Tucked away on a side street in Hartland, Vt., Skunk Hollow Tavern manages three distinct in-house settings, and caters to frat boys and families alike. The Tavern opens to a combined restaurant and bar scene whose low ceiling, exposed beams and jaunty fireplace foster a cozy but casual atmosphere. The upstairs dining room, albeit somewhat spartan, nonetheless emerges more refined thanks to the exchange of Christmas lights for formal table linens.
While the employment of what looks to be the Tavern's original flooring certainly deserves appropriate admiration, the restaurant's beer selection probably draws more frequent applause. Skunk Hollow provides an abundance of cheap local brews on draught. The Tavern's price range, from four-dollar pints to seven-dollar pitchers, will rightfully strain the liver and not the wallet.
Seventy-three percent of Dartmouth students know better than to drink on an empty stomach! Skunk Hollow Tavern helps Dick's House live up to its claim by offering delectable contemporary cuisine with classic character. The menu appeals to the full gamut of taste and appetite. Although patrons can choose to munch popcorn, the chance to indulge in the Tavern's innovative transformations of traditional pub fare should not be missed.
We skipped the snacks and started with a specialty appetizer. Skunk Hollow dazzled us with its dolled-up version of stuffed button mushrooms, which benefited from their unique menage a trios with brie and pear.
According to the waitstaff, the soup at Skunk Hollow Tavern is its forte. The du jour selections, served most commonly as first courses, are alternatively suitable as a cost-effective entree as well. The carrot and dill soup we sampled was the perfect respite from the evening chill. The flavorful accent of the dill complimented the natural sweetness of the carrot, making for a strong ensemble. However, we were slightly alarmed by the large vegetable chunks that our spoon overturned.
The other entree, a pork stir-fry, arrived large enough to share. A satisfying combination of salty and sweet, the dish reveled as a playful panoply of meat, Mandarin oranges and peanuts. The plate's grilled asparagus seemed to have been added as an afterthought but was pleasantly charred and delicious in its own right. The Skunk Hollow menu also includes everything from fish and chips to a bacon ensconced filet mignon.
Celebrate the Tavern's dedication to preventing drunk driving (read: the explicit warning signs decking the walls are not for decoration) by rewarding yourself and your designated driver with a treat! Nothing says thank you for being sober like one of Skunk Hollow's homemade desserts. From a Heath Bar Cake to a house-prepared coffee chip ice cream to amaretto mousse, the Tavern makes a decadent, lasting impression.
Check Please! One meal at the Skunk Hollow Tavern and you will wish that you could be a regular! We certainly do. A combination of excellent service, original food and creative atmosphere makes the Tavern well worth the trip. This perfect seasonal escape is open Wednesday through Sunday.
