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Osteria Pane e Salute
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
61 Central St.Upstairs
Woodstock, VT 05091
(802) 457-4882
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
14 reviews for Osteria Pane e Salute
Review Highlights
"Great pastas and thin-crust pizzas round out the menu."
(in 3 reviews)
"The wine list was fabulous."
(in 3 reviews)
"...of Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin consistenly deliver the..."
(in 4 reviews)
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14 reviews in English
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Review from Emily W.
Boston, MA
1/28/2012
Like many people who love to cook, I am often slightly disappointed when I pay for a meal that I could have made myself, slightly better. It is such a happy relief when I encounter a place that surprises and delights in the way that Pane e Salute did last night. This is an intimate place serving one of the best meals I have had in Vermont. This is local, seasonal food, served un-rushed and simply so that flavors get to shine. The owner/server is a total wine nerd, in the best way. She helped us navigate a relaxed four hour meal paring with gorgeous wines along the way. The salads were bitter greens dressed gently to balance with some sweetness. My favorite starter was a special of roasted green onions, slightly caramelized and served with a soft scoop of fresh ricotta and olive oil. The pizza is thin as a cracker and topped with a delicious delicate red sauce. Three of us shared two pizzas each with different halves, so we got to sample four of their pizzas. My favorite was a roasted tomato and house made mozzarella. Grapefruit sorbetto and wine-poached pears with fresh whipped cream and tender-crisp bits of meringue were both amazing. The service was attentive but unobtrusive.
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Review from Aaron F.
Lower Merion, PA
7/19/2011
The overall experience was disappointing. We made reservations a month in advance of the trip. Service was poor. We were in the restaurant for 20-30 minutes before having anything but water. I understand they don't want to rush you, but even in Italy you are offered a glass of Persecco extremely quickly.
We shared an appetizer of salami and mozzarella which was fantastic. The secondi was to be a farro special with wild mushrooms and chanterelles. We were told they only had a half portion left so we chose to augment with a half portion of pork ragu over penne. The farro was salty!! The pork ragu was extremely good. We finished with pizza.
The pizza was fantastic, but the rest of the menu could not match the quality of the pizza.
The wine list was fabulous. Good selections at all price ranges. Along with the pizza, this was the highlight.
Biggest problem was the forced 17% gratuity even though the service was questionable.
Felt too pretentious for a comfortable osteria in Vermont. We have dined at Marc Vetri's Osteria in Philadelphia. With a much more authentic homey Italian feel. -
Review from Deborah Y.
White Plains, NY
1/8/2012
We recently had a long awaited weekend without our son and found Pane e Salute online. It sounded perfect. I emailed with Dierdre a few times and she was happy to find us a spot at the bar on a Friday night, which was a feat being that the restaurant is so small. We had such great personal service, with the chef Caleb coming out to explain our main courses. He had such enthusiasm about what he prepared it was infectious. The food was excellent and we've had some amazing authentic Italian food in both NY and Italy. This is a great hidden gem in Woodstock and worth the trip from the surrounding areas.
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Review from Heather W.
Cambridge, MA
3/20/2011
So... I'm not quite sure what to say dear Yelpers. With all these 5 stars I feel like perhaps this experience was some sort of fluke. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that my boyfriend and I were a solid two (?) generations younger than the general crowd here? Perhaps because we didn't order the prix fixe? I don't know, but I'll just tell you my thoughts as someone who eats out A LOT and tends to think East Coasters give out waaay too many 5 stars for restaurants that are only just good.
Service:
This was, unquestionably, the worst part of the evening. It's weird because things started off nicely. We were seated (first people there, so it shouldn't be hard) and the owner came over to discuss a wine selection with my boyfriend (after we ordered our food.) Chris is a HUGE wine freak and he really enjoyed the small chat, and the fact that before she made a recommendation she asked what food he ordered. Since, you know, that should make a difference.
That conversation was the peak of the dining experience.
After the glass was brought out the service went to zilch. Our main course came out (after a very tasty salad) and
1) NOBODY came over to ask how the food was! How is that even possible? The restaurant is tiny. It's not like we could be forgotten in some back corner.
2) Even though Chris had finished his glass of wine before the entrees were even brought out, they never asked him if he wanted a second glass. After making it through half his pizza he decided to just forget it.
Food
Like I mentioned, the starter salad was great - the light bright vinaigrette was perfect on the winter greens.
