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Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Yes! This place is a great little gem in Burlington. Yet, so many people know about it! I went with my sister at 7:45 am and it was basically full on a Thursday morning. Whoa!
I ordered the gingerbread pancakes, eggs, and turkey sausage. The pancakes were so great! I have never had such a flavor like it- in pancakes! My sister, a non pancake eater, even thought they were out of this world. She ordered an omelet which looked amazing. She got polenta instead of bread, which was delicious! Such a treat!
A great breakfast place, for the weekdays. I would be afraid to see what the line was like on a weekend.
Oh how I wish I could wake up every morning in Burlington and head out to Penny Cluse for my first meal of the day.
But since they serve breakfast all day till they close at 3 pm, then breakfast fare it is for my second meal of the day! Every item in their menu sounds so good, we always have a difficult time choosing what we want during a visit. We travel to Burlington often but not often enough to be able to try everything in their menu. And I don't even want to begin thinking about their specials of the day.
I will not reiterate what other reviewers have specifically described about the food here. Trust what they say; at least the ones who loved it. Their menu is available on their website; as are a few recipes of some of the more popular items they serve. Feel like flipping some gingerbread pancakes tomorrow, hmmm?
The place is really cozy. Works of local artists are displayed routinely and they do add a nice eclectic touch to the ambiance. Even the bathroom is made a canvas for art.
It's a great family place, like others have mentioned. They have a ramp to get in the place. For kids, they offer high chairs, straw cups, toys to play with while waiting and they have a changing table in the bathroom.
Their servers are pretty good with giving recommendations. And I commend them, particularly one server we had that time when we ate here before a flight out. I informed her of our situation and she made sure our meals came out promptly and she facilitated everything so that we would make it out to the airport on time.
Penny Cluse...I'd put you at the top of my breakfast /brunch place list!
I came here for lunch and had to wait about 30 minutes before being seated. We decided to stop waiting for a table and sat at a bar. There menu didn't have anything that really caught my eye, but on their blackboard they had a special called the apple bread French toast with apple sauce. It was delicious! Hard to describe, but simply delicious.
Tried the regular French toast with raisins and it was really tough... definitely not worth getting.
The server was really nice but she forgot my orange juice. Sadness.
Friendly staff, fun atmosphere, good food. My only comment is start using organic dairy, eggs, etc...
I've put off writing this review because I just have so many good things to say. I LOVE PENNY CLUSE. I go here at least 3 or 4 times a week, I cannot stop. The food is amazing and CONSISTENT, always good. The specials are a little redundant from time to time (that's what I get for eating there so much), but once in a while they will surprise me with something special, like lamb souvlaki or flounder sandwich.
Here are my recommendations.
Breakfast-
Start off with the bucket of spuds, home fries covered in cheese with homemade salsa and sour cream and green onions. It's amazing for a group to share, and also, the best thing ever to eat after a serious night of drinking. I cant go to penny cluse without getting a bucket, even if I'm alone. Get a fruit plate, you will not regret it. the fruit is all fresh and beautifully presented, and has such a variety.
I wish I was a pancake or french toast person, but I just tend to go a little more savory. If you do want to get something of that nature, get the zucchini bread french toast with honey ricotta (its on special right now but will probably be there for another month of so), you will not regret this choice. If you just want to try it get a side of it which is just one piece, which is also cheaper and really all you need.
If the huevos rojo is on special, GET IT. Delicious eggs (I get them over medium) topped with a red turkey chili and served with black beans and tortillas.
Penny Cluse's bacon is also alarmingly good, as is the chicken apple sausage.
if you are in the mood for Lunch...
GET THE HAM RANDY. the rocket sauce is out of control, and I mean, I'm obsessed with ham so it really works out well.
I love all the Mexican inspired dishes like Chorizo and Egg tacos which I always add cilantro to, and their avocado salsa is off the hook. The Chile Relleno plate is also not to be messed with, so perfect. the ranchero salsa is bomb, perfectly spicy. You can get a side of relleno for $2.50 I believe which is just one chile, and perfect if you want to try it.
