American Flatbread
46 Lareau Rd, Waitsfield, VT, 05673
American Flatbread Menu
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Address :
46 Lareau Rd
Waitsfield, VT, 05673 - Phone (802) 496-8856
- Website https://www.americanflatbread.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Tessa M.
Love love love this place!! I have been here twice with a friend who has a place in Sugar Bush, and both experiences have been great. Last time I went here, we had to wait a bit, despite putting our name on the list earlier that day. There was a fire and a Dr. Seuss book to keep us company, so I didn't mind waiting outside (though my decision to wear a light jacket in the January cold proved to be stupid beyond belief). Once inside, we were served quickly. The pizza was absolutely delicious!! Whether it be because of the amazing taste, or because the friend I was staying with is very healthy and had no snacks laying around the house, I scarfed down about eight or nine slices of pizza during our meal. The root beer was also very good. If I am ever in the area again, I would not hesitate to revisit this gem!
(5)Seth T.
Just saw AF featured in an HGTV video promoting their 2011 Dream Home giveaway--pretty cool! Brought back some memories and made my mouth water!
(4)Andrew A.
American Flatbread is easily my favorite restaurant. I've been snowboarding at Sugarbush for like 15 years and I go to American Flatbread at least twice every time I'm up there. First and most importantly, the flatbread (brick oven pizzza basically) is absolutely amazing. The worst meal I had there was pretty darn good. Usually it's fantastic. They have two specials every week; get them! Their standard menu pizzas are great, but their specials are super creative and just awesome. They also have a great rotating on tap beer selection. I'm pretty sure they're all local and/or micro breweries and Vermont has a great beer scene. The atmosphere in the dining room is great. Really warm timber framed barn type of deal. Now I've read some reviews where people have complained about the wait. Here's the deal. If you get there early enough (4 ish) you probably won't wait very long. Otherwise you could wait up to 3 hours, maybe more. But there's nothing that can be done about it. The place is super popular and there's only so much seating and only one oven. If you don't wanna eat early and you don't wanna wait long, don't even attempt to eat here. I actually really enjoy the wait. Grab a few beers, stand out by the fire and chat with other fellow skiers/snowboarders all while your appetite is getting stronger and stronger which will make the flatbread taste that much better. I look forward to eating at American Flatbread as much as I look forward to snowboarding. In case I haven't been clear, I love this place!
(5)Evan L.
If you eat dinner at one place in the Mad River Valley, make it American Flatbread. A warm, intimate atmosphere and amazing, fresh flavors make your tongue double take. Only place in town that serves Lawson's Finest beer on tap, a fantastic local brew that can only be purchased in the valley. You can buy it in bottles at The Warren Store. Occasional takeout, depending on customer traffic.
(5)Mai N.
You get what you pay for. It's a tough place to go with kids if they are small. The waiting area is tight but everyone is very nice. Local beers on tap. Local food in the oven, and it's great pizza. This pizza is worth waiting in line for but the salad has changed they used to put seaweed on it and they changed the dressing recipe (made from scratch). You gotta go if you are in a 30 mile radius of this area.
(3)M J.
Yes, the pizza is fantastic, the ambiance so very authentic, green-as-can-be-Vermont. I'd return, but as mentioned before, the wait can be a bit daunting. I assumed putting in a name/res at 4:30 for later that evening would cover us, as this is how it works there. However...... we didn't count on a party of 24 being seated at the same time. Yes, TWENTY FOUR. Who dines with 24 people?! What kind of insanity is this? What kind of idiot management policy allows them to even take a party of 24 on a busy night? Does the term take out ring any bells? Rant complete, and, all this said, our food arrived in a very timely way. That pizza oven cranks out the 'zas very quickly. Or, it's possible the table for 24 was still trying to get their order in.
(4)Jamie G.
So I love American Flatbread, and was in this area and found out that had a branch here so I just had to check it out. We arrived at 7:50 pm and were told there was a long wait, but we decided to stay and wait. They have a very nice and organized system so that you can order drinks while you wait and they get added to your tab for dinner, instead having to cash out before being seated. We had McNeill's Octoberfest which was delicious. They have a small area inside to wait, but a Nice huge area outside to wait, with 2 fire pits and great seating. It was chilly out, but I really did not mind waiting by the fire. And we waited and waited and waited. Had another beer, and mine got spilled after I took just a sip, but they refilled it for me for free! And we waited and waited and waited some more. And finally were seated at 9:30 pm. -- right near the pizza oven--- which was awesome... we could watch them make and cook the pizzas and chat with the cooks, and stayed warm too. We placed our order and finally ate at 10:00pm-- over TWO hours after we arrived!! We got the Equilibrium with no onions, add sausage.-- amazing pizza! But is it worth the two hour wait? Not really. But it did kill time during the evening when we had nothing else to do, and the wait was not uncomfortable. I would probably just avoid coming here on holiday weekends, and i'm sure I would thoroughly enjoy this place.
(4)Jennifer D.
Cozy atmosphere, good service, and delicious food! We had the New Vermont Sausage and the Punctuated Equilibrium Flatbread - both were delicious, although, I couldn't get enough of the New Vermont Sausage. Will definitely go back if ever in the area again!
(5)Brad D.
Awesome, totally worth the wait, besides what's so bad about having a few beers around a fire while waiting for a table! Once inside the bar is small but the bartender was great and they had some tasty beers on tap. The pizzas are so fresh and the toppings are great. I love that they stick to local flavors as well, just an overall outstanding place for a big dinner after a day on the slopes!!
(5)Danny P.
Really good crispy delicious pizza with fresh local ingredients. For some reason, the Burlington one was better, but this one, the original I believe, still rocks pretty damn hard. And it's on a farm! How cool is that? Incredibly fun and overall awesome-- huge wait on the weekend. and not very organized... Be prepared...have a drink and chill...
(4)Mary Lou M.
Every year when we come to Sugarbush we come here at least one night for dinner. Great place, food, service and experience! You do have to get there early as it gets crowded but its so worth it!! The flatbread cooked in their clay oven is fantastic!!
(5)Jaima S.
Omg. You must go here if you are anywhere close to Waitsville. We arrived on a cold, rainy, and dark night at 9:05 and couldn't believe how the place was hopping. There was a line but we just got drinks and sat in their cute waiting area. The building is rustic wood with gorgeous exposed beams and everyone has a view of the show aka the huge wood fire pizza oven. We were seated after about 30 minutes. We started with the organic salad and were very impressed. It was fresh and perfectly dressed with a light vinaigrette. The toasted sesame seeds added a lovely texture and flavor. We waited for our pizza by taking it all in. This was a mix of locals and travelers alike and it was absolutely packed, but had such a homey feeling. A board as you entered showed where locally all the foods had come from, which was nice. Our cheese pizza arrived with a blend of cheesesand herbs. It was piping hot and the. Crust was perfect. It was chewy on the crust and crispy on the inside. The balance of favors amazed us and we nearly polished off the whole pie between the two of us. Our dinner with drinks were just around 30. Oh, and the staff could not have been more friendly. We loved it.
(5)Bob C.
While taking a long weekend vacation skiing at Sugar Bush with a large group of friends, we all decided to hit up American Flatbread. This place is amazing! It was very busy with long waits, but we got there when they opened at 5 and we had our tables waiting for us. The food is very good and the "pizzas" are extremely large and original. The thing i loved the most about this place was the atmosphere. The waiting area outside surrounding a fire was great! We obviously did not have to wait for our table, but when we were all done eating, we still wanted to hang out so we stayed around and had a few more drinks. This place is not that easy to find, as it does not look like a restaurant, and its in the middle of no where (well that is most of Vermont, but to us city folk its out there!)
(5)Andrea A.
American Flatbread at Lareau Farm is iconic Vermont at its best. Local, fresh artisan pizza can't be beat. Punctuated Equilibrium and Revolution were my favorites but you really can't go wrong. Salads are great. Beverage selection has only gotten better with all the great brews and cider that VT is producing. Plan in a wait around the firepit in summer or after dinner enjoy a nightcap.
(5)Cristina G.
Talk about true Vermont! American Flatbread is only open Thursdays through Sundays and you better get there early otherwise you run the risk of not getting a table. We did just that. Early (around 5:30pm) on a Thursday we go there just in time. A table for two was available but shortly after that the place was packed to the gills with people waiting for tables. The food is all local and cooked in a fire pit in the center of the restaurant. All ingredients are fresh. We had the special of the day which was a chicken flatbread with chimichurri sauce, swiss chard, and creme fraiche. Yum!!! A must if you are in the area!.
(4)Nicole C.
This is one of my favorite places to visit when in VT. The property is beautiful, the staff is friendly and the food is great. It's such a simple menu. Love the pizza oven in the room. You must be strategic about your timing or stop in to make a res. last night we had a beautiful bonus, a fireworks show to kick off Arts Month!
(5)Ed R.
-organic, locally sourced delicious food -good service, fun environment -arrive earlier than you want to eat. You will probably wait. Arrived at 4:15, famished. Put our name on the list for a table when they started seating at 5 and then went to the bar t
(5)Christina K.
Yummy!
(5)Holly S.
Vermont is one of my favorite places in the US, and, American Flatbread is a big part of that :) This place is unreal, in my book. My review is going to be based mostly on the atmosphere, you can read everyone else's food reviews :) In winter, it's the go-to if you've finished a long day skiing at Sugar Bush (or a long day at the bar, hanging out). It's situated in barn, which has the most cozy feel - and the biggest hearth I've ever seen. A small bar up front can keep you entertained while you wait, but the star of the show is the roaring bonfire outside with a ring of rocks for seating. Seriously - just typing this is making me die die die for my first ski trip to Vermont this winter. In the summer, it's breathtaking. Set in an open meadow just outside of the woods, the bonfire still roars, they add seating outside in the grass - covered by tree-limb trellises adorned with small lights. A volley ball net is set up out back, someone playing the guitar and/or recorded music fills the air. I believe I also saw a small stage set up. The people who come here are an amazing eclectic-Vermont-enthusiast crowd, and it's really, really great for families and ski bums alike. I absolutely love the pizza, salads and deserts. You cannot go wrong. I highly, highly recommend you nominate someone to leave the mountain early to get your name in (in winter time). I beliveve they open at 4p to take names and it pretty much fills up immediately. If you don't, you're going to be in for a long wait - but if you've read the above and have some time and a DD, you can happily drink out by the bonfire for hours!
(5)Alex G.
Atmosphere tremendous (cozy and family friendly). Pizza exceptional. Dessert terrific. Service friendly under pressure. BUT: They struggle mightily on busy weekends to deal with crowds and logistics. If going over a holiday, check in for a seating time at 3:30 and prepare to wait forever when you arrive at the appointed time. That said - there is a reason for all the hullabaloo. It's great stuff.
(5)Lisa L.
If you are looking for true Vermont ambiance, this is it. However get there early and be ready to wait. On our last trip, our wait time was supposed to be an half hour but it was over an hour before we got a table. Thankfully, in the adjacent barn there was a watercolor exhibition and a visual scavenger hunt for the kids that kept them occupied (Not affiliated with AF). You could even bring a drink in there. Say hello to the friendly grey cat that graces the place. There is also a bonfire circle. Depending on where you are seated it can get a little tight, but there is something about the relaxed atmosphere that if you bump into another patron you get a smile. Food-wise, this time around we had the sun dried tomato and mushroom pizza that was outstanding. In the past we ordered a seafood special, which I didn't think I would like but went crazy over! Despite the wait issues, we'll come back again and again.
(4)Julie C.
What else more can be said about this place. Its effing good! very small compared to the Burlington site and the good thing the wait is not very long! We ate here on a Saturday night around 7pm. Staff here is very friendly. I love how you are able to sit near their brick oven and watch your pizza getting made. They have a fire pit outside which was awesome, if it weren't so cold, I think I would've like to enjoy a brew out there. I love flatbread pizza and this place has perfected it.
