Pioneer Lakeshore Café

I love stopping by Pioneer Lakeshore Cafe for breakfast and lunch as I pass through Mallets Bay.
I like their waffles and breakfast burrito. In particular I really like the hashbrown. The fried chicken sandwich and BBQ brisket melt are so melt in your mouth good plus the truffle fries. They use fresh ingredients and are attentive to detail. You order at the counter and they bring the food your table promptly. The staff are friendly and the owners are delight to chat with.

Worth dining there as it is filling and a delight to support this local business.

Chicken sandwiches built this brand and it shows. I’ve always said my chicken sandwiches are my favorite and that’s still true. When I don’t feel like making one…. I’ll be going here.

They use chicken thighs. That should be enough for you to go here. Chicken thighs are 1000X better than breast and this sandwich was dripping with flavor. A simple buttermilk and flour fry that locks in moisture while adding crunch. Pickles, lettuce, and Aleppo pepper honey rounded out the umami. The brioche brought the soft sweetness and the mint herb Mayo sealed the deal.

Currently, this is my favorite chicken sandwich in Burlington. Is it to my perfection? No. What would I change? I would do jalapeño or habanero honey to kick up the spice. They don’t bc…. Let’s be fair… it’s a business and there’s a lot of white people in Vermont. I love spice so it’s necessary for me.

The mint Mayo made this my favorite chicken sandwich. I would personally do a pickle brine and then 3 step dreg with Italian breadcrumbs for more crunch and crisp but their method makes way more sense operationally and cost wise. I would still like to see more crunch from the chicken. This might be also achieved by keeping the buttermilk brine, maybe adding pickle juice to it, and subbing the flour with flour and corn meal or even sprinkling rice flour with seasoned flour.

These criticisms are the most minimal. They are all also based on preference. This place is down the road from me and already had a place in my heart. I will be back. OFTEN!

Pioneer Lakeshore Cafe is fantastic in every way! I've been here 2-3x a week since they opened early June and leave very full and happy every single time. It's the perfect spot for a delicious, fresh breakfast or lunch. You can tell that a lot of love and care goes into every dish. Their breakfast always hits the spot, my favorites include the build-your-own breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito. Always get a side of their homemade hash brown! Lunch menu is also a win, offering a variety of reimagined classics. My go-tos are the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Brisket Melt, Fishwich and Smashburger. Besides the food, the owners, Jean-Luc and Lindsay, are so kind! They greet every customer with a smile and take time to get to know you. This place is a gem! Come try it out and see for yourself!

Wonderful, welcoming, and worth a visit! Ed's Cubano sandwich is sublime and the fresh baked desserts are heavenly. Julia was so nice and helpful. We will be back, time and time again! Many thanks 🌞

Stopped in for Sunday brunch, this was our first time.

Very friendly knowledgeable owners who make great food. The hash brown was amazing! I love that they are supporting other local businesses but selling products in their display cases. We will be back to try lunch.

The place is always hoppin’ and service is great. The chef and his crew are top notch, and the front of house is friendly and professional. So welcoming! We love the breakfast plate and GF options. Back for lunch and enjoyed lobster roll, chicken sandwich and surprisingly the Big Pac Burger!

Great price point and quality! Amazing breakfast-so far I’ve made a breakfast sandwich on brioche with all the fixings, breakfast burrito (huge) with bacon and the best hash browns I’ve had in my life.

Finished a hair appointment right next door and decided to drive by Pioneer thinking "no way are they going to still be open at 7:50 pm" I walked in and said I know you are closing soon, do you have anything quick and simple and she(the owner)said absolutely no worries, happy to get you whatever you would like...I asked her what she suggested and she said Fried Chicken Sandwiches are kinda our thing. To that I would say Yes Ma'am they certainly are. So very yummy! I think terrific food tastes even better when it is served by terrific people. You can bet your bottom dollar, I'm going back!

Today was my second visit to Pioneer, and I (and my family) were very, very happy both times! On my first visit I had the pork belly BLT, which doesn’t appear on today’s menu, and my wife had the grilled cheese. Both were amazing (and my wife fancies herself to be a grilled cheese expert)! Today, I got 3 orders of the fried fish sandwich with fries for me, my wife and our daughter. Wow! Does that describe it well enough? The fish portion is very generous, and it was perfectly cooked! The brioche bun was larger than I’m accustomed to getting at Burlington area restaurants, and it had a “wicked good” tartar sauce, fresh lettuce, and crisp pickles…need I say more? Go get it! Tomorrow, that is! Lunch service ends at 3 p.m.

I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to add another review for several weeks and just learned that I can only “update” my first review. I just wanted to let the world know how good Pioneer’s steak sandwiches are - they are the best I’ve had in the Burlington area! The french fries are also among the top 3 on my list!

Lastly, I’m excited to learn that they’ll be open until 8 pm starting on June 1st!

Great food and people. Gluten free options for most dishes. Amazing hashbrowns and fries.