I could go on all day about penny cluse, about how the servers are all great and so funny, and how one of the the owners calls me mini bucket girl, and he also makes the best bucket of spuds out of anyone who works the line and I aint scurred to let him know that.
The atmosphere here is wonderful. I love the eclectic art work (always local and interesting), and I love the coffee. When a breakfast place starts at the basics, like great coffee, you know its the real deal.
I would wait all day to get a seat at penny cluse, it is my second home.
Finally made it to Penny Cluse after many missed opportunities. I'd have to say this place lived up to the hype. We didn't even have to wait to be seated, albeit it was mid-afternoon on a Saturday. I had the Tofu Randy and it was delicious. Their rocket sauce is amazing! It came with a soup also, I think it was carrot ginger maybe, whatever it was I loved that too. My friend ordered the Taco salad and was rather disappointed as he was expecting one of those big fried bowl tortilla things, instead its served on top of a regular crispy tortilla. Looked good to me though. I don't recall what my other friend ordered but she loved it. The atmosphere is bright and friendly. It was a tad warm in there but I guess most places back east don't really require a/c. Cant wait to try the rest of the menu.
almost makes me want to head back to VT for a visit... Almost.
Two New Yorkers and a Chicagoan stuck up on a mountain in the middle of Route 125 at English Camp had the desire to brunch. Naturally, this meant we drove up to Burlington. Since I don't know Burlington that well, I went onto Yelp and typed in "brunch Burlington, VT." What attracted me to Penny Cluse the most on Yelp, in addition to the overall stellar reviews, was Chad N's review, because, dude, brunch in Chicago is a full-contact sport. We take our brunch seriously, and eat it with much gusto. If there are any fellow Chicagoans reading this, I'd say that Penny Cluse is more of a cross between Over Easy and Flo, than Lula. Well, we can't all be Lula--sigh--but Penny here is good stuff.
The wait was going to be 30-45 minutes, but our hostess pointed out that our threesome could sit at the counter immediately. Ravenous and in dire need of coffee, we chose the latter. The coffee here is fantastic, so smooth that I drank my first cup sans cream, which is super rare for me. The only coffee I drink black is my friend Luke's, who roasts his own beans and then brews it French press. There were many delicious options on the menu; my friends and I studied it for quite some time. I was wavering between pozole, the eggs and polenta, the egg and chorizo tacos, and the Zydeco eggs. After much deliberation, I chose the last option, with poached eggs. I also ordered a side of fruit. Dining companion #1 created a goat feta, mushroom, and tomato omelette, and dining companion #2 ordered the eggs and polenta, eggs scrambled.
My Zydeco eggs was delicious! Corn bread muffins finer than Wish Bone's (another great Chicago brunch haunt), framed a plate of black beans with an Andouille sausage in the center. Oddly, my poached eggs arrived in separate cups, but they were nicely done, and mixed with the rest of the plate perfectly.
And now I must wax poetic on the fruit plate. It had myriad kinds of fruit: cherries, mango, grapefruit, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plums, pineapple, and even fresh figs(!!!) all artfully stacked on a salad plate. Everything was ripe, sweet, and juicy. And this wonder of wonders fruit plate only cost $3.50! I have seen many fruit plates of far inferior quality served for double that price in my brunching days. Even the New Yorkers were way impressed as they partook in its deliciousness.
If I lived in Burlington, I would come again. Maybe next time order a bloody mary-which looked delicious, and get some of that herbed gravy that all the Vermonty Pythons rave about. I would like to see more ambitious specials, maybe a salmon scramble or a crab cake benedict, but perhaps they do offer these as specials from time to time. Who knows? Perhaps I'll return before my 6 weeks in VT are up!
I miss this place more than any other place in Burlington.
First, let's deal with the most common criticism: the wait. Yes, it can be long. BUT, it's made much worse if you decide to crowd the lobby. Leave your name with the host and go for a walk. Get a coffee or whatever. It's right off Church street, so don't be stupid and stand around and be like overheated sardines.
Other than that, the food's great, and the staff is friendly. Never had a bad meal here.
Oh, and the tangerine juice will blow your mind.
