults and 4 children (who ate pasta) who spent $ 700.

We just had dinner at SoLo Farm & Table. Arrived with high hopes given so many glowing reviews here. Oh my. The ambience and service were outstanding. But what use is good service and a nice atmosphere if the food is just not good. The only two things I would ever order again would be the «gift from the kitchen» of roasted apple buttermilk soup that came in a tiny cup at the start of the meal and the coffee that ended the meal. The rest? Don’t waste your time or money. And I’m talking big money here. We ordered one appetizer (vegetable soup that was simply not palatable) and two entrees: I had the Wannabea Rabbit Rice, the hubs had the Salmon. Seriously people, neither would get a chef out of boot camp. The Rabbit Rice was indescribably awful. The rice was so overdone it was burned onto the cast iron skillet in which it was served. The rabbit was dry and the bacon wrap like chewing on rubber bands. The salmon was bland, tasteless (don’t know why but trust me here). For $ 135 with tip (the fault here is with the chef not the servers who got a generous tip) we expected so much better. Sadly we will not be returning and will leave our review with the Grafton Inn folks where we are staying. They recommended SoLo, but also asked that we report back with our review.

No kidding the best meal out that I’ve experienced in 31+ years coming to Vermont.
I could end the review right here.
Evidence?
Comfortable, casual yet elegant atmosphere. Great service, knowledgeable, warm, efficient.
Fabulous food, and no kidding about farm to table, much of the produce comes from 3 acres out back.
Food prepared to perfection, with imaginative preparation.
We had heirloom tomato salad, amazing vegetable soup like nothing we’ve ever tasted, grilled halibut atop fresh vegetables, kale-​cheese ravioli. Great wine selection, I had a cites du Rhone and a Rueda, both terrific.
A bit pricey, yet we shall return.
Chloe the owner is totally knowledgeable and charming, and took time to speak with in depth, highly unusual in our experience.
Worth a special trip.

This place has been hit or miss for us… first time the food and service were amazing then the next two times not so great. I would give it a try and will go back again but its nowhere near as good as Asta’s in Jamaica…

This is hands-​down my family’s favorite restaurant! The food and service are consistently top notch.

Though this was a return evening at Solo Farm and Table for us, this was the first time we got a chef’s tasting. Though not officially offered, the restaurant enthusiastically accommodated our desire to see as many of kitchen’s considerable talents as possible in one night. Not even presented with a menu beforehand (all the better to be surprised by each course), we were simply asked if we had any allergies or any foods we preferred not to eat. With a negative reply to both questions, we were off on our adventure, after also requesting a wine pairing.
I won’t list each dish we had here, considering that for a place with as much of a focus on both creativity and seasonal, locally-​sourced ingredients, I’d expect the dishes to change frequently for subsequent guests. The 9-​course progression was marked by Spanish, Japanese, French, and American influences, combined in a way which was both highly-​considered but also entertaining. And though diverse in focus, each dish was executed at a level befitting the restaurant’s world class pedigree. Wine pairings not only complimented the courses well but were highly educational and new.
Service was warm and welcoming, at times conspiratorial as the staff occasionally shared in our adventure, augmenting it with anecdote or story about a particular source for an ingredient (ex. A Russian History PhD turned down east fishmonger was the source of one of finest oysters I have ever had).
Solo is a restaurant of not only considerable ambition but also focused and unique execution. It is certainly worth journey of some distance for the privilege of an evening there. And do not mistake its humble VT surroundings as an indication of a potential for a compromised fine dining experience. Away from the pressure cooker of culinary hot spots, Solo is obviously able to focus more on what matters when creating a night to remember for their guests, while also affording the kitchen more breadth to take the risks necessary to reach culinary elevation.
My wife and I look forward to returning to Solo.

One of our all time favorite restaurants — any where or any time. The cuisine is superb — the ingredients are super fresh and the preparation is of the quality you get at a time rated Michelin restaurant in Spain or France. The service is impeccable — attentive yet understated. All this wrapped with a friendly and welcoming vibe in a beautiful farmhouse on lovely grounds where many of the vegetables are grown. It is worth making the effort to eat at SoLo.
And if octopus is on the menu, don’t miss it.

Simply the best meal I ever had. The food was amazing, the service outstanding, and the atmosphere was top notch. It’s fine dining meets Vermont

The food was spectacular as was the service! The waitress was attentive, very kind, and helpful when I was torn between entrees. Everyone in the dinning room was also treated to a cup of mushroom soup with a foam. This was a «gift from the kitchen» and it spectacular.
We spilt a pasta course of housemate gnocchi with breadcrumbs, olives, and rabbit, which was AWESOME! If I could only eat one thing for the rest of life I would eat that dish! The gnocchi was light and super fresh. It was amazing! Our meals were steak and rabbit, which were also incredible. I am
sure one could not go wrong with anything on the menu.
The atmosphere is very perfect for a farm to table restaurant. The restaurant is in an old beautiful farmhouse. We were seated right next to a roaring fireplace, that just added to the charm.
You need to dine here!

