Penny Cluse Cafe

We first discovered the Penny Cluse Cafe in Food Network Magazine.  Earlier this year they were running a special article on the best breakfasts in each state in America and the Penny Cluse Cafe won the award for Vermont.  The specific menu item mentioned in the article was the Ginger Pancakes, so of course we had to give that a try.  It was a wise decision as they were quite delicious and also very unique.  The restaurant is located right off of the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, so it's very easy to get to.  If you stop for one place for breakfast in Burlington, this is the place to stop.

Church Street

Located centrally in Burlington is the Church Street Marketplace, which is a pedestrian only walkway.  Parking on the street around the area was pretty easy for us to find, even on a Saturday night, which is quite convenient for most tourists.

Here, you'll find many local restaurants and shops featuring all different types of food.  Our personal favorite was the Three Tomatoes Trattoria.  They use all local and fresh ingredients and made one of the best Chicken Piccatta's I've ever had.  There's also a Ben & Jerry's located here for you ice cream fanatics.  My favorite part of Church Street is that it isn't just a bunch of "chain" stores.  It really gives you that local flair which made us quite happy.  Honestly, who wants to go on vacation and eat the same thing they can get at home?

There are also street performers here, which are free of charge for their entertainment (although tips are obviously appreciated).  We saw one who did a comedy/fire show that concluded with him jumping through a hoop of fire.

If you're in Burlington, you definitely should spend some time on Church Street!