• James Buck
• Spot at the Dock

The Spot on the Dock — When the weather's warm, patrons chill out in the windswept waterfront bar with salmon poke, Cobb salads and veggie burgers. Mango margaritas and blue Hawaiians mirror the colors of the sunset.

Other Finalists (Inside Chittenden County)

• Leunig's Bistro & Café
• Sweetwaters
• The Skinny Pancake
• Waterworks Food + Drink

• Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
• Idletyme Brewing Co.

Idletyme Brewing Co. — A good beer is a good beer, no matter where you drink it. But sometimes, special surroundings elevate a brew to greatness. Will Gilson, brewmaster at Stowe’s Idletyme Brewing Co., concocts some damn good beer. But his ace in the hole is the brewpub’s remarkable backyard. Something magical happens when you grab a crisp Helles Brook Lager or juicy Idletyme double IPA from the outdoor Treehouse Bar and then camp out in the biergarten, lounge on the patio with some upscale pub grub, or get in a few rounds of cornhole on the spacious lawn. Bonus: It’s just steps from the Stowe Recreation Path. So, the next time you’re out for a jog or bike ride and need a quick break — or a long one — just look for the arrow that reads: “You know you want a beer.”

Other Finalists (Outside Chittenden County)

• 242 Texas BBQ Company
• Mill River Brewing BBQ & Smokehouse
• Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge
• TRAIL BREAK taps + tacos