On October 11, 2017

Neal’s Restaurant and Bar moves in

By Stephen Seitz

PROCTORSVILLE—Since Sept. 22, a new restaurant has appeared on Route 106 in Proctorsville: Neal’s Restaurant and Bar has opened. Neal’s takes over from what had been Table 19.

“We decided to go for a soft opening,” said proprietor and Perkinsville resident Neal Baron. “We just put the flag out. Word of mouth is our greatest asset. We had more than 80 people in here last night.”

Neal’s is very much a family run business. Baron and his fiancee, Elizabeth Leninski, are partners in the venture. Both Baron’s mother and his son work there, too. In the kitchen is executive chef Christopher Vincent, aided by sous chef Steve Gross.

“I’ve gone out of my way to make them happy, and they are great,” he said. “My mother is a hostess,” he added. “This is all very new to her.”

“I was lucky enough to have a financial backer, if I found the right place,” he said.

Baron said it was his understanding that the previous owners, Joe and Katherine Turner, sold the business for personal reasons. Baron has kept the original layout. “Their eye for design is just amazing,” he said. “I’m no good at that.”

Neal’s serves American pub fare, with a New England flair – lobster rolls, buttermilk sea scallops, pulled pork and slow cooked brisket, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and much more.

Baron said he hopes to cater to a local clientele and keep his food affordable. Except for the oysters, everything on the menu can be ordered to go, and there are children’s portions as well.

Baron uses local farms and businesses for much of his fare: beef from Boyden Farms, produce from Black River Produce, and Vermont craft beer on tap. “We’re balancing sourcing locally with sourcing for consistency,” he said.

Baron said he hopes the word will get out through satisfied customers telling the people they know.

There are still a few things that need doing, Baron said. To get to the restaurant, you have to take the driveway by the adjacent building, and then turn left to get to Neal’s.

Looking down the road, Baron said he’d like to include a catering service. He hasn’t made up his mind whether to have live music. “We’ll re-evaluate that in the summer,” he said.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Ice fishing fest reels in hundreds for frozen fun in Barnard

February 5, 2025
By Ekaterina Raikhovski Editor’s note: This story is via a partnership with Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship Christian Poupart grew up in Contrecoeur, Quebec, a small city where “there’s more people on the ice during the winter than in the village.” But even people like Poupart, who’s been ice fishing his…

Rudolph Michael, 86

February 5, 2025
Rudolph “Rudi” Michael passed away on Jan. 20. A free and uninhibited spirit, Rudi was a jester and mentor to a large circle of close and devoted friends, young and old, who join in remembering him for his generosity and his rascally humor. Rudi was born July 1, 1938, in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the second…

RRMC unveils first Mamava Lactation Pod in Rutland County

February 5, 2025
Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) installed the first Mamava Lactation Pod in Rutland County on Jan. 27, offering a private and accessible space for nursing parents. The state-of-the-art pod is located on the main level near the Allen Street entrance and accessible via the Mamava app. The initiative began in September 2024 when a new…

Rutland’s library is old, outdated so why is upgrading proving to be so challenging?

February 5, 2025
By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger Seeking an epic story? The Rutland Free Library can offer Homer’s “The Odyssey,” a sprawling saga of angry gods and mythical monsters. Or J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” a page-turner rife with man-eating trolls and boulder-throwing giants. Or J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, a seven-part crusade against an evil wizard and a deadly curse.…