Loved SoLo Farm & Table!
My boyfriend and I decided were staying at a local inn and decided to head over to the restaurant on Valentines Day; despite having spoken to the hostess earlier in the day and being told they unfortunately had no tables available for the evening. When we arrived we took a seat at the bar, happy to have found 2 seats there! Soon after sitting down the hostess came to us saying they had a cancelation and asked if we wanted the table. We were brought to an adorable side deck that had just two tables set up in it. We essentially had a private room for the majority of our meal!
Our waitress was very kind, professional and knew every aspect of the menu. She was attentive but not overbearing which provided us with a perfect atmosphere for a romantic dinner. After ordering, we were brought a delicious carrot and garlic soup, compliments of the kitchen. Our meals came not too long after that. There is nothing bad that I can say about the food. It was incredible! Although the pasta portions were a bit small, they were very filling and both my boyfriend and I left feeling full and content. We cannot wait to come back here when we visit Vermont again!

I went here with a friend who owns a ski house in Ludlow (about 18 miles from SoLo). He highly recommended we go here. At first, I thought maybe we were going a little out of our way, but once we arrived, I knew immediately it was worth the effort. The place looks like a home, which automatically made me feel like I was AT home. Very cozy and quaint.
We started with cocktails at the bar ($ 12 each). I went with the Smoky Nor’easter (Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sugar Bob’s Smoked Maple Syrup and Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice). Delicious. My buddy got the Lemongrass Gimlet (Barr Hill Gin, Lime and Lemon and Lime Juices with Fresh Lemongrass). I’m not a gin person, but let me tell you … this was bagin’! I’m not big on having a huge ball of ice rolling around in my cocktails, but that minor distraction was offset by the high quality of the booze and meticulous preparation by the bartender. After the Smoky Nor’easter, I had her sling me a sidecar, which I can honestly say stood up to my regular happy hour spot which makes the best sidecar I’ve ever had.
Onto dinner …
The complimentary sourdough bread with homemade butter was enough to set the tone for just how good the food was going to be here.
We loved the Daily Selection of Oysters on the Half Shell ($ 3.5 per piece /​$ 18 half dozen /​$ 30 Dozen) so much, that we had to order another half dozen on top of the first half dozen. They served them with brown salt and ground horseradish, which won my heart.
In typical fashion, my buddy couldn’t just stop at two orders of the same appetizer so he had to order two more appetizers. On top of the oysters, we got the Tasting of House Made Charcuterie (Paired with Accompaniments and Garnishes with Earth Sky Time Bread, $ 16). I loved the liver, the pâté, the ground mustard, and the chutney, but perhaps nothing stood out more on this dish than the duck prosciutto. It was the first time I had ever had it, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Appetizer #3 (or 4, depending on how you’re counting those oysters) … House Made Burrata (Cold Smoked and Cured Sablefish, Citrus and an Everything Cracker with a Scallion Pesto, $ 16). Incredible. That is all I can say.
Onto the entrée round.
I couldn’t resist the Wannabea Farm Rabbit (Applewood Smoked Bacon, Celeriac-​Apple Puéeand Braised Cabbage with Dill Spaetzle, $ 32). Rabbit is one of the toughest dishes to execute. Chef Wesley Genovart and his kitchen staff nailed it. The combination of flavors was impeccable.
My buddy got the Daily Preperation of Woodcock Farm Spring Lamb (Stewed Yoder Farm’s Hutterite Beans, Housemade Merguez Sausage, Pomegranate Seeds, and Spiced Carrots with Woodcock Farm’s Feta Cheese, $ 34). While very good, he conceded he liked my rabbit more. I told him he should have listened to me.
Think we’ve had enough? Not quite … Here comes dessert. We opted for the bread pudding ($ 10) and the assortment of ice cream ($ 3.75). The presentation of the bread pudding (served in chunks) was unlike anything I’ve seen or had, but was good nevertheless. The chocolate and banana ice creams were outstanding, though the vanilla was sadly tasteless. That said, I can’t complain. They brought us a complimentary pot de crème. Very good, but very citrus-​y and something I would have expected to get in maybe Florida or California, but not Vermont.
Everyone here — from the hostess, to the bartender, to the servers, to the owners — was so friendly. Then again, I do live in New Jersey, so maybe I just forgot how nice people could be!
Kudos to Chef Genovart and his wife for starting and maintaining this first-​class establishment. It’s definitely worth your time and money to pay this couple a visit!

