A Burlington restaurant’s final service
Bluebird Barbecue, a restaurant known for slow-smoked meats in Burlington, Vermont, has closed after more than a decade in business. The restaurant served its final customers on Halloween, with curbside takeout available until closing time as part of a last sendoff for the establishment.
The closure concerns the Vermont city of Burlington, rather than Burlington, Ont. Bluebird had operated at 317 Riverside Ave. since 2012, building its reputation around brisket, pulled pork and other barbecue dishes prepared over long cooking times. Its end marks the departure of a restaurant that had become part of the city’s dining scene and a gathering place for customers who returned for its distinctive menu.
“It's time for Bluebird to say goodbye,” owner Sue Bette said in a release.
Bette said the restaurant would have continued if circumstances had allowed, but that the conditions were no longer suitable for the business to operate as it had. The owner also thanked the people who had worked at Bluebird over the years, crediting their skill, creativity and care in creating a place for customers to meet and celebrate.
A menu built around long-smoked food
Bluebird’s cooking centred on meat prepared over extended periods. Brisket was smoked for as long as 15 hours, then used in meals that ranged from traditional barbecue plates to more unusual combinations. One of the restaurant’s larger offerings, called the “Family Reunion,” brought together a substantial selection of its smoked meats.
- Hickory-smoked brisket and pulled pork formed the foundation of the menu.
- House offerings included maple-based sauce and pulled-pork poutine.
- The restaurant also served pitmaster ramen made with smoked brisket burnt ends.
Those dishes reflected Bluebird’s effort to put a regional spin on American barbecue staples. The menu paired the restaurant’s smokehouse approach with ingredients and formats associated with other comfort-food traditions, including poutine and Japanese-style noodle soup.
Television appearance added to profile
Bluebird’s pitmaster ramen drew wider attention in 2020, when television personality and chef Guy Fieri visited the restaurant for the Food Network program Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The dish combined the crisp, richly flavoured ends of smoked brisket with ramen broth and noodles, helping showcase the restaurant beyond its regular customer base.
For the final service, customers were offered the opportunity to order from the restaurant for curbside pickup rather than dining in for a last meal. The limited closing-day arrangement provided a final chance to buy the food that had defined Bluebird’s identity since it opened, while also giving patrons a way to mark the restaurant’s departure.
End of an established local business
Bette and the Bluebird staff did not provide further comment beyond the announcement, according to the source. The release instead focused on the restaurant’s history and the people who helped operate it. No successor business or future use for the Riverside Avenue location was identified in the available information.
| Business | Bluebird Barbecue |
|---|---|
| Location | 317 Riverside Ave., Burlington, Vermont |
| Opened | 2012 |
| Final service | Halloween, 2026 |
The closing leaves behind a business whose identity was closely tied to patient preparation, smoked meat and an unconventional menu. For Burlington, Vermont, customers, the final curbside service brought an end to a 14-year run. For readers in Burlington, Ontario, the story is a reminder to distinguish the two cities: the restaurant closure reported here took place south of the border and is not connected to the Halton-region community.
