As much museum as it is restaurant, every inch of the upscale (but family-friendly) Fire and Ice (26 Seymour St., 802/388-7166, www.fireandicerestaurant.com, 5–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs.; noon–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; 1–9 p.m. Sun., $12–28) is covered with old photographs, books, Victorian lamps, and map covers. A warren of interlocking rooms, the friendly, dimly lighted establishment focuses on classic American dishes—the likes of hand-cut steaks, boiled lobster, and broiled salmon. The homemade carrot cake is a local legend.

Nestled up against Otter Creek, Tully & Marie’s (7 Bakery Ln., 802/388-4182, www.tullyandmaries.com, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. daily, $10–23) is a bold (but fun) mixture of cultural influences. For starters, there’s the decor—seemingly inspired by a 1920s-style diner reimagined as a steamship. Then there’s the eclectic menu—a hodgepodge of Thai (basil shrimp), health foods (the salads are all organic), Italian (pastas are extremely popular here), and a little Mexican (chile-lime fajitas) thrown in. Somehow, it all works.

The undisputed best spot in town for a burger is A&W Drive-In (Rte. 7, across from Middlebury transit, 802/388-2876, 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, $3–6), a classic bit of Americana that’s been around for more than 40 years. Park your car near the window, and carhops on rollerblades will fetch you old-fashioned root beer floats in real glass A&W mugs, plus cooked-to-order sandwiches and falafel.

Gourmets and bohemians alike flock to American Flatbread Restaurant (137 Maples St., 802/388-3300, www.americanflatbread.com, 5–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat., $16–19), a funky and artsy wholesale bakery by weekday, an informal restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights. Hand-formed, wood-fired pizzas using all-organic ingredients are the mainstay of the menu; the locally made maple-fennel-sausage pizza with caramelized onions and Vermont mozzarella is alone worth the trip.