As most experienced restaurant go-​ers know, Vermont is famous for its farm-​to-​table dining. While this provides the freshest of ingredients, the preparation is often left to cooking enthusiasts rather than professional chefs.
However, SoLo encaptured the freshness of local farms with the flavor balancing and presentation skills of master chefs found in only the cities’ most popular restaurants.
Upon arriving, we were distraught that the famous tasting menu had been temporarily removed; fortunately the chef offered to create a 9 course tasting menu using a combination of menu and on-​the-​spot items.
The dishes ranged from smaller samplings such as a cooked scallop dusted in a lime powder and radish garnish submerged in a subtly sweet apple soup to larger portions including a pork belly with a tart sauce and sweet potato purée. But the two most impressive dishes included a monk fish liver topped with blood orange and caviar, delicately balanced by a lightly salted oriental sauce. A close second favorite was a soft scrambled egg and black winter truffle dish, which included greek yogurt and a crispy homemade tater tot delicately presented in-​egg atop a bed of salt.
For those that seek the highest level of creativity that a chef can achieve combined with flavorful local ingredients, or even those that wish to enjoy a lighter palate item from the standard menu, SoLo has a taste that pleases all. We highly recommend.

Was I too harsh on my last review? Probably not.
But in the two meals I’ve had there since then, those service snafus were nowhere to be seen.
On my last meal over the weekend, the server was attentive and helpful without being intrusive. We had a lovely table in almost a porch-​like setting overlooking the garden. Very nice and quaint. Just room for two tables.
And I must say the setting and décor of this place is a highlight. One day I’m going to get the nerve to read some of the cookbooks that are lining the shelves by the restroom. They look heavenly too.
But you come here for the food, as the chef is a James Beard finalist from the Northeast.
And the food is sensational. We split a summer spaghetti that was spicy with thai basil (just enough to give it a kick) but fresh tomatoes and melt in your mouth pasta complimented the dish.
I settled in for a nice dish of rabbit (probably one of the few times a year I’ll see it on the menu and get it). Almost like veal medallions. Not gamey at all. It came in a cast iron dish with potatoes and fresh veggies. All were terrific. My dining companion went for the lamb with lentils. It was surprisingly great — a bit middle eastern. She ate it all.
And the amuse bouche to begin with is a nice touch.
The desserts are not to be missed. The rocky road with fresh chocolate brownies were excellent. The trio of sorbets was terrific. You can choose with ice creams too. My two favorites were the strawberry (outstanding) and the lavender ice cream (so very surprising).
I read a review from someone who complained about that the menu isn’t posted online and that it was expensive. What a ridiculous complaint because it is posted online and the prices are cheaper than NYC for outstanding quality.
Go find this place. This past weekend may have been one of my favorite meals of the year.

This is not a bad review, per se. We walked out when we saw the $ 90 steak and $ 27 gnocchi on the menu. I could double the value of my shirt by spilling some locally grown tomato sauce on it. Save yourself the embarrassment I just endured unless you own a time share in Fiji.
This place should DEFINITELY post their menu on the door like they do in the city to prevent making this hard decision after being seated and watered.

Breathtaking in nearly every way, SoLo Farm & Table is one of a few restaurants in the country worth a trip just to experience. Cerebral, envelope-​pushing, utterly delicious farm to table magic is served at this elegant spot which, with just the amuse bouche, cemented it’s place as the finest restaurant in the state for both my girlfriend and myself.
We came in the middle of ramp season and let me just say the meal that ensued will go down as one of my all-​time favorites. The aforementioned amuse was a little cup of ramp vichyssoise which was deeply creamy, complex, and rich.
Next we had a chicken liver mousse which came with impossibly crusty bread and a generous canele of onion relish as well as a jar of beautiful pickled vegetables. Of these, the pickled fiddlehead ferns and the curry-​infused cauliflower were the best. An amazing dish. We also got the house made burrata, which came with a ramp pesto that was so good it blew the more restrained whey-​centric and lean burrata away. The burrata itself was the only somewhat weak point in an otherwise flawless meal, but it came with these buttery slivers of smoked trout that were so, so amazing.
Next we had a tagliatelle primavera that was adorned with various mushrooms and fava beans. It was rich but restrained with a super excellent eggy, firm pasta draped in an umami-​filled sauce. Awesome. We also got the wild alaskan king salmon with grilled ramps and fried rye. The fried rye was something I have never had and it was absolutely delicious. The salmon itself was perfectly cooked, as were the yummy ramps.
For dessert we had a take on Rocky Road, which came with house-​made marshmallows, a salted caramel ice cream, ultra dark chocolate brownie crumbles, crushed almonds, and drizzle of caramel. It was definitely one of the better desserts I have had in my life and a perfect end to an absolutely nuts meal.
The service was top notch (our waitress even offered to let us take the jar of mousse home!) and the dining room is elegant, contemporary yet cozy, and perfectly styled.
So yeah, SoLo lives up to hype. If you drove all day to get here and something really bad happened on the way and you finally pulled up late at night, injured, with tears streaming down your face, you would hobble inside, sit down, and still feel glad just to be here and just to eat this food.