This is a burlington breakfast staple. The food is always awesome, the wait is bearable, and the ambiance is unique. This is a good place to go with a small group or a couple. Everything is fresh and very good. Some of the stuff is a little small and the place can be kind of pricey, but you will not leave dissapointed. The special omelet is always good. The servers are very nice and accommodating Great place, highly recomended.
Num Yum Yummy. That in a word (or 3 words) describes the breakfast my group had at Penny Cluse. I'm a big breakfast person and found THE breakfast spot. Sadly, it's about 1000 miles away from home.
There was a short wait on a Friday morning, but we didn't mind because it's such a charming, cozy, friendly spot, and everyone was engaging and welcoming. I ordered the breakfast sandwich with delicious bacon and sharp Vermont cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough bread. I just drooled a little typing that..so so good. I also had the small fruit plate, that was a huge portion of delicious melon and apple slices. My friend sitting next to me had, upon my suggestion, the sourdough french toast, which happens to be one of my favorite things EVER, and a specialty of mine. If you've never had sourdough french toast with maple syrup, honey you haven't lived.
We had a great breakfast with great service, and, there's no doubt that whenever I'm in Burlington I'll be stopping for eggs, etc. at Penny Cluse.
The Cluse may not need more reviews--if you live near Burlington and don't know about it, you're not paying attention, if you're visiting, just ask any local--but out of love and appreciation I'll add one more.
I moved outside Vermont a few years ago, but every trip back I make sure includes at least one pilgrimage here. It's a breakfast and lunch place, but I need to confess, I stopped seeing the lunch menu a long time ago, no matter what time of day. And although I've sampled most of the breakfast offerings one time or another, and might be tempted by the specials, just two things keep me coming back--besides the great all-around mojo of the place including a top-notch and exceptionally loyal staff.
One is the Bucket o' Spuds with an egg over-easy on top. This dish is remarkably simple but it is just about the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen happen to the potato. The bucket is figurative, its a gently heaping pile of potato chunks served on an oval plate, with some melted cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a healthy scoop of solid pico de gallo (they call it salsa, but whatever, its very good), some green onions, and of course the egg. The magic ingredient, what pulls it all together somehow is whatever they add to the potatoes. I've asked about the ingredients, it includes turmeric which gives a distinct golden yellow color, but have not come anywhere close to recreating. I'll just keep thinking that PC has special powers to pull it off so well, so consistently.
The other is Mama Cruz's Huevos Rancheros or similar dishes--Zydeco Breakfast, Polenta and Eggs--that all come with black beans and Penny Cluse's singular ranchera sauce. The whole dish shines, but the sauce is the star. I tried many times to approximate this too on my own without much success. I got to talking about it with one of the waittresses once and she brought out the three different types of peppers that they use, a cascabel--small, round, dark plum color (never heard of it), a chipotle (smoked habanero), and a serrano. But after several minutes of pepper talk, she says "and of course you know about the beer right?". I didn't!. One of the original VT microbreweries is McNeill's down in Brattleboro (worth a detour) and they make a "Firehouse Amber" that is great in a glass and even better as the secret ingredient in Penny Cluse's ranchera sauce.
Easily one of the best breakfast places on the planet, though it may take a while, or moving away, to appreciate it. Thanks and kudos to talented and committed owners Charles and Holly and their able staff for creating a Vermont institution.
I could not have asked for a more perfect place to eat my last meal in Burlington. Choices, choices, choices. I had the smoked salmon sandwich on wheat with homefries. My toddler had the pork and beans, featuring smoked pulled pork (not hot dogs) but we couldn't pull her away from the eggs, which she never eats at home (go figure). You are sure to find something that you will like on this eclectic, yet approachable menu . Great service. Great breakfast. And you won't break the bank in the process. The 30 min wait on Saturday morning was well worth it. Thanks yelpers for your honest reviews! Keep 'em coming.
If I lived here I'm sure I'd be eating at Penny Cluse on a regular basis. It's cute inside, service was sweet, it's crowded, but the wait wasn't long and the food is fantastic. It's seriously like the Holy Grail of breakfast/brunch/lunch places. And reasonably priced!!
