Blue Benn Diner - Bennington, VT

Posted By Michael Stern on July 26, 2007 1:11 PM

We have seen the Blue Benn referred to as a "gourmet diner"; but Roadfood devotees need not worry. This definitely is not an annoying reborn streamliner in which an ambitious chef recasts the image as a retro-chic eatery serving New American cuisine. An original Silk City diner manufactured in the 1940s and planted on its current site along Route 7 in 1949, the Blue Benn remains a true-blue hash house.

Yes, you can eat interesting (and very good) international dishes that are not at all typical of a classic diner, i.e. Syrian roll-ups or vegetarian enchiladas; but the traditional diner fare is not to be missed: pot roast, turkey dinner, meat loaf and mashed potatoes.

Breakfast is served all day, natch, and it is an especially good time to squeeze into a booth or find a counter seat in the pint-size hut. The Blue Benn seems always overpopulated with customers; and its walls are plastered with a virtual confetti of hundreds of signs listing arcane and modern specials from creamed chipped beef on toast to soya sausage. The commotion is presided over by a team of waitresses whose dexterous repartee cheers on customers to greet the day. It’s hypnotic to watch the coffee-pot-armed professionals maneuver the confines behind the counter and among the short line of wooden booths of the creaky old monitor-roof diner.

And oh, what a joy it is to ease a fork into a steamy slice of corn bread French toast or a stack of crunchberry pancakes with turkey hash on the side. And don’t tell anyone, but we love to greet the sun with Blue Benn Indian pudding, a primordial cornmeal and molasses samp that is, technically speaking, dessert … but makes a salubrious morning cereal when served warm and dolloped with cream instead of ice cream.

Overall Rating

Pancakes

Indian Pudding

Donut

French Toast

Corned Beef Hash

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Posted By Pat Gray on January 30, 2013 10:57 AM

The pies ain't half bad, but that Indian puddin' weren't worth the trip all the way from Cavendish. I would stop in again to try the pancakes if I was passing by.

Overall Rating

Indian Pudding

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Posted By Irene on July 20, 2012 11:00 AM

Excellent diner. Incredibly cute and 50s down to the music selections at each booth. Fast service, and real maple syrup available for a buck. Great deal and great place. Highly recommend!

Overall Rating

Pancakes

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Posted By Savannah Dalton on October 29, 2011 12:58 PM

Maybe I caught the Benn on a bad day, and it's been about four years now. However, when my sister-in-law dragged my son and me to the diner our experience was not great. The food was so-so and the service was awful. Maybe it's better if you don't go on the weekend. There are much better places to eat in Bennington.

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Posted By M on June 7, 2011 3:51 PM

Charming diner with a huge variety of food, from traditional dinner fare to many vegetarian options. This is the place to eat in Bennington. They offer so many choices; they have something wonderful for everyone. I really enjoy their vegetarian sandwiches, homemade fries, gigantic homemade donuts and, of course, the homemade pies.

Overall Rating

Donut

french fries

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Posted By Jim Foster on December 17, 2008 4:00 PM

I am originally from Jersey and my work can take me across many state lines and a variety of places. I am always looking for good Roadfood, and I've found that asking a detail (police/trooper) directing traffic is a good way to get tips. Anyway, I was in Bennington for about a week and was pointed to Blue Benn.

We started by having breakfast there the first day, and by the last day we were having both breakfast and dinner. Certainly someone in the kitchen cares about the food. Everything we had was good, from pancakes and omelettes to dinnertime Mexican fare. The food is fresh, the meats are tender, and they are not afraid to use spices when needed.

Big props to the cats in the kitchen at Blue Benn. I'm hoping we pick up another job up in the area just so I can get back to this great diner.

Overall Rating

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