(5)Matt P.
I've been coming here for about 19 years (ever since I was a little kid) and could not imagine a trip to Sugarbush without coming to Flatbread. Some of the best pizza (organic/local/fresh ingredients and some of the best special pizzas I've ever seen) and an absolutely delightful staff.
(5)Mark E.
Outstanding pizza, tremendous atmosphere. We love it here, come early and sit by the outdoor firepits before enjoying your meal. The staff is great; you'll love the experience.
(5)Andy P.
The pizza is always beyond solid. They embrace the whole vermont-y approach, local organic-ness, a little fire pit outside to sip your wine. There is the hand hewn furniture and the pizza oven is made with earthen product.During the summer, it is great to bring kids as the farm has a huge area for the kids to run and play while waiting to be seated. This is not a pepperoni ny style pizza. This is always a medley of stuff pizza. The staff is very in the flatbread zone and is very focused on making your dinner. The staff is nice enough. I always get a kick out of the menu as well as any item on the pizza will have at least one adjective minimum to describe it. It is a must do experience if staying in the Mad River Valley.
(4)David G.
The quality of the pizza doesn't out weigh the rudeness of the front of the house staff and the chaotic "reservation" system they have concocted. They know their product is good so they see no problem playing a game with people looking for a place to eat. They advertise that they don't take reservations, which normally would be fine if they adhered to the rules that all other restaurants do, first come first serve. But no, this is American Flatbread. You have to show up when they open at 4pm and wait in line to put your name in for a certain time, most people would call this making a reservation but they don't take reservations so I guess it's something new and different that I don't know about. After initially waiting in line to put your name into their innovative system you have to come back at your allotted time and then wait again to be seated. Their pizza is so good they know you'll wait in line twice so you can stuff your face in their 500 degree dining room. Schmucks like me that assume this place would operate by the rules of decent human society are forced to wait and watch for hours while one yuppie family after another arrives and gets seated. There are a number of places in the mad river valley with excellent food that don't treat they're would-be patrons with utter disdain, I'd recommend any of them ahead of flatbread.
(1)Big S.
this place is great if you are up in the sugarbush area. My friends come here all the time, the service is great and the waitstaff is super nice/friendly. The only downside, its always crowded but I would rather be at a crowded restaurant. all of the pizzas are great, the sweet sausage/mushroom is incredible. good beers on tap, draft root beer. nice salads. cannot go wrong here.
(5)Colin H.
My father, sister and I go to Vermont for vacation every year and have just recently (in the past 3 years) found out about American Flatbread and it is without a doubt the best Pizza we've ever had! That is not something you'd expect from a pizza place in rural vermont but it is the honest truth I recommend American Flatbread to anyone who loves pizza or simply enjoys it.
(5)Scott H.
such good pizza
(5)michael l.
So delicious! Local ingredients used creatively. The staff are so friendly. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, the bonfire. Wow! I would be a regular if we lived in the area.
(4)Ken W.
Let me get the two negatives right out in the open. The wait for a table here can be excruciating. In general, Friday nights are better before the tourist crowd gets to town. You may balk at the cost of the flatbreads (fancy way of saying "pizza"). However, you will be amazed at the quality of the ingredients which are mostly locally grown and the taste. The other thing that makes Flatbread special is the setting. You can stand outside as you await your table with a beer or wine glass in hand while warming by a nice fire. Their dining area contains a lot of messages about Mother Earth and feeding the world. It can get a little preachy but I think the people at Flatbread are sincere.
(5)Lucy W.
I was lucky enough to get to try American Flatbread at their original & signature location in Waitsfield's Lareau Farm during Christmas vacation week. They usually are only open for dinner on Thu-Sun but they also opened for dinner for the holiday week- yay! I had read about this place so it's been on my "to try" list for awhile- the set-up & atmosphere is what makes this place unique. Farm land in rural Vermont + restaurant in a converted barn with a wood-burning pizza oven in the middle of dining room + local ingredients/unique special combinations of pizza toppings/good dough + hippie dippy vibe with campfire outside, candles inside = marketing gold & 2.5+ hours wait THE WAIT: I couldn't believe it when I arrived right when the restaurant opened for dinner and put my name on the list, which landed me in a time slot 2.5 hours later! I knew this place had a huge following and was extremely busy every night, but wow! Luckily, the hostess says that once I put my name in, I can leave and come back later (and not have to stand there waiting the whole time). We did just that, waltzed in later right up to podium and were seated immediately. As we were leaving around 9pm, the waiting area inside and outside was still a madhouse, filled with people waiting to be seated. THE PIZZA: The server was friendly and let us know we could order 1 flatbread w/ split toppings on each half. We did just that with 2 of the specials: 1. Meatball w/ tomato sauce, basil & mozzarella and 2. White asiago w/ spinach & butternut squash. The tomato sauce was so tasty on the meatball half, and the butternut squash was the star of the other half...something I would have never thought to put on a pizza but was delicious. VERY good dough, baked to crusty perfection...I devoured many irregularly sliced slices, including the crust (which I usually leave on my plate but in this case, it was so good, I ate it all). Local beers also available here...the server recommended a good one after we asked which VT beer matched our preferences. I was so full, we passed on dessert even though we had seen some delicious and gigantic slices of apple pie passing by to be heated in the wood burning fire. Great restaurant and good pizza, just not sure it's worth the gigundo wait. I haven't had good pizza in awhile so having American Flatbread's version seemed heavenly in comparison to what I had eaten in recent history. I'm glad to have said I've tried it b/c of American Flatbread's famous status and place in VT dining lore. I ended picking up a frozen American Flatbread at the supermarket on my way home, so I can have it later on to remind me of my trip to Vermont :)
(4)Sean S.
Overrated, though still a fine dinner option in the Mad River Valley. Great ambiance, decent pizza. Pizzeria Regina or Frank Pepe's crushes anything from this wood fired stove.
(3)Kenney O.
Good flatbread with good local brews. I loved the farm fresh ingredients though. It is a bit of a tourist trap though. They're more than happy to tell you about a 4 hr wait and sell you beers until then.
(4)Nathan K.
Let's get this out of the way: I came here during a down period, so I had no experience with ridiculous waits. That won't be a factor in my review. I was seated immediately and water came seconds later. Our waiter was very enthusiastic while explaining the special (featuring red wine lamb, potatoes, baby spinach). I ended up getting a half and half pizza, one half the lamb special and the other half peppers and pepperoni. After ordering, it was cool to watch the clay oven cook work the oven. He was constantly fiddling with pizzas and it was entrancing to watch. Our pizza came in about 15 minutes and it was unreal. Even as a big pizza eater, I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was some of the best pizza I've had. Outside the food, the service was impeccable. We were waited on by four or five people, who would clear away dishes, refill water (constantly!) and handle the check. It wasn't all on the waiter to handle our table as the staff worked as a team, which is always the sign of a great restaurant. I could go on and on about American Flatbread and their great staff, better food and their wonderful ingredient quality/standards, but it's really easier to just go there. Unless you don't like pizza (i.e. you don't have a pulse), you will love this place. Go support a great local pizza place the next time you're in Waitsfield, Vermont.
(5)Chris C.
So this place get's crazy busy and the wait for a table is pretty long. However they have a great setup so it doesn't seem nearly as bad as you would expect it to be. The trick is that they open a tab when you check in so you can get a drink and then mill around while waiting. The inside waiting area is a bit small so we headed outside. They have a large lawn and two areas with fire pits. One of them has chairs around it while the second one has stones setup to sit on. It was actually a nice way to wait for a table. That said the wait was still unbelievably long. The beer selection is VT focused as it should be. I like that they carry McNeils instead of say Magic Hat since its a little less common. I honestly didn't check out the rest of the bar menu so I'm not sure how it is. Once you finally get seated don't expect anything fancy. The tables are basically card tables with folding chairs. It didn't bother me, but I can imagine some people might wonder what the deal is. The pizza itself is amazing, pretty large and not very expensive. While I agree the pizza is amazing I don't feel its wait hours and hours amazing. I think I'll only be hitting this place up at non peak times and certainly never again on a holiday weekend.
(4)L G.
The best flatbread only second to their Burlington location. The salads were amazing we enjoyed the design your own flatbreads. Very easy with a large family as everyone was able to get what they liked. We will definitely return next time we ski at Sugarbush. Looking forward to it!
(4)Christine K.
This place was amazing. It was -10 degrees out so we ran past their outside fire pit to get indoors quickly. We grabbed a drink at the bar (they link your tab to your name automatically) and were seated about 20 minutes later. Luckily we were positioned within viewing distance of the amazing wood-burning oven. It was warm, with a cozy decor and friendly staff- perfect for a cold Saturday night. We ordered the salad with the Vermont goat cheese and even my husband, who could take or leave salad, was impressed. I ordered their standard cheese and herb flatbread on their gluten-free crust. It was one of the best gluten-free pizzas I have EVER had. My husband ordered a regular flatbread: half sausage and the other half italian pepperoni. He couldn't decide which he liked more. He finished his meal with the apple pie, baked right in the fire and claimed it was amazing. Overall, we had zero complaints. We almost went back our second night, but couldn't bring ourselves to miss out on trying The Common Man.
(5)Chris F.
Had the rehearsal dinner here for our wedding this summer. The staff could be a little slow to respond to e-mails, but everything was taken care of. They had a great little pavilion just beyond the inn and main restaurant; it was very private. The food was absolutely amazing, and there was no shortage of it: delicious pizzas for all dietary restrictions, apple pie and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, s'mores with Lindt chocolate roasted over a fire, great local beers. Absolutely perfect; I'll never get tired of this place.
(5)Mike S.
The service was outstanding, the food was even better. The atmosphere was a little chaotic and that probably had something to do with the heatwave going through Vermont at the time. Would totally recommend it for families with kids of all ages. (but maybe in the spring or fall)
(4)Colleen H.
I've been here a couple times, once when we viewed my girlfriend's wedding venue (Sugar Bush) and again for her rehearsal dinner. The first time we went, it was definitely VT. They stared at me with my high heels, as I stood near the fire hoping my glass of wine would do wonders in warming me up. There's usually a wait here, but all for good reason -- the pizza's great. They did a FANTASTIC job for her rehearsal dinner which was held outside. They actually made a special gluten-free pizza (how? I don't know...) for her grandmother. And the good pizza's just kept coming. It was great, decorated perfectly, and everyone working was quite cheerful -- even the parking lot director! If you're in the area, definitely come here. And if you're getting married close by, check out their outdoor tent area for your rehearsal!
(5)gale h.
Checked out the art in the barn. Enjoyed several of the daily pizza selections, will try the special too next time (thanks to the advice of below review). Cozy cabin/barn/open fire indoors type ambiance. Was here in the September off-season with some locals and still had a wait, though we did get seated eventually. Apparently there was a large bike race in town so things were busy enough. Certainly worth the visit as are any of the local farm stands/markets!
(5)katie j.
Read about this place while researching places to eat near our B&B. It did not disappoint! Absolutely amazing pizza, one of the best I've ever had... and, living in NYC, I've had a LOT of pizza. The grounds themselves are beautiful. There's a large, open outdoor area complete with a fire pit, volleyball net and open field with soccer balls, footballs and frisbees to ease the wait. We had a blast tossing a frisbee, chatting by the fire and visiting an art exhibiting in the neighboring barn during our wait. The restaurant is warm and cozy, great place for families. The large pizza oven provides ample heat and is an appropriate focal point of the restaurant. Neat to watch the skilled staff prepare and bake the pizzas. The waitress thankfully informed us we could order 1 pie with different toppings on each half. We opted for 1/2 scallops (that day's special) and 1/2 sausage. The scallops were absolutely phenomenal, had no idea pizza would taste so good with scallops! I also loved the fresh ginger soda. If you enjoy the kick of ginger, definitely try it. We completed our meal with warm, homemade apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The Bottom Line: Best restaurant in the area and a worthwhile stop if you're traveling through Vermont. Visit the website for operating hours as they're a bit unique (only open Thurs - Sun)!
