Matterhorn Brings Pizza Sushi and Après-Ski Energy to Stowe

A wood-oven pizza and a platter of sushi are not the usual opening act at the same table, but Matterhorn has made that combination a central part of its appeal near Stowe and Smugglers' Notch. This is a broad-shouldered, rustic restaurant built for the point in the day when skiing, hiking, driving the mountain roads, or simply being outside has left everybody ready for dinner.

The setting gives the place more character than a standard roadside bar. Inside, the mood is distinctly après-ski, with booths, high tables, bar seats and an entertainment-minded dining room. Outside, patio and covered seating near a small stream brings trees, flowing water and wooded views into the meal.

Matterhorn’s menu works particularly well when a table has competing ideas about what sounds good. Pizza is a major draw, but it shares space with sushi rolls, sashimi, poke, burgers, lobster dishes, appetizers and substantial bar-restaurant entrées.

That range makes ordering feel less like choosing a lane. One person can settle in with a pizza, another can go for sushi, and somebody who has been thinking about a burger all afternoon does not have to be talked into a roll just because the rest of the table is ordering fish.

The mix also makes it easy to treat dinner as a spread rather than a sequence of individual plates. Start with a few things for the middle, add a large pizza, then bring in sushi as the table decides it needs one more round.

The pizzas are known for crisp, flavorful crusts and generous proportions. A large wood-oven pie can comfortably be shared by two people, making it a useful anchor for a table that plans to sample from several parts of the menu.

The Mediterranean pizza has been a notable choice for its fresh-tasting vegetables and lively flavor combinations. Chicken pesto pizza is another familiar, satisfying option when the table wants something more substantial.

There is a small family-friendly practicality here, too: a slice can be cut into two pieces for children. It is not a grand gesture, but it suits a restaurant where parents, skiers still in their base layers, local regulars and hungry visitors may all be seated within view of one another.

Sushi is not a token add-on at Matterhorn. The menu includes rolls, à la carte sushi, sashimi and poke, with both recognizable standards and more playful specialties.

Among the more distinctive roll ideas are krab-rangoon-style rolls, mango rolls and a cheekily named Viagra roll. These are the sort of choices that give a group something to point at, discuss and add to the order almost on impulse.

At least one sushi preparation has arrived with a small flame or tabletop cooking effect, adding a little theater to dinner. It is best regarded as an occasional flourish rather than something to expect with every order, but it fits the restaurant’s energetic side.

The starters offer plenty of ways to delay the main-course decision. