Reserve Now!

The Pitcher Inn

Address: 275 Main Street
Phone: 802-496-6350
Web Address: http://www.pitcherinn.com

THE INN: Above 30-45 minutes south of Stowe on Rt. 100 is the picturesque little hamlet of Warren, Vermont, just outside the Sugarbush ski area. With a covered bridge and authentic general store, it is the quintessential Vermont village. After the original 1800’s building burned to the ground in 1993, David Sellers and a team of architects set about rebuilding the structure with an eye toward preserving its original design but with the rooms patterned to reflect the individual designers' interpretation of a particular Vermont theme. The result is nothing short of spectacular.

THE ROOMS: There are nine rooms and two suites, each decorated with its own theme and they are architectural marvels. Mallard Room, where I stayed, is described this way by the Inn, “Mallard is an emperor's duck blind. The designer's conception of the room was a Vermont marsh just before sunrise in November. Indeed, the curved, painted ceiling seems a dawning blue sky, and a wooden Canada Goose suspended from the ceiling moves with the direction of the wind. Antique decoys and guns, a king-size hand carved bed, camouflage pillows and a view of the garden make the Mallard Room a duck hunter's paradise.” Colonial and School are the smallest rooms, Chester A. Arthur and Calvin Coolidge are the favorites with King beds, balconies, fireplaces, Jacuzzis and steam showers.

Reading the architect’s notes for each room is fascinating.

THE RESTAURANT:
Trey ceiling lighting and two large stone fireplaces cast a warm golden glow over the two dining rooms. Wide plank pine floors and crisp white walls adorned with striking oil paintings were set against sage green trim, doors and Windsor chairs. Fireplace flames flickered in crystal stemware and flower filled vases. Both dining rooms overlook a brook rushing to a small waterfall. With Sinatra in the background we were ready for what the evening had to offer...and it was quite spectacular.

The menu changes often dictated by the availability of fresh local products. On this night we started with truffled potato ravioli with fall-off-the-bone braised short ribs, butter poached lobster with a warm vanilla sweet potato salad and seared foie gras with a caramelized apple-sweet potato gratin, pistachio brittle and Calvados sauce. Each so good we were reluctant to share.

For entrees we selected a pan roasted duck breast with leeks served with roasted sweet potatoes, pistachios and a cipollini onion jus; braised lamb shanks with a Flageolet bean ragout; parmesan gnocchi with baby carrots, mushrooms, spinach and roasted peppers and a grilled Vermont grass fed beef tenderloin with Colcannon potatoes and a blue cheese fritter. We ended with a delightful Vermont cheese course, a decadent chocolate pot, an apple tart and a maple crème caramel.

The wine list, a Wine Spectator's "Best of Award of Excellence," is quite extensive with some 600 bottles and choices from all of the major wine regions. They offer about 30 wines by the glass and about 20 ½ bottles. We found a delightful Italian white imported by Joe Bastinach, son of famed TV chef Lydia Bastinach for @$40.  Sadly, as with many wine lists, there is not much at all under $50 and most bottles are pretty expensive.

The intimate Wine Cellar is the first choice for seating, but truthfully you will enjoy just about any table. The stone patio overlooking the brook is open in nicer weather. All credit cards accepted. Dress is upscale casual. Appetizers $9-$18, entrees $26-$34.

After dinner, retire to the charming pub, Tracks, downstairs for an after dinner drink and perhaps a game of pool or shuffleboard.

THE SERVICE: The service in the Inn is pleasant and efficient, your needs are addressed promptly, but no one hovers. Check-in was quick and all the room features were pointed out when we were taken to our room. In the restaurant, our server was a young woman whose extensive knowledge of both the menu and wine list helped us navigate the waters and resulted in some great selections. She even had us taste an open bottle of the wine we selected to be sure we would like it, then asked if we preferred a marble sleeve or a wine bucket to keep it chilled. Never had that happen before.

THE RATES: $425-$800.

WHAT OTHERS SAY: “Fans say this pitcher-esque, adult-only Relais & Châteaux B&B in the mountain village of Warren (a few miles from both Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski resorts) is “Vermont the way that Hollywood would imagine it”, citing “incredible attention to detail” in the “whimsical, luxurious” rooms and suites (each one “theme-oriented”: the School Room with schoolhouse antiques, the Trout Room with a private porch over a stream, the Ski Room like a rustic mountain lodge); it’s “pricey”, granted, but “you are truly pampered” in the inn, spa and “superb” restaurant; N.B. “for a real treat, book a private dinner in the wine cellar.” ZAGAT 2008

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: With the Sugarbush ski area minutes away, all the winter mountain sports are virtually at your doorstep; downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and ice skating are all available in the Mad River Valley. When the weather permits there’s horseback riding, hiking, swimming (down Rt. 100 there is a wonderful swimming hole in the woods carved out of the rock formations), golf (Sugarbush Golf Club is spectacular in the Fall), tennis, biking and canoeing close by. On property, Alta is a charming full service spa.

DRIVING DISTANCE: Albany-3 hours, Boston-3 hours 30 minutes, Hartford- 3 hour 42 minutes, NYC-5 hours 45 minutes, minutes