(5)Chris F.
You're going to be hard-pressed to find better (or more inventive) pizza anywhere else. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and the salads are fantastic. We only had a ten minute wait and they have a nice art show going on this month, so the time spent waiting is enjoyable.
(5)Michael M.
Simply the best. Get there at 4:20 for a 5:30 seating on a weekend. We go on Sunday nights. I grew up on New York pizza, but this is my favorite.
(5)Jenny H.
We had our rehearsal dinner there June 7. There were over 30 of us, but the staff took care of each of our needs. Our guests kept commenting on how great the salad and pizza were! I think the sausage, pepperoni and mixed veggie was all of our favorites. Thank you American Flatbread for such a memorable evening!
(5)Caroline A.
Ok. Forget about the pizza war between Chicago and NYC. I agree with Lindley completely - this Pizza is the pizza to end all pizzas. I've dined at American Flatbread a few times while skiing in Vermont, and have never had a bad experience. Ever. There are a few convenience stores in VT and even gas stations that have frozen American Flatbread pizza, but it's not the same. Not even close. I hear they have them in Whole Foods now, but have never tried it. Nothing can really duplicate a pizza cooked in a hot wood oven, unless you have one at home (feel free to invite me over for pizza). The ingredients are very fresh - you've never had pizza like this before. American Flatbread is one of those companies that you can feel the passion of the founder through the food. Warm and cozy atmosphere, a great place to come with friends or family. I don't recall the staff to much, but I'm sure they are great. It's Vermont, people!! I had a few nicknames in college, and one of them was Princess of Pizza. This is where it started. :P Go. There. Now.
(5)Will P.
The good: The pizza is very, very good. The staff is nice. The setting is more "Vermonty" than you can imagine. The bad: The wait is long. Whatever they tell you...double it. The whole experience is ruined by the seating system.
(3)Jim L.
If you have the time to wait for a seat - do it. This place has a great vibe - rustic, no frills, casual with great pizza. Stopped in there on Saturday night with 4 total in our party. We waited an hour or so around the bar/waiting area and a few beers (Lawson's IPA!). Eventually we were sat right in front of the stone oven which was a cool spot. We started with some well-enjoyed salads and then sampled three different types of pizza (as described on their menu): -Pepperoni with green peppers -Wood Grilled Eggplant with Maple and Garlic, Housemade Tomato Sauce, Baby Arugula, Roasted Sweet Onions and Fennel, and Maple Brook Farm Fresh Mozzarella -Sausage and Beef Ragu with Beef from Gaylord Farm, Roasted Portabella Mushrooms in a Balsamic Marinade, Scallions and Maple Brook Farm Fresh Mozzarella All three were amazing - great crust, perfect proportions of toppings, and neither overly dry nor super greasy. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Simone G.
Ridiculously yum. Saturday night wait was insane. I recommend bringing a distracting/efficiency oriented device such as anything prefaced with an 'i' (ipad, iphone, etc.) to tide you over if good company is not in reach. Hours? More if your name is not on the list? Had a group of twenty plus for a birthday party and tried making reservations via phone. No go. Staff told us to come in at 4:30 to physically put our name on the list. Went in at 4 because of snow and logistics. No go. Told us to come back in half an hour. At this point I'm like, "Coooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmeeeeeee oooooonnnnnnnnnnn, really?" Perhaps for an opportunity at a sighting of an albino leprechaun, sure, you can pull this sort of rank, but in general, I have a super low tolerance for restaurants that exercise this type of rigidity around accommodating guests. Moreover, a group of twenty plus typically yields a sizable tab, and you'd think they'd compromise a little...so at this point, as I sloshed though the snow at a local bar to wait out the requisite half hour, I was thinking to myself that the pizza best have gold-dust infused cheese or some other marvelously gucci detail to warrant this effort. Hours later, sans the gold-dust infused cheese, American Flatbread delivered. Effort worthwhile. Ridiculously delectable pizza. I mean, this is the sort of meal you tuck away in to your archives of foodie bliss. Just orgasmic. All the intrinsic components were there: super warm atmosphere, good beer, nice staff, and, I would recommend a specific pizza, but because of the large size of our group, I'm pretty sure we tried one of each. None disappointed. Fresh, tasty, quality veggies and meats. Locally sourced. Organic. We went through A LOT of pizza that night. They even had a gluten-free pizza. We split some Evolution salads to offset the pizza guilt and left totally satisfied.
(4)Ben B.
Honestly one of the best dining experiences of my life. Short wait before being seated, have a glass of wine around a fire pit, get called in, watch everything get made right in front of you, and delicious pizza. Serious ingredients and cookery, wonderful staff, totally unpretentious, amazing.
(5)Meghan M.
Do you like amazing pizza with fresh uber local ingredients? Does waiting for your table outside in front of a crackling open fire while your kids run wild in the green grass with new friends take the stress out of waiting? Yep. Beet, chevre, arugula, squash, new Vermont sausage or just plain cheese and roni for the kids. Amazing! Desserts are excellent. Here's the key tip: at 4pm they take a wait list for 5pm seating. Send a rep from your party there at 4 and your night will sail by. This place is all the things that make Vermont special in one amazing setting.
(5)Graham F.
Best pizza ever eat here
(5)Elaine W.
Ate here with a group of 11 last week and it's as wonderful and delicious as ever. We always get a flatbread that has half of each special of the day. Always so creative.
(5)Beth M.
American Flatbread was cruising for a 2-star rating. We arrived, the wait was 2 hours for a party of 2, the bartender was really confusing when we placed our order (not his fault, just the nature of the place it seems), i was starving and cranky and sore, and it was cold as all-hell as we waited around the tiny dying campfire listening to a clever 10 year-old trying to be funny. We almost left. But then-- enter the 5 nicest strangers EVER. After we chatted with them for no more than 10 minutes around the fire, their table was called, leaving us all by our lonesome. Long story short, they reserved a table for 7, only had 5 in their party, and offered us the spots! This turned our experience right around. We ended up having a lovely pizzalicious dinner with our new adopted friends. The restaurant itself is super cozy and warmly lit. Vermont microbrews and tasty glasses of wine were ordered all around, as well as the one salad on the menu, dotted with blue cheese and a really great dressing. And now to the pizza. It was good. Very yummy. We got sausage, caramelized onions and sun dried tomatoes with a blend of cheeses. Definitely savory and delicious...but, you know I'm gonna say it, not really worth a two hour wait. I'd wait two hours for Santarpios in East Boston. But this...no. I know, I know, it's Vermont. In the woods. I'm not being fair. Just sayin'. Anywho, if you're in the area, you should still come here. If not for the pizza, then for the campfire, and the excellent company you just may find. Either way I'm sure it will be good times. Thanks again Chief!!!
(4)Ryan B.
This place is one hemp neckless and two joints away from a hippie commune. But I LOVE IT. Having been here a few times, this time was the best!. Packed with families, farmers, yuppies and with the occasional hippie sprinkled thought out the experience almost felt like some sort of Noah's ark just not in pairs but in herds. All drawn there because of our love for fresh, tasty, socially and environmentally sustainable farming practices. We waited for our table outside on a warm summer evening sipping chilled local brewed beer in these great Adirondack Chairs watching a gaggle of kids play in the field. There happened to be a wedding taking place so there was live music. They had a great fire pit outside that defiantly adds to the ambiance. They only have limited items on the menu. But the food is always delicious and fresh. The salads are amazing and if they offer you blue cheese get it. YUMMY..... Just know two things. 1. Only open Friday and Sat nights 2. Almost always you will have to wait for a table. Just get a drink and enjoy the free views and beauty.
(5)Scott E.
Best Pizza in the state of Vermont. I know that the wait can often be 2 to 3 hours or more, but as a local you have to know the way to avoid that, put in your name, go home for a while, then come back. The wait is made better with a bottle of wine and good conversation around the fire outside. As for the food, the pizza's are cooked in front of you, and the smell that fills the air is amazing. The salads are simple and delicous, and the pizzas with thier local ingredients are awesome. It helps that I was married next door at Lareau Farm, but if you are in the Valey and you crave pizza, this is the place.
(5)Dina P.
What a little slice of heaven...both the pizza and the idyllic location! We arrived at 5:30 and had no trouble getting a table, but the place filled up quickly after we were seated. The daily special pizza with local bacon, potatoes and scallions was amazing, I wish I had saved room for dessert because we saw a couple of slices of oven-baked apple pie go by and they looked delicious. We could have hung around all night, drinking beer by the campfire, listening to the live jazz and chatting with other patrons, but unfortunately our 6-month-old needed to get home to bed. They've really created a convivial atmosphere in addition to a great product. I've had the pizzas frozen before, but they are ten times better at the source.
(5)Samantha J.
If you can stand the wait, you'll love the food. They really make a great flatbread at Lareau Farm and as they're only open 2 days a week it's a hot spot for locals and vacationers alike. Expect a long wait followed by a simple meal of salad, flatbread, dessert and drinks. The atmosphere is Vermont; you're eating on a farm with a clay oven a few tables away. The food is fresh and fun. If I'm in the mood to wait, Flatbread is a no-brainer.
(4)philip w.
Even though we had some truly excellent meals in the Sugarbush area, this "pizza" restaurant was the family favorite. The pizzas are not like ny pizza slices. They are more like Italian home made pizza with incredible ingredients. We ate five different kinds and all were fantastic. Great place for kids obviously. Booking can be a challenge. Do not expect to get seated without a reservation. Nice wines, great local beers on tap.
(5)Jen T.
We waited more than 2 hours after the hostess told us the wait would be an hour. When we were finally seated (after 9 p.m.) the restaurant was practically empty. While we were waiting countless diners came in after us and were seated before us. Perhaps you need to be on some type of different "wait-list", but unless you're a local you wouldn't know this. The pizza is solid, but not amazing and certainly NOT worth the wait. Our waitress' attempts at up-selling us on wine when she saw we had already chosen a pricey bottle from the bar was super annoying and put the final nail in the coffin for me. Don't buy the hype. Try another of the local dining establishments instead.
(1)Josh K.
Flatbread is a staple of Vermont-- Yes, the wait is long, but the campfire outside is warm, the big wood-fired clay oven is enticing and the pizza is just amazing. Oh, and while Whole Foods has Flatbread all over the Northeast and Florida, don't expect to find it in California. Flatbread's new "Mexican" style pizza with black beans, chiles, and cheddar is delicious, but from the old days I would always get the "Medicine Wheel" with extra sauce and some blend of Asiago and Grana Padano cheese. Salad is fresh, simple, and delicious that that apple pie baked in the wood-fired stone stove is simply awesome. Another great place, one of the few truly delicious restaurants in Vermont, outside of Sneaker's in Colchester ( near downtown Burlington), the Inn at Essex (decent Nachos), Shelburne Farms, and most recently a bakery in Richmond with great Homefries for breakfast.
(4)Lindley E.
