Frommer's
T. J. Buckley's Review
Brattleboro's best restaurant, and one of the better choices in Vermont, the Lilliputian T. J. Buckley's is housed in a classic old diner on a dim side street -- but this is far from diner food. Renovations such as slate floors and golden lighting have created an intimate restaurant that seats about 20, and no secrets exist between the chef, sous-chef, and the server, all of whom remain within a couple of dozen feet of one another (and you) throughout the meal -- the entire place is smaller than the kitchen of most restaurants. The menu here is limited, with just a few each night, but the food has absolutely nothing in common with simple diner fare. Ingredients are fresh and select, the preparation more concerned with melding flavors than dazzling with architectural flourishes.
Fodor's TJBuckley Review
It's easy to miss this tiny restaurant, but it's worth seeking out as one of the most romantic little eateries in Vermont. Open the doors to the sleek black 1920s diner and enter what amounts to a very intimate theater, with a mere 18 seats for the show. The stage is an open kitchen, the flames a few feet away, and working under the whisper of vocal jazz and candlelight is the star of the show: Michael Fuller, the dashing owner and sole chef, who has been at the helm for 25 years. The contemporary menu is conveyed verbally each day and is based on locally available ingredients. It's dinner theater for culinary fans, a romantic triumph.
Yankee Magazine Best Diner-Car Dinners T. J. BUCKLEY'S UPTOWN DINING, Brattleboro
Creased cloths on five tables, a polished wood-and-chrome interior, and chef Michael Fuller chopping and sizzling in an open kitchen mere feet away: These elements transform a 1927 Worcester dining car into a nightly stage for intimacy. But it's the artistry of Fuller's meals--such as seared venison with eggplant caponata--that makes dining here memorable. 132 Elliot St. 802-257-4922
Trip Advisor "Excellent North Country Vermont Cooking."
From the exterior, this restaurant looks like shack. Don't let the appearance fool you, the chefs know how to prepare an excellent meal that will leave you savoring every morsel. It is often the case in Vermont that quality restaurants just look like ordinary wooden structures.
Country Living T. J. BUCKLEY'S UPTOWN DINING, Brattleboro
While there's lots of amazing food in Southern Vermont, nothing beats T.J. Buckley's. Expensive? Yes. Reservations required? With only 20 seats, highly recommended. But so worth it. Nestled inside a tiny 1920s diner car, this high-end restaurant has no menu. Chef Michael Fuller just cooks whatever looks best at the market that day. The result: exceptional locavore meals served out of an open kitchen.
Read more: T.J. Buckley's Restaurant - Best High End Restaurants In Vermont - Country Living
