James Dotson and Thomas Sullivan purchased the former Roadhouse at the end of 2006. Their vision is to create a family style Southern BBQ restaurant which reminded them of the time they spent in the South. Their goal was to give diners great comfort food with little pretension using locally grown or produced ingredients wherever possible and served at affordable prices.

One of the first orders of business was to hire a Chef, a person who could carry out the vision with expertise and finesse. They found that person in Chef Tara Tracy. Chef Tara is a graduate of New England Culinary Institute. She has most recently been working at the Hunger Mountain Co-op. Previously, she has worked in various kitchens throughout the state, including Goddard College, Steve and Erica's, Common Man Restaurant, and Liz Lovely, the vegan cookie company. She is very passionate about local ingredients, seasonal menus, and artesinal products and she shares Tom and Jim's vision of using Vermont ingredients to recreate some of the South's best dishes.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT

The bar: a casual and comfortable place to enjoy one of Vermont's locally produced hard ciders or fruit wines.

The lounge: a roaring fire, a stage for acoustic, piano and folk musical artists and an intimate array of comfortable chairs and dining tables - the perfect place to enjoy a full meal or gather with friends for a cocktail, a glass of cider and a plate of Vermont artisan cheeses.

The main dining room: the tables made from old barn doors, the cozy booths create an intimate atmosphere for any occasion.

The game room: pool tables, pinball, and darts add to the fun of the Cider House. Enjoy an evening with friends listening to your favorite music and playing games.

The back deck: 3 seasons of viewing while enjoying drinks and food from the Cider House. You are surrounded on three sides with the best of Vermont - overlooking the Winooski river and a horse meadow with a peak at Camel's Hump.