The pizza to end all pizzas. Where to start? American Flatbread is not just a restaurant, it is a monument to its owner and founder, George Schenk. George has a degree from Yale but spent most of his time after school as a ski bum. After years of cooking, he realized that he loved making flatbreads...and American Flatbread was born. George has elaborate philosophies around food and eating and the place is covered in his writings. He and his staff dedicate each day of baking to individuals who had an impact on their lives. There is a lot of thought put into the products here, from the source of the water (George used to hand carry it from an Artesian well every day) to the flour (organic, local) to the tomatoes (ditto) which was made into sauce in a cauldron that was cooked outside over a wood fire. The believe that food made well has the power to heal drove George Schenk to grow this place into what it is today. The shop keeps very limited hours, depending on the season. I've arrived just as they've opened and been seated immediately, and sometimes I've waited up to 2.5 hours for a table. No complaints, it is always worth it. Anything cooked in a clay oven with a wood fire burning at 700 degrees tastes good. With the ingredients AF uses, things don't taste good, they taste great. As a note: the stuff you buy in Whole Foods is from AF, but it just doesn't have the same 'oomph' that getting it at the source does. Worth a pilgrimage.
(5)Mike S.
Most of what I can say about this place has already been said by numerous other reviewers, but I feel as if I need to add my two cents so people who may be on the fence dive in and try this place. First off, the setting is nothing short of amazing. The farm is located in rural Vermont with all of its natural beauty for all to see. I was just here a week ago, which was the day after thanksgiving and this place was absolutely jumping. Luckily we got here right at 5 PM when they opened and were seated immediately. As other reviewers have noted, the wait can be excessive. By 7 PM when we left there were easily 100-150 people waiting inside and out around a campfire. It was cold, (not too cold for Vermont standards,) but that didn't stop tons of people from hanging around the campfire enjoying drinks and conversation. Onto the food..The one salad they do have at this location was awesome. I am a regular guy and the salad sounded a little odd for my tastes, but I must admit it was amazing and was made even better with some fresh Vermont cheese on it. The pizza was outstanding (and this is coming from someone who loves good pizza from Chicago.) The ingredients were all fresh and local, a little off the wall for some people I can imagine. The beer selection was good focusing on local and regional microwbrews. All in all, I loved this place and will be returning when I head to Sugarbush for some skiing... Highly Recommended.
(5)Jay M.
Save yourself this Vermont restaurant experience and buy their pizza in the store. It is very good, even frozen. The waiting game they play at the restaurant is nothing but aggrevating however and will ruin your dining experience. Not only did we wait 3 hours, and watch numerous groups put their names in after us and get in before, the pizza took another half an hour to get to the table after the salads. It's really too bad because the atmosphere is pretty cool. They just don't have a clue about a system to manage the crowds they get on the weekends.
(1)chris d.
Well I read most of the reviews before posting mine and it seems there is a glow about the place I think becuase it does have a nice setting and that counts for a lot. But come on! Silly money for what ? Flatbread. Not pizza. Flatbread. And therein lies the dilemma. Having ben to Gino's East Side in Chicago and most of the greek owned joints all over central Massachusetts, I am appalled to try to take my 2 kids and a friend out there and drop 100 bucks. The wait can be crazy long - commonly 2+ hours - not always. I have been seated immediately for a 2 top. Yes - Lawson's on tap is a treat. But this is Vermont and the weak salads are enough to make you wish for somewhere else. Now it's really just getting a tad corporate, with the sell out to "manufacture" flatbread in New Hampshire for distribution to folks who may think "ah Vermont". Hmmm.... is that wood fired too? It is nice to toss a frisbee for a while before eating, but it's not really the kind of place that you want to keep on going back to time and time again - which to me is the hallmark of a 4 or 5 star rating. So if you don't mind really thin "pizza" with sparse toppings you will love it. The fold up charis and sardine seating and noisy atmosphere may or may not be to your liking. Now the owners somehow think the customer base wants to look at 24 solar tracker arrays in the beautiul adjoining field. What are they thinking about???? Money of course - keep that in mind and your expectations will be met.
(2)Holly S.
Vermont is one of my favorite places in the US, and, American Flatbread is a big part of that :) This place is unreal, in my book. My review is going to be based mostly on the atmosphere, you can read everyone else's food reviews :) In winter, it's the go-to if you've finished a long day skiing at Sugar Bush (or a long day at the bar, hanging out). It's situated in barn, which has the most cozy feel - and the biggest hearth I've ever seen. A small bar up front can keep you entertained while you wait, but the star of the show is the roaring bonfire outside with a ring of rocks for seating. Seriously - just typing this is making me die die die for my first ski trip to Vermont this winter. In the summer, it's breathtaking. Set in an open meadow just outside of the woods, the bonfire still roars, they add seating outside in the grass - covered by tree-limb trellises adorned with small lights. A volley ball net is set up out back, someone playing the guitar and/or recorded music fills the air. I believe I also saw a small stage set up. The people who come here are an amazing eclectic-Vermont-enthusiast crowd, and it's really, really great for families and ski bums alike. I absolutely love the pizza, salads and deserts. You cannot go wrong. I highly, highly recommend you nominate someone to leave the mountain early to get your name in (in winter time). I beliveve they open at 4p to take names and it pretty much fills up immediately. If you don't, you're going to be in for a long wait - but if you've read the above and have some time and a DD, you can happily drink out by the bonfire for hours!
(5)Alex G.
Atmosphere tremendous (cozy and family friendly). Pizza exceptional. Dessert terrific. Service friendly under pressure. BUT: They struggle mightily on busy weekends to deal with crowds and logistics. If going over a holiday, check in for a seating time at 3:30 and prepare to wait forever when you arrive at the appointed time. That said - there is a reason for all the hullabaloo. It's great stuff.
(5)Lisa L.
If you are looking for true Vermont ambiance, this is it. However get there early and be ready to wait. On our last trip, our wait time was supposed to be an half hour but it was over an hour before we got a table. Thankfully, in the adjacent barn there was a watercolor exhibition and a visual scavenger hunt for the kids that kept them occupied (Not affiliated with AF). You could even bring a drink in there. Say hello to the friendly grey cat that graces the place. There is also a bonfire circle. Depending on where you are seated it can get a little tight, but there is something about the relaxed atmosphere that if you bump into another patron you get a smile. Food-wise, this time around we had the sun dried tomato and mushroom pizza that was outstanding. In the past we ordered a seafood special, which I didn't think I would like but went crazy over! Despite the wait issues, we'll come back again and again.
(4)Julie C.
What else more can be said about this place. Its effing good! very small compared to the Burlington site and the good thing the wait is not very long! We ate here on a Saturday night around 7pm. Staff here is very friendly. I love how you are able to sit near their brick oven and watch your pizza getting made. They have a fire pit outside which was awesome, if it weren't so cold, I think I would've like to enjoy a brew out there. I love flatbread pizza and this place has perfected it.
(5)Cristina G.
Talk about true Vermont! American Flatbread is only open Thursdays through Sundays and you better get there early otherwise you run the risk of not getting a table. We did just that. Early (around 5:30pm) on a Thursday we go there just in time. A table for two was available but shortly after that the place was packed to the gills with people waiting for tables. The food is all local and cooked in a fire pit in the center of the restaurant. All ingredients are fresh. We had the special of the day which was a chicken flatbread with chimichurri sauce, swiss chard, and creme fraiche. Yum!!! A must if you are in the area!.
(4)Nathan K.
Let's get this out of the way: I came here during a down period, so I had no experience with ridiculous waits. That won't be a factor in my review. I was seated immediately and water came seconds later. Our waiter was very enthusiastic while explaining the special (featuring red wine lamb, potatoes, baby spinach). I ended up getting a half and half pizza, one half the lamb special and the other half peppers and pepperoni. After ordering, it was cool to watch the clay oven cook work the oven. He was constantly fiddling with pizzas and it was entrancing to watch. Our pizza came in about 15 minutes and it was unreal. Even as a big pizza eater, I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was some of the best pizza I've had. Outside the food, the service was impeccable. We were waited on by four or five people, who would clear away dishes, refill water (constantly!) and handle the check. It wasn't all on the waiter to handle our table as the staff worked as a team, which is always the sign of a great restaurant. I could go on and on about American Flatbread and their great staff, better food and their wonderful ingredient quality/standards, but it's really easier to just go there. Unless you don't like pizza (i.e. you don't have a pulse), you will love this place. Go support a great local pizza place the next time you're in Waitsfield, Vermont.
(5)Chris C.
So this place get's crazy busy and the wait for a table is pretty long. However they have a great setup so it doesn't seem nearly as bad as you would expect it to be. The trick is that they open a tab when you check in so you can get a drink and then mill around while waiting. The inside waiting area is a bit small so we headed outside. They have a large lawn and two areas with fire pits. One of them has chairs around it while the second one has stones setup to sit on. It was actually a nice way to wait for a table. That said the wait was still unbelievably long. The beer selection is VT focused as it should be. I like that they carry McNeils instead of say Magic Hat since its a little less common. I honestly didn't check out the rest of the bar menu so I'm not sure how it is. Once you finally get seated don't expect anything fancy. The tables are basically card tables with folding chairs. It didn't bother me, but I can imagine some people might wonder what the deal is. The pizza itself is amazing, pretty large and not very expensive. While I agree the pizza is amazing I don't feel its wait hours and hours amazing. I think I'll only be hitting this place up at non peak times and certainly never again on a holiday weekend.
(4)L G.
The best flatbread only second to their Burlington location. The salads were amazing we enjoyed the design your own flatbreads. Very easy with a large family as everyone was able to get what they liked. We will definitely return next time we ski at Sugarbush. Looking forward to it!
(4)Nicole C.
This is one of my favorite places to visit when in VT. The property is beautiful, the staff is friendly and the food is great. It's such a simple menu. Love the pizza oven in the room. You must be strategic about your timing or stop in to make a res. last night we had a beautiful bonus, a fireworks show to kick off Arts Month!
(5)David G.
The quality of the pizza doesn't out weigh the rudeness of the front of the house staff and the chaotic "reservation" system they have concocted. They know their product is good so they see no problem playing a game with people looking for a place to eat. They advertise that they don't take reservations, which normally would be fine if they adhered to the rules that all other restaurants do, first come first serve. But no, this is American Flatbread. You have to show up when they open at 4pm and wait in line to put your name in for a certain time, most people would call this making a reservation but they don't take reservations so I guess it's something new and different that I don't know about. After initially waiting in line to put your name into their innovative system you have to come back at your allotted time and then wait again to be seated. Their pizza is so good they know you'll wait in line twice so you can stuff your face in their 500 degree dining room. Schmucks like me that assume this place would operate by the rules of decent human society are forced to wait and watch for hours while one yuppie family after another arrives and gets seated. There are a number of places in the mad river valley with excellent food that don't treat they're would-be patrons with utter disdain, I'd recommend any of them ahead of flatbread.
(1)Big S.
this place is great if you are up in the sugarbush area. My friends come here all the time, the service is great and the waitstaff is super nice/friendly. The only downside, its always crowded but I would rather be at a crowded restaurant. all of the pizzas are great, the sweet sausage/mushroom is incredible. good beers on tap, draft root beer. nice salads. cannot go wrong here.
(5)Colin H.
My father, sister and I go to Vermont for vacation every year and have just recently (in the past 3 years) found out about American Flatbread and it is without a doubt the best Pizza we've ever had! That is not something you'd expect from a pizza place in rural vermont but it is the honest truth I recommend American Flatbread to anyone who loves pizza or simply enjoys it.
(5)Scott H.
such good pizza
(5)michael l.
So delicious! Local ingredients used creatively. The staff are so friendly. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, the bonfire. Wow! I would be a regular if we lived in the area.
(4)Ken W.
Let me get the two negatives right out in the open. The wait for a table here can be excruciating. In general, Friday nights are better before the tourist crowd gets to town. You may balk at the cost of the flatbreads (fancy way of saying "pizza"). However, you will be amazed at the quality of the ingredients which are mostly locally grown and the taste. The other thing that makes Flatbread special is the setting. You can stand outside as you await your table with a beer or wine glass in hand while warming by a nice fire. Their dining area contains a lot of messages about Mother Earth and feeding the world. It can get a little preachy but I think the people at Flatbread are sincere.