I mauled a good portion of someone else's biscuits and gravy, and ate as much as I could muster of my own delish breakfast sandwich (2 eggs, Vermont cheddar and ham!). Add the fact that I can turn that freshly squeezed tangerine juice into a birthday mimosa and we have achieved perfection. I hope I can make it back for lunch because that onion soup sounded AWESOME.
I don't think I'll be able to even go to Boogaloos in SF.
Few things could get me out of bed before 11am but breakfast of Penny Cluse. I get homesick just thinking about it :(
The gingerbread pancakes are out of this world!
YUMMY!
this was a great late lunch with my sister. It was even more special due to the fact we had just gotten tattoos! I had a few great cup of joe and a fish taco. It was fresh and delicious with a few different sides to choose from. SO good! I can't wait to go back and eat there again.
Wow, what a great place. Recently moved from Chicago and were happy to find a great brunch place (our favorite meal out) Love the unique food menu, and great tasting items. Great staff (have some patience though) The place is a great atmosphere once you are seated.
Would have been a 5 if not for the wait. I know that is sometimes an unfair complaint of a restaurant, but the organization of the seating gets annoying. For one the waiting space is smaller then my first dorm room and is in between the sitting customers and the bathroom, so you have people squeezing in the door, going to the bathroom and trying to climb to the front to put their name down with like 2 and a half chairs. I will say it is worth the wait. We are still trying different times to see if they are ever not busy, but only being open until 2 they are ALWAYS packed and at least 30 min wait. Not sure what they can do about it, except maybe move their hostess stand further into the place for room.
Again it is worth the trouble getting a table . . . recommended !!!!
Delicious(ly long wait). We got there on a Sunday morning around 10:40AM and waited 75 minutes for a seat (they had tables and a good number of seats at the counter). Usually I would never wait this long to eat anywhere, but I was on vacation and had heard only great things. Regardless, while the experience was good, I don't know that I would wait that long again.
The hostess was incredible. She was juggling pretty much the entire scene. Mobs of people (this is a good sign, yes?) and she made sure people got in when tables were available. The waitstaff were all adorable crunchy hipsters who clearly enjoyed the people they worked with. Even with the crowd, the waitstaff was right on. Coffee service was fast and everyone was relatively happy and smiling.
And of course -- most importantly, the food. I had the Penny Cluse (2 eggs, homefries with 2 biscuits and herb gravy) with a side of bacon and some coffee. The coffee was great - though you really can't expect anything less in Vermont. The eggs were over-easy (my fave) and tasty. The biscuits = smothered in gravy. Biscuits themselves were excellent -- good texture and not dry. The gravy, while good, lacked salt. The homefries were tasty with crunchy little bits and perfectly cooked potatoey goodness. But the real star of the meal was the bacon.
1. Dear Bacon, I love you. You are my number 1 meat.
2. The Penny Cluse bacon IS NOT the super market brand, over-salted, droopy and super fatty tasting bacon. It is a nice thick cut with delicious crispy parts and also chewy (but not bad chewy) parts. My biggest surprise was the great bacon-y flavor without all the salt! Totally delicious.
Price-wise the food was adequately priced. I did raise an eyebrow at the $2.75 for the side of bacon, but after tasting It was well worth it. Not the cheapest breakfast, but all the ingredients seemed fresh and freshly made.
All in all a lovely experience. Cheers to you Penny!
Pros:
- Delicious banana bread with cream cheese (so good)
- Really good gingerbead pancakes with Vermont maple syrup
- Tasty pineapple mango smoothie with cocnut and rum
- Friendly atmosphere
- Reasonable prices (unlike other Vermont spots)
- Park for free on the weekends next door (big big plus)
Cons
- Long wait as can be - 40 minutes around Sunday 10am
- Splotchy service, good at times, distracted the other
It's places like this why I don't mind paying $70 a month for my iPhone. The Yelp app turns up gems like this... spots you'd never be able to find without doing some serious chatting up of the locals.