Main Course: I got a special of the day - a fish stew in saffron broth. So first off, perhaps my palette sucks but I didn't taste saffron...at all. To me, it tasted pretty much like any light chicken-ish broth. And, to make matters worse, as for all the so called fish and shrimp that were supposed to be in there... there was like nada. Yes, there were plenty of mussels but where were these shrimp? Haddock? Smelt? Seriously, there was one full shrimp in my dish. One. And, since it had been in the broth so long (I presume) it virtually disintegrated in my mouth upon impact. And, like carrots in canned chicken soup, it had no independent flavor. Just the broth with a different texture. I did not even come close to finishing the broth because it was all broth, new fish and you can tell it wasn't anything special. At all.
As for Chris, his pizza (margherita) was quite tasty. Super duper thin crust (which I like) and the mozzarella with very good.
Dessert: Again, good. We got a special again -- supposedly a sponge cake with raspberry and whipped cream. Very tasty but more like a thick shortbread or something. But not quite... like a scone kind of? I'm not sure, but I'm not complaining - it was tasty.
Oh and here's the real kicker. After total crap service of being totally ignored what did they do? *** FORCED GRATUITY OF 17%!!!!! ***
The waitress (who did not seem to like us much at all... for what reason I do not know) brought the check out and just said "and there's 17% gratuity in that amount". Like it was nothing.
Ok, so... there were two of us. This is not some party of six or eight or whatever. TWO. How on earth is that even ok? The food wasn't that great, nobody checked on us, and then they force 17%?! Chris was paying but let me just say -- if I was, you'd better believe I would have said something about that. And by "said something" I mean "wouldn't have paid it"
So, yes... I'm not quite sure what to say. People really seem to love this place and I'm sad I got the short end of the stick. I do wonder if it's an age thing? Maybe we just didn't look like we'd be spending enough money? I don't know, but it was really sad. I'm a food lover, not a hater! But, if you ask me, you should try dining somewhere else if you're up in Woodstock for just a quick weekend. -
Review from David L.
Woodstock, VT
9/27/2010
I visited here again last night for a simple pizza and wine supper. I declare that I am a pizza snob having lived in Italy for 2 years, and I only like thin crust pizzas, and hailing from Europe, I often have difficulty finding them outside of large US cities. Well I was not disappointed with my dinner. However my partner had a salt pizza that the kitchen said they had put too much cheese on, but we thought tasted fine. Being professional they apologised and informed us when the bill came that we would not be charged for either pizza. I was impressed by this gesture as so often hospitality vendors have difficulty admitting errors, and to declare that they were unhappy with our meals showed a genuine concern. This refreshing attitude will certainly make me return to Pane and also take the time to post my opinions on this site.
The restaurant is only small and one usually needs to book a fair while ahead. Only open from Thursday to Sunday evenings. Apart from pizzas the restaurant offers a small selection of dishes cooked I feel like a real Italian trattoria would cook them. Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin consistently deliver good Italian food with a masterly degree of pride and care. They have even planted their own vineyard and grow the majority of their salad vegetables at their home. -
Review from Marilyn C.
Collingswood, NJ
1/23/2011 1 photo
I am so happy I made the dark and eerie drive from Killington to Woodstock to make it to this place. (Also very happy I didn't hit a moose along the way.)
For this one, I am going to steal the words right out of their mouth because they said it and they mean it.
"Osteria Pane e Salute was founded thirteen years ago on SlowFood principles. Our kitchen is terroir-driven with a focus on local, homegrown, and natively wild. Our wine list is also terroir-driven with the mission to compile a living archive of regional, indigenous Italian varietals. When you come to dine with us, we intend for you to savor your dishes, wine, and company. Our aim is to preserve the experience of sharing a meal and the elegance of hospitality, and to take the time to appreciate both. Our restaurant is not designed for those in a hurry.."
Deirdre knows her wine for sure! A glass of wine from a vineyard in Sicily that ferments in clay casks buried underground. I have honestly never tasted anything like it.
Caleb knows his food as well! Taking celery and turning it into a gourmet food is a feat worth applauding.
I loved it and loved knowing that most ingredients came from their own backyard (literally). -
Review from Brian R.
Boston, MA
2/17/2010
It's places like this that make me wish I could add a 6th star to my review. This place is just wonderful. When we were dining here, we were thinking it was a little like 10 Tables in our 'hood. But comparing the two would be useful to the 2-10% of yelpers who know them both.