(5)Allegra S.
American Flatbread is the love of my life!! What a wonderful atmosphere with the gorgeous grassy lawn out back, fire pits, and rustic decor. The pizza is the best you will ever eat (and I've been to Italy). Nothing compares to the magic that is American Flatbread. I come here often with family and friends, it can't be beat!!!
(5)Monica B.
Complement sandwich, coming right up: Love the rustic vibe, hate the pretentiousness of the staff, love the pizza. I'm guessing this is where Flatbreat Company gained its inspiration? There is no such thing as reservations, just a "wait list", but its essentially a reservation. I don't get it. We arrived at about 4 pm as a party of five. Were told about the wait list. Put ourselves on the wait list, told we could open up a tab until they open (I see what you did there...). The hostess probably a half hour into our wait in the waiting area snottily asks if we placed our name on the wait list. "Uhhh...yeah." Did she forget?? Grumble grumble. When 5 o'clock rolled around, we ended up getting seated rather quickly. Thank goodness! We ordered 3 pizzas which were speedily cooked and mouth watering delicious. We just finished running (half) marathons...we were hungry. If we had known that this place didn't open until 5 we would been more diligent with finding a place to eat. However, we had committed, especially since flatbreads in general are so delicious. So worth the wait? Yes. Worth the attitude? Not so much.
(3)Tim S.
Very rarely do I go to a restaurant and can find no fault. Everything was excellent from start to finish. The salads alone are worth the trip, with the lettuce grown right beside restaurant. The pizza was wonderfully creative and baked in a huge clay oven in the middle of the restaurant. After dinner we sat outside in front of the Bon fire and sipped some wine. Great unique experience. Get there right at 5 or you will have to wait.
(5)Abby H.
This is the best pizza I have ever tasted! The experience is complete with a fire pit in the middle of the restaurant, and a large outdoor grass area that kids can run around in during summertime! the view from each table is breathtaking, a river can be seen outside. I ordered a pepperoni & sausage pizza that I split with my friend. I'm a very picky eater so I always settle for something I will like. Customer service was great, our pizza came fast after we ordered. It was delicious! Definitely do NOT be afraid to order what you like, Flatbread makes everything on the menu taste like perfection!
(5)Mike I.
Bit of a wait but this was no problem at all with outside fire pits, a couple of good bottles of wine, great friends, mountains in the background and last but not least a really good jazz trio. Pizza is the thing to get here and it is excellent. Doesn't matter which one you get, all good, wood fired, perfectly made. Certainly understand why this place is so popular. Don't be deterred by the crowds or the wait time. Just go and enjoy this wonderful place.
(5)Patrick B.
I was vacillating between 4 and 5 stars, with taking away one for the reservation system. Also, I'm from the New Haven area so I take great pizza for granted. However, for overall atmosphere, food quality, and just plain fun, it is hard to beat this place. It came highly recommended and so I assumed the pizza and beer would be pretty good, but the outside area was really fun and relaxed, and the service was really friendly. The only real negative I can see is that during the height of ski season this place will be a zoo. As so many people have stated before, if you are in the Sugarbush/Mad River area for the first time, you really have to try this restaurant.
(5)Tracie L.
I almost feel bad putting 3 stars because the majority of the reviews are higher, I am questioning my own taste and ability to rate food. Did the cold weather on the mountain impact my taste buds? I don't think so.... I think what may contribute to the 3 star rating is the process that you have to go through to secure a table, as others have noted. They do not take reservations. They have a wait list that you have to come in to put your name on. But they won't start taking the names until 4pm. They open their doors prior to that (not sure when-we arrived at 3:30). So you have to wait to be wait listed! To encourage everyone to fit into the space (It gets tight) they tell you to remember who is in front of you-honor system. They then say to come in and have a drink when you are waiting for the clock to strike 4! I think it is really brilliant of them-they force you to hang out and wait and encourage you to kill the time with some drinks! Hmmm... We were approximately number 25 in line. By the time we got to the hostess the 6:30pm seating was full. We were left with 5pm (early when skiing until 4) or 8pm. We opted for 8 as some of our group was still on the mountain when we got to the hostess at 4:15. On our way back to the car, the line was out the door and probably another 30 people were in line outside in the cold! We arrived at 7:55 and were seated at 8:10-not bad compared to other reviews. The salad was good. I really liked the dressing. The plain cheese pizza we ordered for the kids-which I feel is a good baseline for comparison was good but I didn't take a bite and say, "This is the best pizza ever!!". I had some of the Punctuated Equilibrium pizza and it was really good. I want to give them 4 stairs for that but I feel that if another pizza place put the same toppings on, I would probably like it as much. So credit to them for the wonderful combo of toppings but the pizza was really good but not the best I have ever had! I disagree with other reviews about the staff. The bartender was very friendly and even let me try 3 of the wines that I was undecided between. The hostess was extremely friendly as well. Our waiter was great as well. All in all, a good atmosphere, food and experience BUT not worth the hours that I had to put into it waiting, driving there twice and pushing dinner off to a later time than our family normally eats. I do think that in the summer months, with their outdoor set up, the wait would be more tolerable.
(3)Ed R.
-organic, locally sourced delicious food -good service, fun environment -arrive earlier than you want to eat. You will probably wait. Arrived at 4:15, famished. Put our name on the list for a table when they started seating at 5 and then went to the bar t
(5)Christina K.
Yummy!
(5)Livingston S.
I just gotta say, the service was terrible and telling the host that it was terrible got us no reaction at all. Food was basic good eating but it felt like they were pained to serve us and we are pretty happy positive people. This review will not support that but honesty is not always pleasant. The wait, which was told to us in a matter of fact way, was huge, almost 45 mins. but everyone seems to love this place. I am happy to say I am not everyone and we will spend our money in places that appear to be happy to have it and that do not have such a high opinion of themselves. The food was grossly expensive and not all that good but I guess people seem to like that.
(1)Elissa Jane M.
Best idea for a birthday dinner with my family EVER! You walk up to this groovy barn where people are chillin' by fire pits, kids running in a field, farms growing food all around... hand painted signs. Oh, it's heaven! From the moment we put in our names to the moment we left we had an unforgettable experience. The food itself is delicious. We had crisp delightful salads and a nice mix of flatbreads to enjoy. Very filling and the ingredients really popped out of each combination. Make sure to order their signature apple pie, they heat it up in the stove in the middle of the restaurant to crisp it up. We had ours ala mode with local salted caramel ice cream. Great service, charming venue, delicious food. Perfection Vermontian style.
(5)Ethan S.
The long line just to make a reservation is crazy, but we keep on making trips back every chance we get.
(5)Celeste D.
This place is amazing! It was very easy for just two of us to get in and the inside was very casual but awesome. The large brick oven is in the middle of the seating area and it is entertaining to watch the pizzas be made. You can tell this place uses the best local ingredients, some even from their own farm, because the food was AMAZING! We did a half and half pizza (half one and hal a totally different) and they were totally easy going with that. The pizza alone was some of the best I have ever had (and I am a NYer) and our desserts were delicious too. Nice local beer selection on tap too which did;t hurt because if you had to wait there is a beautiful fire pit outside. Perfect for drinking a beer at. I highly recommend going here.
(5)Matt P.
I've been coming here for about 19 years (ever since I was a little kid) and could not imagine a trip to Sugarbush without coming to Flatbread. Some of the best pizza (organic/local/fresh ingredients and some of the best special pizzas I've ever seen) and an absolutely delightful staff.
(5)Anna E.
If you decide to come here you will probably wait. This is a popular spot for sure, and for good reason. If you end up eating here you will realize the wait was worth it. This place rocks. A few friends and I came for dinner recently. We waited maybe an hour. Some in our party got a few glasses of wine at the small bar right before the dining area. Since it was a gorgeous Vermont evening, we headed outside to the idyllic outer area of the restaurant and sat around a fire pit with other waiting patrons. From where we were seated we could see the outdoor dining area and another fire pit/waiting area as well as a large green field that led into the forest. The setting was bucolic, peaceful, and beautiful. We were seated next to the wood-fired clay oven which was nice as it was a little chilly in the restaurant. It was neat to see the people work on assembling the pizzas and then cook them in the oven. Many in the dining area had direct views of all the action going on with the pizza assembly and cooking process. We got salads to start. Evolution salads as well as a salad off the specials list that had a delicious yogurt dill dressing were extremely fresh with all the flavors marrying perfectly. To satisfy vegetarians and meat-eaters at our table we got a meat pizza and a veggie. New Vermont Sausage was our meat pizza of choice and that, as well as a vegetarian pizza off the specials list (no sense in describing it since the items on the specials list change) were both excellent. I am a big fan of flatbread pizza and this place does a superb job. One thing I was not a fan of at all was the China Cola, described as "a natural, caffeine-free alternative to cola lovers." It tasted more medicinal than cola-y. Awesome place and would highly recommend.
(4)Andrea A.
American Flatbread at Lareau Farm is iconic Vermont at its best. Local, fresh artisan pizza can't be beat. Punctuated Equilibrium and Revolution were my favorites but you really can't go wrong. Salads are great. Beverage selection has only gotten better with all the great brews and cider that VT is producing. Plan in a wait around the firepit in summer or after dinner enjoy a nightcap.
(5)Mark E.
Outstanding pizza, tremendous atmosphere. We love it here, come early and sit by the outdoor firepits before enjoying your meal. The staff is great; you'll love the experience.
(5)Andy P.
The pizza is always beyond solid. They embrace the whole vermont-y approach, local organic-ness, a little fire pit outside to sip your wine. There is the hand hewn furniture and the pizza oven is made with earthen product.During the summer, it is great to bring kids as the farm has a huge area for the kids to run and play while waiting to be seated. This is not a pepperoni ny style pizza. This is always a medley of stuff pizza. The staff is very in the flatbread zone and is very focused on making your dinner. The staff is nice enough. I always get a kick out of the menu as well as any item on the pizza will have at least one adjective minimum to describe it. It is a must do experience if staying in the Mad River Valley.
(4)Lucy W.
I was lucky enough to get to try American Flatbread at their original & signature location in Waitsfield's Lareau Farm during Christmas vacation week. They usually are only open for dinner on Thu-Sun but they also opened for dinner for the holiday week- yay! I had read about this place so it's been on my "to try" list for awhile- the set-up & atmosphere is what makes this place unique. Farm land in rural Vermont + restaurant in a converted barn with a wood-burning pizza oven in the middle of dining room + local ingredients/unique special combinations of pizza toppings/good dough + hippie dippy vibe with campfire outside, candles inside = marketing gold & 2.5+ hours wait THE WAIT: I couldn't believe it when I arrived right when the restaurant opened for dinner and put my name on the list, which landed me in a time slot 2.5 hours later! I knew this place had a huge following and was extremely busy every night, but wow! Luckily, the hostess says that once I put my name in, I can leave and come back later (and not have to stand there waiting the whole time). We did just that, waltzed in later right up to podium and were seated immediately. As we were leaving around 9pm, the waiting area inside and outside was still a madhouse, filled with people waiting to be seated. THE PIZZA: The server was friendly and let us know we could order 1 flatbread w/ split toppings on each half. We did just that with 2 of the specials: 1. Meatball w/ tomato sauce, basil & mozzarella and 2. White asiago w/ spinach & butternut squash. The tomato sauce was so tasty on the meatball half, and the butternut squash was the star of the other half...something I would have never thought to put on a pizza but was delicious. VERY good dough, baked to crusty perfection...I devoured many irregularly sliced slices, including the crust (which I usually leave on my plate but in this case, it was so good, I ate it all). Local beers also available here...the server recommended a good one after we asked which VT beer matched our preferences. I was so full, we passed on dessert even though we had seen some delicious and gigantic slices of apple pie passing by to be heated in the wood burning fire. Great restaurant and good pizza, just not sure it's worth the gigundo wait. I haven't had good pizza in awhile so having American Flatbread's version seemed heavenly in comparison to what I had eaten in recent history. I'm glad to have said I've tried it b/c of American Flatbread's famous status and place in VT dining lore. I ended picking up a frozen American Flatbread at the supermarket on my way home, so I can have it later on to remind me of my trip to Vermont :)
(4)Sean S.