We were driving back to Boston from Montreal and the previous reviews quickly got us to take the exit. SO glad we did. This "bucket o' spuds" is the most aesthetically disturbing thing I've ever seen and so ridiculously delicious. That pic was taken with my iPhone. This hodgepodge of buttery potatoes, sour cream, salsa, onions and more... seems so simple, but they really created something unforgettable! And yeah, don't order this for just you unless this is your meal - I barely had enough room to tackle the almost as amazing gingerbread pancakes.
All seem to rave about the biscuits. I didn't really think much of them - they weren't bad, but the cakes and spuds stole the show.
Bought a cucumber salad for later that day - good stuff.
And AMAZING service - I saw a negative review... they just must have been slammed that day. Understandably so. We had a 20 minute wait, but if I go back, I'd wait 2 hours for that place... just do some shopping around the neighborhood.
EAT HERE!
One of the many things that I LOVE about Vermont is that I don't have to carry my own maple syrup. The real stuff is everywhere! At Penny Cluse Cafe I can pour it next to Gingerbread Pancakes! They serve very good coffee in the best EVER diner type coffee cups with saucers. Lots of variety on the menu and I trust absolutely anything that they make here. I tasted the biscuits and herb gravy and a couple of other items and everything was delicious! They were friendly and they remembered me the second time that I came in. I love that. Also this restaurant is extremely kid friendly.
Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington Vermont is a bit of a trek for me coming from Sacramento but I'm going to do something about that next year. Until then I will have to be happy with the published Gingerbread Pancake recipe (go to the website!) and my many pictures of my two breakfasts in 4 days while I was in Vermont.
I have a picture of my breakfast as wallpaper on my cell phone right now. THAT is how much I love this place!
Dear Penny,
I miss you. We had some good times didn't we?
Remember all those mornings, I would stumble in still reeking of Box of Wine or Carlo Rossi or Hot Chocolate & Peppermint Schnapps (if there was a hockey game the night before, natch), and you would feed me, Penny. No questions asked. And for a nominal fee.
Was there a wait? You bet.
Did I expect it? Absolutely! One can not assume a breakfast as delightful as the ones you prepare to be ready on a moment's notice. I learned how to share. I was totally present that day in Nursery School.
Did I still thoroughly enjoy everything you ever put in my face EVER? Yes.
Yes, I did Penny.
Since moving to back to Boston I have yet to find a breakfast place that even comes close to your succulence.
I can't wait to come back and get pancakes and eggs and snausages and home fries and never-ending cup of coffee and the BIGGEST GLASS OF WATER IN CREATION...and OJ. Gotta have the OJ.
One Love,
Natalie
Very good restaurant for breakfast. Gets VERY busy on the weekends.
I felt it was necessary for me to get the gingerbread pancakes since I read about them somewhere, and yes I was glad I did although I may always wonder what their french toast is like. The bf got an egg and cheese burrito with beans which was mediocre and did not have much flavor. The place is popular and has a cute atmosphere, worth a stop unless you hear of a better place in town.
My favorite spot in Burlington for breakfast. But be prepared to wait for at least an hour if you go on the weekend and you're with a friend or two.
I really liked their tofu scramble with pesto, but lately when visiting Burlington, the food there has been pretty off-game.
Their menu doesn't really do much for me and I really do not enjoy the inevitable waiting to be seated.
I definitely see myself going back there at some point, but honestly, I find it pretty boring and mid-grade.
This place is great if you're into happiness and delicious food. Sure there's usually a wait, but I think that's a good thing.
When we lived in Burlington, we couldn't wait for our out-of-town friends to visit us because that's always were they'd want to go for breakfast. Now, it's always where we want to go for breakfast when we visit.
I recommend the gingerbread pancakes and anything involving the maple walnut butter.
One of the few Burlington restaurants that holds up to the hype year after year. They open early, they have good specials, they have fun, funky seating, and they are way better than Boogaloos, the restaurant in San Francisco that the owner designed the same menu for. It's worth the wait.
Roast Duck Hash=heaven
Penny Cluse lives up to its hype...without a doubt.
