Digest Vermont: Digest Vermont recent reviews

By Randal Smathers Herald Staff

It’s about value

In the somewhat-less-than-immortal words of Barenaked Ladies ™, I’m all about value, particularly in these lean economic times, when the size of the meal is almost as important as the quality.

And there’s no place in the county — possibly the state/western hemisphere/Cosmos ™* — that gives you more bang for the buck than Maxie’s Deli.

Maxie’s specialty is large, large portions, and man, are they ever good at it. It’s said that we always remember our first loves. Mine were what’s-her-face from the first grade and Maxie’s BBQ pork. They also offer BBQ ribs, but spring for the extra 50 cents and get the pulled pork ($4.50 for a footlong and worth every dinar). You’ll want a bib, or wear red.

Like Ted’s Pizza down the block, Maxie’s survives despite its location, not because of it. State Street has seen better days (and will hopefully rise again). Meanwhile, Maxie’s and Ted’s remain stalwarts, each with a cadre of devotees.

Maxie’s Deli; 93 State St. Rutland, VT 05701; 802-775-2007; no credit cards; handicap accessible; hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday; $;
# 1/2 …
# for value.

Everyone comes to Sabby’s

Along with The Sandwich Shoppe, it is one of the standbys of downtown. It’s a safe bet to recommend to an out-of-towner looking for an unpretentious spot for lunch or dinner. You can order anything on Sabby’s menu and get a tasty meal at a good price. Service is friendly and gets you in and out with a minimum of fuss and bother.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Sabby’s, it’s got the sports bar thing going downstairs: wooden walls covered in framed sports photos ranging from local high schools through Boston’s pro teams. It’s got lots of TVs but you can also sit in the booths and not have a screen the only thing in sight, and there’s always the dining room upstairs — which seems to be used primarily for functions these days — and sidewalk seating during downtown special events.

Sabby’s Pasta House and Sports Lounge; 33 Center St., Rutland VT 05701; (802) 773-4342; www.sabbys.com; handicap accessible; credit cards accepted. Hours 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Saturday; dinner service 5 to 10 p.m. with bar food until 11 on weekends. Check for special Sunday hours when the Paramount Theater has a show, and the bar may close on hour early or stay open an extra hour depending on business. $$.
#

The Birdseye view

I jumped at the chance to get out of the house recently for breakfast and a conversation about the arts, especially as the breakfast spot — the Birdseye Diner in Castleton — has been on my must-do list for this column since I started it.

I’ve heard great things about the Blue Cat from any number of people since this column started, but with two preschoolers, we don’t get out much at night, and certainly not to grown-up restaurants, so I pretty much make do with breakfast/lunch spots, and the Birdseye, a fully restored, ’40′s-vintage diner, fits that definition to a T (although they also have a full dinner menu).

The recent breakfast was good, as was the service, but we were sitting with the owner, so it would be. I had the corned beef hash special (not quite Johnny’s Boys good, although for $4 for hash, eggs over easy as ordered, mound of home fries and toast, it was fabulous, darling … hey, we were talking about the arts).

I’ve been a couple of other times and it’s what you expect for a diner breakfast: Good portions of tasty food, quick service, reasonable prices.

Birdseye Diner, 590 Main St. Castleton, VT 05735; (802) 468-5817; Handicap-accessible entrance; licensed, accepts credit cards; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; $;
#