Overrated, though still a fine dinner option in the Mad River Valley. Great ambiance, decent pizza. Pizzeria Regina or Frank Pepe's crushes anything from this wood fired stove.
(3)Kenney O.
Good flatbread with good local brews. I loved the farm fresh ingredients though. It is a bit of a tourist trap though. They're more than happy to tell you about a 4 hr wait and sell you beers until then.
(4)Christine K.
This place was amazing. It was -10 degrees out so we ran past their outside fire pit to get indoors quickly. We grabbed a drink at the bar (they link your tab to your name automatically) and were seated about 20 minutes later. Luckily we were positioned within viewing distance of the amazing wood-burning oven. It was warm, with a cozy decor and friendly staff- perfect for a cold Saturday night. We ordered the salad with the Vermont goat cheese and even my husband, who could take or leave salad, was impressed. I ordered their standard cheese and herb flatbread on their gluten-free crust. It was one of the best gluten-free pizzas I have EVER had. My husband ordered a regular flatbread: half sausage and the other half italian pepperoni. He couldn't decide which he liked more. He finished his meal with the apple pie, baked right in the fire and claimed it was amazing. Overall, we had zero complaints. We almost went back our second night, but couldn't bring ourselves to miss out on trying The Common Man.
(5)Chris F.
Had the rehearsal dinner here for our wedding this summer. The staff could be a little slow to respond to e-mails, but everything was taken care of. They had a great little pavilion just beyond the inn and main restaurant; it was very private. The food was absolutely amazing, and there was no shortage of it: delicious pizzas for all dietary restrictions, apple pie and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, s'mores with Lindt chocolate roasted over a fire, great local beers. Absolutely perfect; I'll never get tired of this place.
(5)Mike S.
The service was outstanding, the food was even better. The atmosphere was a little chaotic and that probably had something to do with the heatwave going through Vermont at the time. Would totally recommend it for families with kids of all ages. (but maybe in the spring or fall)
(4)Colleen H.
I've been here a couple times, once when we viewed my girlfriend's wedding venue (Sugar Bush) and again for her rehearsal dinner. The first time we went, it was definitely VT. They stared at me with my high heels, as I stood near the fire hoping my glass of wine would do wonders in warming me up. There's usually a wait here, but all for good reason -- the pizza's great. They did a FANTASTIC job for her rehearsal dinner which was held outside. They actually made a special gluten-free pizza (how? I don't know...) for her grandmother. And the good pizza's just kept coming. It was great, decorated perfectly, and everyone working was quite cheerful -- even the parking lot director! If you're in the area, definitely come here. And if you're getting married close by, check out their outdoor tent area for your rehearsal!
(5)gale h.
Checked out the art in the barn. Enjoyed several of the daily pizza selections, will try the special too next time (thanks to the advice of below review). Cozy cabin/barn/open fire indoors type ambiance. Was here in the September off-season with some locals and still had a wait, though we did get seated eventually. Apparently there was a large bike race in town so things were busy enough. Certainly worth the visit as are any of the local farm stands/markets!
(5)Jennifer D.
Cozy atmosphere, good service, and delicious food! We had the New Vermont Sausage and the Punctuated Equilibrium Flatbread - both were delicious, although, I couldn't get enough of the New Vermont Sausage. Will definitely go back if ever in the area again!
(5)Brad D.
Awesome, totally worth the wait, besides what's so bad about having a few beers around a fire while waiting for a table! Once inside the bar is small but the bartender was great and they had some tasty beers on tap. The pizzas are so fresh and the toppings are great. I love that they stick to local flavors as well, just an overall outstanding place for a big dinner after a day on the slopes!!
(5)Danny P.
Really good crispy delicious pizza with fresh local ingredients. For some reason, the Burlington one was better, but this one, the original I believe, still rocks pretty damn hard. And it's on a farm! How cool is that? Incredibly fun and overall awesome-- huge wait on the weekend. and not very organized... Be prepared...have a drink and chill...
(4)Mary Lou M.
Every year when we come to Sugarbush we come here at least one night for dinner. Great place, food, service and experience! You do have to get there early as it gets crowded but its so worth it!! The flatbread cooked in their clay oven is fantastic!!
(5)Will P.
The good: The pizza is very, very good. The staff is nice. The setting is more "Vermonty" than you can imagine. The bad: The wait is long. Whatever they tell you...double it. The whole experience is ruined by the seating system.
(3)Jim L.
If you have the time to wait for a seat - do it. This place has a great vibe - rustic, no frills, casual with great pizza. Stopped in there on Saturday night with 4 total in our party. We waited an hour or so around the bar/waiting area and a few beers (Lawson's IPA!). Eventually we were sat right in front of the stone oven which was a cool spot. We started with some well-enjoyed salads and then sampled three different types of pizza (as described on their menu): -Pepperoni with green peppers -Wood Grilled Eggplant with Maple and Garlic, Housemade Tomato Sauce, Baby Arugula, Roasted Sweet Onions and Fennel, and Maple Brook Farm Fresh Mozzarella -Sausage and Beef Ragu with Beef from Gaylord Farm, Roasted Portabella Mushrooms in a Balsamic Marinade, Scallions and Maple Brook Farm Fresh Mozzarella All three were amazing - great crust, perfect proportions of toppings, and neither overly dry nor super greasy. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Simone G.
Ridiculously yum. Saturday night wait was insane. I recommend bringing a distracting/efficiency oriented device such as anything prefaced with an 'i' (ipad, iphone, etc.) to tide you over if good company is not in reach. Hours? More if your name is not on the list? Had a group of twenty plus for a birthday party and tried making reservations via phone. No go. Staff told us to come in at 4:30 to physically put our name on the list. Went in at 4 because of snow and logistics. No go. Told us to come back in half an hour. At this point I'm like, "Coooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmeeeeeee oooooonnnnnnnnnnn, really?" Perhaps for an opportunity at a sighting of an albino leprechaun, sure, you can pull this sort of rank, but in general, I have a super low tolerance for restaurants that exercise this type of rigidity around accommodating guests. Moreover, a group of twenty plus typically yields a sizable tab, and you'd think they'd compromise a little...so at this point, as I sloshed though the snow at a local bar to wait out the requisite half hour, I was thinking to myself that the pizza best have gold-dust infused cheese or some other marvelously gucci detail to warrant this effort. Hours later, sans the gold-dust infused cheese, American Flatbread delivered. Effort worthwhile. Ridiculously delectable pizza. I mean, this is the sort of meal you tuck away in to your archives of foodie bliss. Just orgasmic. All the intrinsic components were there: super warm atmosphere, good beer, nice staff, and, I would recommend a specific pizza, but because of the large size of our group, I'm pretty sure we tried one of each. None disappointed. Fresh, tasty, quality veggies and meats. Locally sourced. Organic. We went through A LOT of pizza that night. They even had a gluten-free pizza. We split some Evolution salads to offset the pizza guilt and left totally satisfied.
(4)Ben B.
Honestly one of the best dining experiences of my life. Short wait before being seated, have a glass of wine around a fire pit, get called in, watch everything get made right in front of you, and delicious pizza. Serious ingredients and cookery, wonderful staff, totally unpretentious, amazing.
(5)Meghan M.
Do you like amazing pizza with fresh uber local ingredients? Does waiting for your table outside in front of a crackling open fire while your kids run wild in the green grass with new friends take the stress out of waiting? Yep. Beet, chevre, arugula, squash, new Vermont sausage or just plain cheese and roni for the kids. Amazing! Desserts are excellent. Here's the key tip: at 4pm they take a wait list for 5pm seating. Send a rep from your party there at 4 and your night will sail by. This place is all the things that make Vermont special in one amazing setting.
(5)Graham F.
Best pizza ever eat here
(5)Elaine W.
Ate here with a group of 11 last week and it's as wonderful and delicious as ever. We always get a flatbread that has half of each special of the day. Always so creative.
(5)Tessa M.
Love love love this place!! I have been here twice with a friend who has a place in Sugar Bush, and both experiences have been great. Last time I went here, we had to wait a bit, despite putting our name on the list earlier that day. There was a fire and a Dr. Seuss book to keep us company, so I didn't mind waiting outside (though my decision to wear a light jacket in the January cold proved to be stupid beyond belief). Once inside, we were served quickly. The pizza was absolutely delicious!! Whether it be because of the amazing taste, or because the friend I was staying with is very healthy and had no snacks laying around the house, I scarfed down about eight or nine slices of pizza during our meal. The root beer was also very good. If I am ever in the area again, I would not hesitate to revisit this gem!
(5)katie j.
Read about this place while researching places to eat near our B&B. It did not disappoint! Absolutely amazing pizza, one of the best I've ever had... and, living in NYC, I've had a LOT of pizza. The grounds themselves are beautiful. There's a large, open outdoor area complete with a fire pit, volleyball net and open field with soccer balls, footballs and frisbees to ease the wait. We had a blast tossing a frisbee, chatting by the fire and visiting an art exhibiting in the neighboring barn during our wait. The restaurant is warm and cozy, great place for families. The large pizza oven provides ample heat and is an appropriate focal point of the restaurant. Neat to watch the skilled staff prepare and bake the pizzas. The waitress thankfully informed us we could order 1 pie with different toppings on each half. We opted for 1/2 scallops (that day's special) and 1/2 sausage. The scallops were absolutely phenomenal, had no idea pizza would taste so good with scallops! I also loved the fresh ginger soda. If you enjoy the kick of ginger, definitely try it. We completed our meal with warm, homemade apple pie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The Bottom Line: Best restaurant in the area and a worthwhile stop if you're traveling through Vermont. Visit the website for operating hours as they're a bit unique (only open Thurs - Sun)!
(5)Chris F.
You're going to be hard-pressed to find better (or more inventive) pizza anywhere else. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and the salads are fantastic. We only had a ten minute wait and they have a nice art show going on this month, so the time spent waiting is enjoyable.
(5)Michael M.
Simply the best. Get there at 4:20 for a 5:30 seating on a weekend. We go on Sunday nights. I grew up on New York pizza, but this is my favorite.
(5)Jenny H.
We had our rehearsal dinner there June 7. There were over 30 of us, but the staff took care of each of our needs. Our guests kept commenting on how great the salad and pizza were! I think the sausage, pepperoni and mixed veggie was all of our favorites. Thank you American Flatbread for such a memorable evening!
(5)Caroline A.
Ok. Forget about the pizza war between Chicago and NYC. I agree with Lindley completely - this Pizza is the pizza to end all pizzas. I've dined at American Flatbread a few times while skiing in Vermont, and have never had a bad experience. Ever. There are a few convenience stores in VT and even gas stations that have frozen American Flatbread pizza, but it's not the same. Not even close. I hear they have them in Whole Foods now, but have never tried it. Nothing can really duplicate a pizza cooked in a hot wood oven, unless you have one at home (feel free to invite me over for pizza). The ingredients are very fresh - you've never had pizza like this before. American Flatbread is one of those companies that you can feel the passion of the founder through the food. Warm and cozy atmosphere, a great place to come with friends or family. I don't recall the staff to much, but I'm sure they are great. It's Vermont, people!! I had a few nicknames in college, and one of them was Princess of Pizza. This is where it started. :P Go. There. Now.