It's definitely not the cheapest breakfast place in town, but I feel it's well worth it. The menu is quite unique to Burlington, with a decidedly southwestern take on breakfast. Deliciously unique sandwiches are also served...and the biscuits with herb creme gravy are absolutely not to be missed.
There is a bit of a downer to Penny Cluse, which everyone knows is the line on the weekends...but chatting and anticipating is half the fun.
I love breakfast. Yes, and I love eggs, but even if I didn't, I'd find something tasty to eat here. Like the tofu scramble...wait...does that have eggs? I think not.
Burlington's finest. It is.
I wish they didn't butter your toast. Wait, do they butter your toast for you? Eh. Either way, good food, good memories. Go with a friend, and the wait won't seem so long.
OK, so we all know that the wait is long, but here's an idea: wake up, roll out of bed, go to Penny's, give your name to the hostess, and head over to Church Street. Grab a coffee, do some window shopping, and before you know it - viola! Your table awaits...they're even good about giving you a table when you come late and they'd already called your name.
Items you MUST order:
-fresh squeezed tangarine juice
-egg & cheese Sandwich, comes on sourdough (it's only $3.50)
-the Cucumber salad
This is my favorite place to have breakfast in Burlington, VT. The menu is eclectic but not too crazy that it does not resemble a traditional breakfast. Things like gingerbread pancakes, polenta, and herbed gravy all make the traditional breakfast unique and exciting.
Try the bucket-of-spuds. A heaping mound of potatoes topped with sour cream, salsa and an egg (if you choose). It's sure to be the only meal you eat for the entire day.
Warning, if you go on a weekend get there early (they open at 8). Waits of 45 minutes plus are not uncommon.
The best biscuits and gravy of my life I was humbled to enjoy here, after stepping off a brutal red-eye flight. The biscuits were a thousand cuts above Pillsbury, and the chicken gravy was thick but not overly greasy.
I left feeling stuffed but not disgusting, and that is a key distinction when it comes to comfort food!
Breakfast , to me, was either greasy diner food or Pennycluse (until Magnolia opened, that is) but anyway.
Go there before you are starving. There is always always a wait, sometimes an epic wait-- but the proximity to shopping means you can put your name in and wander about a bit before you eat. But if you're starving, go somewhere else because your stomach lining will disolve before you're seated.
Once seated, however, the atmosphere is clean and bright, the s taff is courteous, and the food is really good. On my birthday a few years back (oh god, 5 years) I was brought a fruit plate with the fruit formed into a man with a candle in each hand. It was a really sweet gesture.
The fresh squeezed orange juice really is fresh and not to be missed.
Oh Pennycluse, how I miss thee. Boogaloo's and its teeny tiny portions just doesnt compare! I'll be back someday, and you can bet I'll be ordering the chicken and biscuits.
I'm sorry but Penny Cluse Cafe is way over-rated. The wait for a table on the weekends can be 55 minutes! The service is so-so, and the drinks are expensive. The food is tasty, but the hype kills this place. There are so many other great places to eat in Burlington.
As a vegetarian, I was quite impressed and satisfied with my meal of "The Bellber Combo" - gingerbread pancakes, tofu scramble with (red) salsa ranchero sauce and home fries. The apple cider was delicious, though the coffee was not memorable. Also tried the black beans which were excellent, the raisin bread was good too. The four in our party had to wait for over 20 minutes, the service was quick, the server (and owner) personalities were not impressive. An excellent place for breakfast and hopefully for other meals too.
great food. really amazing and tasty BUT: waitress disappears. coffee refills nonexistent on a busy saturday. ask someone in passing if it's possible to get a refill assuming that if she can't do it she'll find my indifferent overworked waitress. she calls me a bitch audibly to another member of staff and storms out of the restaurant with a pack of cigarettes. rough day? maybe. overreaction? definitely. i can't bring myself to go back there. hostility thy name is Penny Cluse. mommy i'm scared.
best breakfast around, and lots of vegan/veg options!
Penny Cluse is the bomb. I may move back to Vermont just for it. Its not 100% vegetarian but its will make any vegetarian more than pleased. They are always consistent...never had a bad meal there. The servers are so nice too.
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