The Simon Pearce Gallery (I would not call it a store) and restaurant, in picturesque Quechee, Vermont, expresses one of the many aspects of Vermont: understated elegance, with the beauty of nature the dominant force, along with an open, inviting, sensible sophistication.

The building, which housed a woolen mill for decades, is situated beside a weir that was made to generate waterpower. When it was first built, direct waterpower turned shafts to power the mill. Now, the waterpower generates electricity, and, if you follow the signs, you can go down to the room that houses the generator.

The Simon Pearce Glassworks is known not only for hand blown glass, but also handmade pottery, both of which are being made in studios downstairs from the restaurant. The artists/craftspeople are friendly and happily answered questions from the onlookers. There was no pressure to buy anything although everything is for sale. In the upstairs retail space there are products from other artists along with everything from Simon Pearce.

Visually, the restaurant has the same ambiance as the rest of the facility. The food and the service keep up with the appearance. Our diminutive waitress, Sue Darling, (she said that was her real name) was perfect as was the salad, quiche, butternut squash soup and Vermont cheddar cheese soup we had for lunch. Incidentally, we wanted not to eat so much, so I told Sue that we would share the plate with the quiche and salad. Without our asking, she had the cook put the order on two plates, and it was absolutely enough for us. Our time there was very enjoyable, relaxed, and if I am ever back in that place, I would definitely revisit the Simon Pearce Gallery and Restaurant.