(5)Jaima S.
Omg. You must go here if you are anywhere close to Waitsville. We arrived on a cold, rainy, and dark night at 9:05 and couldn't believe how the place was hopping. There was a line but we just got drinks and sat in their cute waiting area. The building is rustic wood with gorgeous exposed beams and everyone has a view of the show aka the huge wood fire pizza oven. We were seated after about 30 minutes. We started with the organic salad and were very impressed. It was fresh and perfectly dressed with a light vinaigrette. The toasted sesame seeds added a lovely texture and flavor. We waited for our pizza by taking it all in. This was a mix of locals and travelers alike and it was absolutely packed, but had such a homey feeling. A board as you entered showed where locally all the foods had come from, which was nice. Our cheese pizza arrived with a blend of cheesesand herbs. It was piping hot and the. Crust was perfect. It was chewy on the crust and crispy on the inside. The balance of favors amazed us and we nearly polished off the whole pie between the two of us. Our dinner with drinks were just around 30. Oh, and the staff could not have been more friendly. We loved it.
(5)Bob C.
While taking a long weekend vacation skiing at Sugar Bush with a large group of friends, we all decided to hit up American Flatbread. This place is amazing! It was very busy with long waits, but we got there when they opened at 5 and we had our tables waiting for us. The food is very good and the "pizzas" are extremely large and original. The thing i loved the most about this place was the atmosphere. The waiting area outside surrounding a fire was great! We obviously did not have to wait for our table, but when we were all done eating, we still wanted to hang out so we stayed around and had a few more drinks. This place is not that easy to find, as it does not look like a restaurant, and its in the middle of no where (well that is most of Vermont, but to us city folk its out there!)
(5)Seth T.
Just saw AF featured in an HGTV video promoting their 2011 Dream Home giveaway--pretty cool! Brought back some memories and made my mouth water!
(4)Andrew A.
American Flatbread is easily my favorite restaurant. I've been snowboarding at Sugarbush for like 15 years and I go to American Flatbread at least twice every time I'm up there. First and most importantly, the flatbread (brick oven pizzza basically) is absolutely amazing. The worst meal I had there was pretty darn good. Usually it's fantastic. They have two specials every week; get them! Their standard menu pizzas are great, but their specials are super creative and just awesome. They also have a great rotating on tap beer selection. I'm pretty sure they're all local and/or micro breweries and Vermont has a great beer scene. The atmosphere in the dining room is great. Really warm timber framed barn type of deal. Now I've read some reviews where people have complained about the wait. Here's the deal. If you get there early enough (4 ish) you probably won't wait very long. Otherwise you could wait up to 3 hours, maybe more. But there's nothing that can be done about it. The place is super popular and there's only so much seating and only one oven. If you don't wanna eat early and you don't wanna wait long, don't even attempt to eat here. I actually really enjoy the wait. Grab a few beers, stand out by the fire and chat with other fellow skiers/snowboarders all while your appetite is getting stronger and stronger which will make the flatbread taste that much better. I look forward to eating at American Flatbread as much as I look forward to snowboarding. In case I haven't been clear, I love this place!
(5)Evan L.
If you eat dinner at one place in the Mad River Valley, make it American Flatbread. A warm, intimate atmosphere and amazing, fresh flavors make your tongue double take. Only place in town that serves Lawson's Finest beer on tap, a fantastic local brew that can only be purchased in the valley. You can buy it in bottles at The Warren Store. Occasional takeout, depending on customer traffic.
(5)Mai N.
You get what you pay for. It's a tough place to go with kids if they are small. The waiting area is tight but everyone is very nice. Local beers on tap. Local food in the oven, and it's great pizza. This pizza is worth waiting in line for but the salad has changed they used to put seaweed on it and they changed the dressing recipe (made from scratch). You gotta go if you are in a 30 mile radius of this area.
(3)M J.
Yes, the pizza is fantastic, the ambiance so very authentic, green-as-can-be-Vermont. I'd return, but as mentioned before, the wait can be a bit daunting. I assumed putting in a name/res at 4:30 for later that evening would cover us, as this is how it works there. However...... we didn't count on a party of 24 being seated at the same time. Yes, TWENTY FOUR. Who dines with 24 people?! What kind of insanity is this? What kind of idiot management policy allows them to even take a party of 24 on a busy night? Does the term take out ring any bells? Rant complete, and, all this said, our food arrived in a very timely way. That pizza oven cranks out the 'zas very quickly. Or, it's possible the table for 24 was still trying to get their order in.
(4)Jamie G.
So I love American Flatbread, and was in this area and found out that had a branch here so I just had to check it out. We arrived at 7:50 pm and were told there was a long wait, but we decided to stay and wait. They have a very nice and organized system so that you can order drinks while you wait and they get added to your tab for dinner, instead having to cash out before being seated. We had McNeill's Octoberfest which was delicious. They have a small area inside to wait, but a Nice huge area outside to wait, with 2 fire pits and great seating. It was chilly out, but I really did not mind waiting by the fire. And we waited and waited and waited. Had another beer, and mine got spilled after I took just a sip, but they refilled it for me for free! And we waited and waited and waited some more. And finally were seated at 9:30 pm. -- right near the pizza oven--- which was awesome... we could watch them make and cook the pizzas and chat with the cooks, and stayed warm too. We placed our order and finally ate at 10:00pm-- over TWO hours after we arrived!! We got the Equilibrium with no onions, add sausage.-- amazing pizza! But is it worth the two hour wait? Not really. But it did kill time during the evening when we had nothing else to do, and the wait was not uncomfortable. I would probably just avoid coming here on holiday weekends, and i'm sure I would thoroughly enjoy this place.
(4)Beth M.
American Flatbread was cruising for a 2-star rating. We arrived, the wait was 2 hours for a party of 2, the bartender was really confusing when we placed our order (not his fault, just the nature of the place it seems), i was starving and cranky and sore, and it was cold as all-hell as we waited around the tiny dying campfire listening to a clever 10 year-old trying to be funny. We almost left. But then-- enter the 5 nicest strangers EVER. After we chatted with them for no more than 10 minutes around the fire, their table was called, leaving us all by our lonesome. Long story short, they reserved a table for 7, only had 5 in their party, and offered us the spots! This turned our experience right around. We ended up having a lovely pizzalicious dinner with our new adopted friends. The restaurant itself is super cozy and warmly lit. Vermont microbrews and tasty glasses of wine were ordered all around, as well as the one salad on the menu, dotted with blue cheese and a really great dressing. And now to the pizza. It was good. Very yummy. We got sausage, caramelized onions and sun dried tomatoes with a blend of cheeses. Definitely savory and delicious...but, you know I'm gonna say it, not really worth a two hour wait. I'd wait two hours for Santarpios in East Boston. But this...no. I know, I know, it's Vermont. In the woods. I'm not being fair. Just sayin'. Anywho, if you're in the area, you should still come here. If not for the pizza, then for the campfire, and the excellent company you just may find. Either way I'm sure it will be good times. Thanks again Chief!!!
(4)Scott E.
Best Pizza in the state of Vermont. I know that the wait can often be 2 to 3 hours or more, but as a local you have to know the way to avoid that, put in your name, go home for a while, then come back. The wait is made better with a bottle of wine and good conversation around the fire outside. As for the food, the pizza's are cooked in front of you, and the smell that fills the air is amazing. The salads are simple and delicous, and the pizzas with thier local ingredients are awesome. It helps that I was married next door at Lareau Farm, but if you are in the Valey and you crave pizza, this is the place.
(5)Ryan B.
This place is one hemp neckless and two joints away from a hippie commune. But I LOVE IT. Having been here a few times, this time was the best!. Packed with families, farmers, yuppies and with the occasional hippie sprinkled thought out the experience almost felt like some sort of Noah's ark just not in pairs but in herds. All drawn there because of our love for fresh, tasty, socially and environmentally sustainable farming practices. We waited for our table outside on a warm summer evening sipping chilled local brewed beer in these great Adirondack Chairs watching a gaggle of kids play in the field. There happened to be a wedding taking place so there was live music. They had a great fire pit outside that defiantly adds to the ambiance. They only have limited items on the menu. But the food is always delicious and fresh. The salads are amazing and if they offer you blue cheese get it. YUMMY..... Just know two things. 1. Only open Friday and Sat nights 2. Almost always you will have to wait for a table. Just get a drink and enjoy the free views and beauty.
(5)Dina P.
What a little slice of heaven...both the pizza and the idyllic location! We arrived at 5:30 and had no trouble getting a table, but the place filled up quickly after we were seated. The daily special pizza with local bacon, potatoes and scallions was amazing, I wish I had saved room for dessert because we saw a couple of slices of oven-baked apple pie go by and they looked delicious. We could have hung around all night, drinking beer by the campfire, listening to the live jazz and chatting with other patrons, but unfortunately our 6-month-old needed to get home to bed. They've really created a convivial atmosphere in addition to a great product. I've had the pizzas frozen before, but they are ten times better at the source.
(5)Samantha J.
If you can stand the wait, you'll love the food. They really make a great flatbread at Lareau Farm and as they're only open 2 days a week it's a hot spot for locals and vacationers alike. Expect a long wait followed by a simple meal of salad, flatbread, dessert and drinks. The atmosphere is Vermont; you're eating on a farm with a clay oven a few tables away. The food is fresh and fun. If I'm in the mood to wait, Flatbread is a no-brainer.
(4)philip w.
Even though we had some truly excellent meals in the Sugarbush area, this "pizza" restaurant was the family favorite. The pizzas are not like ny pizza slices. They are more like Italian home made pizza with incredible ingredients. We ate five different kinds and all were fantastic. Great place for kids obviously. Booking can be a challenge. Do not expect to get seated without a reservation. Nice wines, great local beers on tap.
(5)Jen T.
We waited more than 2 hours after the hostess told us the wait would be an hour. When we were finally seated (after 9 p.m.) the restaurant was practically empty. While we were waiting countless diners came in after us and were seated before us. Perhaps you need to be on some type of different "wait-list", but unless you're a local you wouldn't know this. The pizza is solid, but not amazing and certainly NOT worth the wait. Our waitress' attempts at up-selling us on wine when she saw we had already chosen a pricey bottle from the bar was super annoying and put the final nail in the coffin for me. Don't buy the hype. Try another of the local dining establishments instead.
(1)Josh K.
Flatbread is a staple of Vermont-- Yes, the wait is long, but the campfire outside is warm, the big wood-fired clay oven is enticing and the pizza is just amazing. Oh, and while Whole Foods has Flatbread all over the Northeast and Florida, don't expect to find it in California. Flatbread's new "Mexican" style pizza with black beans, chiles, and cheddar is delicious, but from the old days I would always get the "Medicine Wheel" with extra sauce and some blend of Asiago and Grana Padano cheese. Salad is fresh, simple, and delicious that that apple pie baked in the wood-fired stone stove is simply awesome. Another great place, one of the few truly delicious restaurants in Vermont, outside of Sneaker's in Colchester ( near downtown Burlington), the Inn at Essex (decent Nachos), Shelburne Farms, and most recently a bakery in Richmond with great Homefries for breakfast.
(4)Lindley E.