The attention to quality and to their guest diners is phenomenal. Prime example - we ordered some apps, then shortly thereafter found out that they ran out of fresh mozzarella for my app. I then was on the fence over a crostini with white beans or the mixed house cured meat plate. After about 5 or minutes, out came Caleb from the kitchen to ask me what I wanted. I explained my situation, and his response was 'why decide between one or the other? I'll make a plate with a crostini on one side and some meats on the other'. Umm, okay I thought! I was kinda floored, just didn't see that coming. And of course it was all good. It was great, actually. I went with the Osso Bucco on special that night, and it was melt in your mouth good. The missus had the pasta verde, which in the deal of a new england winter tasted like the freshness of spring.
It would of course be a huge error to not discuss the immense talents that Ms. Heekin brings to the table as well. Our wine glasses were in her extremely capable hands all night, and we were treated to some remarkable italian wines. We wrote the names of each down, but have a hard time believing we'll have much luck procuring these vintners products - unless we plan another trip to italy that is.
This is going to sound a bit silly, but when the bill the came I almost thought it came in euros, I was so immersed in this authentic italian dining experience. We're already planning our next trip. -
Review from Justin P.
Burlington, VT
1/30/2011
The food was great, the menu was thoughtfully crafted, and the waitstaff left us alone and never made us feel rushed. The wine list is great, and the owners are very helpful when it comes to choosing a wine, but the beer selection is lacking. Overall, if you are looking for somewhere to spend the better part (3 hours or so) of an evening eating amazing, reasonably priced Italian food near in a romantic environment in New England, this place can't be beat. If it's service, flair, and quantity that you're after, or if you have kids, this is not the place for you.
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Review from Jae L.
Jericho, VT
3/9/2010
There is no better place to eat in town. I know all of my other reviews are really really long, but I have nothing else to say here. You can't go wrong. Order anything. Anything at all. There is no better place to eat in town.
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Review from Michael S.
Woodstock, VT
7/31/2008 91 Check-ins Here
osteria pane e salute is a rare gem. In summer, owners Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin supply much of the fresh ingredients for their menu--especially unusual salad greens--or buy wild foods and mushrooms from Vermont foragers Les Hook and Nova Kim. These (and local pork, chickens, and beef) end up in exquisite dishes that are closely inspired by originals that Caleb and Deirdre tasted all over Italy. Look for an all-Italian wine list with many varietals that just can't be found at other restaurants. And get on their mailing list for their special wine-tastings. Great pastas and thin-crust pizzas round out the menu. Exceptional, tasty, authentic food.
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Review from Don C.
Newton, MA
7/24/2006
We love Pane e Salute. We typically make the pilgrimage from MA at least twice a year to have dinner there. Their food is authentic Italian, that picks from a variety of regions. When we go, we try to let it all hang out, and go for the Prix Fix menu and do pairings of wine. The husband and wife team of Caleb Barber and Deirdre Heekin consistenly deliver the best italian food that we have ever had.
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Review from CM G.
Cambridge, MA
2/13/2011
To echo another Yelper, this is THE best restaurant. Just go there. The owners' knowledge of food and wine are better than 5 stars.
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Review from Ida B.
Plainfield, NH
9/3/2009
Small, intimate setting. Wonderful dishes using as much local as possible. Great wine pairings! Owners cook for the James Beard Society in NYC .
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Review from Potato E.
Cambridge, MA
5/23/2010
Outstanding from start to finish. Walk into a small dining room furnished with a combination of rustic wooden tables (mostly doubles but one center table seating about 8 to 10), white tablecloths, brown paper and vases full of tall lilac stems, a chalkboard with info on specials and wines. The owner and the chef are a married couple who work together to create a fantastic atmosphere, serve incredible food with fresh ingredients they either grow themselves or purchase locally. Very well curated wine selection as well. We started with a spring onion risotto with Grana (a hard cheese suitable for grating) and proscuitto-mozarrella plate. Our entrees were a line-caught cod delicately prepared to perfection and a duck leg roasted in a cherry liqueur with orange and some mint... the duck was perfect as well, and went perfectly with a red wine that Diedre recommended (we think it was a lucchesi rosso?). We finished with pecorino cheese drizzled in honey and thyme -- this was fantastic, and made us feel like we were back in Tuscany. Finally, we had espresso and two rich chocolate truffles to finish. Absolutely call ahead for reservations and and absolutely go eat here. Plan on spending a good two to 2.5 hours, as you linger over the fine food and in the warm dining room. Romantic without trying to be. Have not eaten in many restaurants any better-- including NYC, Boston, and Tuscany.
