Squid Eats: Original Skiff Fish & Oysters

Original Skiff Fish & Oysters is the restaurant at Hotel Champlain Burlington, a Hilton property not far off the lakefront in Burlington, Vermont.  We recently visited for the first time for the front end of a dinner-and-a-movie date.  It was pretty quiet for a Saturday night but admittedly, we were on the early side with a 5:15 reservation.  Even so, I wonder how much business they get beyond hotel guests.

Obviously, given the name, seafood is the main feature.  We shared a half-dozen oysters and a farmer's salad to start.  For entrees, I got the bone-in pork chop, my wife the fish fry.  They need a shellfish main.  I would have ordered it.  Clams came with my pork chop but I long for crustaceans.  

Last week, I wrote about how one must consider with fine dining if it's truly worth the cost.  Original Skiff, while still on the pricier side, was cheaper than Bistro de Margot and yet I would say the food was better.  The sauce for my pork chop was divine.  On the way out, one of the hosts asked about our highlight of the meal (a solid customer service move).  The fries from the fish fry dipped in the sauce for the pork chop was my choice.

A couple of odd quirks of note:

• The menu was on place mats - a fine choice for a seafood establishment in my opinion.  But they took them away after we placed our order.  I would have been perfectly happy to keep mine.
• My wife's plate spun and we don't think it was supposed to.  The little circular thing underneath was more prominent than the outer ridge.  Poor design.

But those are minor gripes.  Overall, it was an excellent meal.  I'd go again, particularly if they add a lobster dinner to the menu.