The pizza to end all pizzas. Where to start? American Flatbread is not just a restaurant, it is a monument to its owner and founder, George Schenk. George has a degree from Yale but spent most of his time after school as a ski bum. After years of cooking, he realized that he loved making flatbreads...and American Flatbread was born. George has elaborate philosophies around food and eating and the place is covered in his writings. He and his staff dedicate each day of baking to individuals who had an impact on their lives. There is a lot of thought put into the products here, from the source of the water (George used to hand carry it from an Artesian well every day) to the flour (organic, local) to the tomatoes (ditto) which was made into sauce in a cauldron that was cooked outside over a wood fire. The believe that food made well has the power to heal drove George Schenk to grow this place into what it is today. The shop keeps very limited hours, depending on the season. I've arrived just as they've opened and been seated immediately, and sometimes I've waited up to 2.5 hours for a table. No complaints, it is always worth it. Anything cooked in a clay oven with a wood fire burning at 700 degrees tastes good. With the ingredients AF uses, things don't taste good, they taste great. As a note: the stuff you buy in Whole Foods is from AF, but it just doesn't have the same 'oomph' that getting it at the source does. Worth a pilgrimage.
(5)Mike S.
Most of what I can say about this place has already been said by numerous other reviewers, but I feel as if I need to add my two cents so people who may be on the fence dive in and try this place. First off, the setting is nothing short of amazing. The farm is located in rural Vermont with all of its natural beauty for all to see. I was just here a week ago, which was the day after thanksgiving and this place was absolutely jumping. Luckily we got here right at 5 PM when they opened and were seated immediately. As other reviewers have noted, the wait can be excessive. By 7 PM when we left there were easily 100-150 people waiting inside and out around a campfire. It was cold, (not too cold for Vermont standards,) but that didn't stop tons of people from hanging around the campfire enjoying drinks and conversation. Onto the food..The one salad they do have at this location was awesome. I am a regular guy and the salad sounded a little odd for my tastes, but I must admit it was amazing and was made even better with some fresh Vermont cheese on it. The pizza was outstanding (and this is coming from someone who loves good pizza from Chicago.) The ingredients were all fresh and local, a little off the wall for some people I can imagine. The beer selection was good focusing on local and regional microwbrews. All in all, I loved this place and will be returning when I head to Sugarbush for some skiing... Highly Recommended.
(5)Jay M.
Save yourself this Vermont restaurant experience and buy their pizza in the store. It is very good, even frozen. The waiting game they play at the restaurant is nothing but aggrevating however and will ruin your dining experience. Not only did we wait 3 hours, and watch numerous groups put their names in after us and get in before, the pizza took another half an hour to get to the table after the salads. It's really too bad because the atmosphere is pretty cool. They just don't have a clue about a system to manage the crowds they get on the weekends.
(1)chris d.
Well I read most of the reviews before posting mine and it seems there is a glow about the place I think becuase it does have a nice setting and that counts for a lot. But come on! Silly money for what ? Flatbread. Not pizza. Flatbread. And therein lies the dilemma. Having ben to Gino's East Side in Chicago and most of the greek owned joints all over central Massachusetts, I am appalled to try to take my 2 kids and a friend out there and drop 100 bucks. The wait can be crazy long - commonly 2+ hours - not always. I have been seated immediately for a 2 top. Yes - Lawson's on tap is a treat. But this is Vermont and the weak salads are enough to make you wish for somewhere else. Now it's really just getting a tad corporate, with the sell out to "manufacture" flatbread in New Hampshire for distribution to folks who may think "ah Vermont". Hmmm.... is that wood fired too? It is nice to toss a frisbee for a while before eating, but it's not really the kind of place that you want to keep on going back to time and time again - which to me is the hallmark of a 4 or 5 star rating. So if you don't mind really thin "pizza" with sparse toppings you will love it. The fold up charis and sardine seating and noisy atmosphere may or may not be to your liking. Now the owners somehow think the customer base wants to look at 24 solar tracker arrays in the beautiul adjoining field. What are they thinking about???? Money of course - keep that in mind and your expectations will be met.
(2)Elissa Jane M.
Best idea for a birthday dinner with my family EVER! You walk up to this groovy barn where people are chillin' by fire pits, kids running in a field, farms growing food all around... hand painted signs. Oh, it's heaven! From the moment we put in our names to the moment we left we had an unforgettable experience. The food itself is delicious. We had crisp delightful salads and a nice mix of flatbreads to enjoy. Very filling and the ingredients really popped out of each combination. Make sure to order their signature apple pie, they heat it up in the stove in the middle of the restaurant to crisp it up. We had ours ala mode with local salted caramel ice cream. Great service, charming venue, delicious food. Perfection Vermontian style.
(5)Ethan S.
The long line just to make a reservation is crazy, but we keep on making trips back every chance we get.
(5)Celeste D.
This place is amazing! It was very easy for just two of us to get in and the inside was very casual but awesome. The large brick oven is in the middle of the seating area and it is entertaining to watch the pizzas be made. You can tell this place uses the best local ingredients, some even from their own farm, because the food was AMAZING! We did a half and half pizza (half one and hal a totally different) and they were totally easy going with that. The pizza alone was some of the best I have ever had (and I am a NYer) and our desserts were delicious too. Nice local beer selection on tap too which did;t hurt because if you had to wait there is a beautiful fire pit outside. Perfect for drinking a beer at. I highly recommend going here.
(5)Anna E.
If you decide to come here you will probably wait. This is a popular spot for sure, and for good reason. If you end up eating here you will realize the wait was worth it. This place rocks. A few friends and I came for dinner recently. We waited maybe an hour. Some in our party got a few glasses of wine at the small bar right before the dining area. Since it was a gorgeous Vermont evening, we headed outside to the idyllic outer area of the restaurant and sat around a fire pit with other waiting patrons. From where we were seated we could see the outdoor dining area and another fire pit/waiting area as well as a large green field that led into the forest. The setting was bucolic, peaceful, and beautiful. We were seated next to the wood-fired clay oven which was nice as it was a little chilly in the restaurant. It was neat to see the people work on assembling the pizzas and then cook them in the oven. Many in the dining area had direct views of all the action going on with the pizza assembly and cooking process. We got salads to start. Evolution salads as well as a salad off the specials list that had a delicious yogurt dill dressing were extremely fresh with all the flavors marrying perfectly. To satisfy vegetarians and meat-eaters at our table we got a meat pizza and a veggie. New Vermont Sausage was our meat pizza of choice and that, as well as a vegetarian pizza off the specials list (no sense in describing it since the items on the specials list change) were both excellent. I am a big fan of flatbread pizza and this place does a superb job. One thing I was not a fan of at all was the China Cola, described as "a natural, caffeine-free alternative to cola lovers." It tasted more medicinal than cola-y. Awesome place and would highly recommend.
(4)Allegra S.
American Flatbread is the love of my life!! What a wonderful atmosphere with the gorgeous grassy lawn out back, fire pits, and rustic decor. The pizza is the best you will ever eat (and I've been to Italy). Nothing compares to the magic that is American Flatbread. I come here often with family and friends, it can't be beat!!!
(5)Monica B.
Complement sandwich, coming right up: Love the rustic vibe, hate the pretentiousness of the staff, love the pizza. I'm guessing this is where Flatbreat Company gained its inspiration? There is no such thing as reservations, just a "wait list", but its essentially a reservation. I don't get it. We arrived at about 4 pm as a party of five. Were told about the wait list. Put ourselves on the wait list, told we could open up a tab until they open (I see what you did there...). The hostess probably a half hour into our wait in the waiting area snottily asks if we placed our name on the wait list. "Uhhh...yeah." Did she forget?? Grumble grumble. When 5 o'clock rolled around, we ended up getting seated rather quickly. Thank goodness! We ordered 3 pizzas which were speedily cooked and mouth watering delicious. We just finished running (half) marathons...we were hungry. If we had known that this place didn't open until 5 we would been more diligent with finding a place to eat. However, we had committed, especially since flatbreads in general are so delicious. So worth the wait? Yes. Worth the attitude? Not so much.
(3)Tim S.
Very rarely do I go to a restaurant and can find no fault. Everything was excellent from start to finish. The salads alone are worth the trip, with the lettuce grown right beside restaurant. The pizza was wonderfully creative and baked in a huge clay oven in the middle of the restaurant. After dinner we sat outside in front of the Bon fire and sipped some wine. Great unique experience. Get there right at 5 or you will have to wait.
(5)Abby H.
This is the best pizza I have ever tasted! The experience is complete with a fire pit in the middle of the restaurant, and a large outdoor grass area that kids can run around in during summertime! the view from each table is breathtaking, a river can be seen outside. I ordered a pepperoni & sausage pizza that I split with my friend. I'm a very picky eater so I always settle for something I will like. Customer service was great, our pizza came fast after we ordered. It was delicious! Definitely do NOT be afraid to order what you like, Flatbread makes everything on the menu taste like perfection!
(5)Mike I.
Bit of a wait but this was no problem at all with outside fire pits, a couple of good bottles of wine, great friends, mountains in the background and last but not least a really good jazz trio. Pizza is the thing to get here and it is excellent. Doesn't matter which one you get, all good, wood fired, perfectly made. Certainly understand why this place is so popular. Don't be deterred by the crowds or the wait time. Just go and enjoy this wonderful place.
(5)Patrick B.
I was vacillating between 4 and 5 stars, with taking away one for the reservation system. Also, I'm from the New Haven area so I take great pizza for granted. However, for overall atmosphere, food quality, and just plain fun, it is hard to beat this place. It came highly recommended and so I assumed the pizza and beer would be pretty good, but the outside area was really fun and relaxed, and the service was really friendly. The only real negative I can see is that during the height of ski season this place will be a zoo. As so many people have stated before, if you are in the Sugarbush/Mad River area for the first time, you really have to try this restaurant.
(5)Tracie L.
I almost feel bad putting 3 stars because the majority of the reviews are higher, I am questioning my own taste and ability to rate food. Did the cold weather on the mountain impact my taste buds? I don't think so.... I think what may contribute to the 3 star rating is the process that you have to go through to secure a table, as others have noted. They do not take reservations. They have a wait list that you have to come in to put your name on. But they won't start taking the names until 4pm. They open their doors prior to that (not sure when-we arrived at 3:30). So you have to wait to be wait listed! To encourage everyone to fit into the space (It gets tight) they tell you to remember who is in front of you-honor system. They then say to come in and have a drink when you are waiting for the clock to strike 4! I think it is really brilliant of them-they force you to hang out and wait and encourage you to kill the time with some drinks! Hmmm... We were approximately number 25 in line. By the time we got to the hostess the 6:30pm seating was full. We were left with 5pm (early when skiing until 4) or 8pm. We opted for 8 as some of our group was still on the mountain when we got to the hostess at 4:15. On our way back to the car, the line was out the door and probably another 30 people were in line outside in the cold! We arrived at 7:55 and were seated at 8:10-not bad compared to other reviews. The salad was good. I really liked the dressing. The plain cheese pizza we ordered for the kids-which I feel is a good baseline for comparison was good but I didn't take a bite and say, "This is the best pizza ever!!". I had some of the Punctuated Equilibrium pizza and it was really good. I want to give them 4 stairs for that but I feel that if another pizza place put the same toppings on, I would probably like it as much. So credit to them for the wonderful combo of toppings but the pizza was really good but not the best I have ever had! I disagree with other reviews about the staff. The bartender was very friendly and even let me try 3 of the wines that I was undecided between. The hostess was extremely friendly as well. Our waiter was great as well. All in all, a good atmosphere, food and experience BUT not worth the hours that I had to put into it waiting, driving there twice and pushing dinner off to a later time than our family normally eats. I do think that in the summer months, with their outdoor set up, the wait would be more tolerable.
(3)Livingston S.
I just gotta say, the service was terrible and telling the host that it was terrible got us no reaction at all. Food was basic good eating but it felt like they were pained to serve us and we are pretty happy positive people. This review will not support that but honesty is not always pleasant. The wait, which was told to us in a matter of fact way, was huge, almost 45 mins. but everyone seems to love this place. I am happy to say I am not everyone and we will spend our money in places that appear to be happy to have it and that do not have such a high opinion of themselves. The food was grossly expensive and not all that good but I guess people seem to like that.
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