Crooked Ladle Catering

I love this little Middlebury Staple! I’ve eaten incredible restaurant quality foods at venues and functions (think tar tar and beautifully rendered duck breasts under a scenic Vermont backdrop or at a local food festival) cooked by Lou and his guys and Served by Jenny and her incredible wait and bar staff countless times, as The Crooked Ladle, the catering company. Many locals have, many times at many events! The real deal is sitting down in 51 Main in downtown Middlebury within the restaurant and eating through Lou’s menus. It seems like there are clearly some crowd favorite dishes that will stay on the menu forever, which is true of any restaurant but entree dishes and many appetizers will change seasonally to follow local produce and ingredients and these dishes are where the magic is!

There are but few places to eat, where the entire menu is like reading a love letter to the authors favorite ingredients. The food is a dazzling mix of scientific precision and creative abandon while the entire staff is at once professional, knowledgeable and perfectly human. They are friends and neighbors and family and once you step inside this beautifully designed space you understand what it means to love food. To love cooking. To love your community. This is a truly, truly special place, long may it be.

First time visit and very impressed! This is a cozy, new, college-town restaurant that surprises both with its sophistication and quality. My wife had a delicious ricotta gnocchi dish while I had a classic Duck confit. Both came with crispy, fresh market vegetables (e.g. parsnips, sweet potato puree, pickled onions) with accompanying flavorful sauces which defy our ability to define. Nonetheless, all was delicious, and topped off with excellent wines as well as scrumptious desserts. We rate this the best restaurant in Middlebury!

Great place to enjoy cocktails and a meal! Our server made time to engage in conversation even though she was very busy. Our food was tasty and fairly priced. We did not leave hungry. Highly recommend visiting Crooked Ladle if your anywhere near Middlebury.

Had a last minute dinner date at the bar with my husband on Valentines day. The restaurant was full but we prefer a bar seat anyway, staff were so friendly and helpful even though they were busy! Drink menu was fun and the food came out so quickly. Only downside is the street parking. Will absolutely be back another time!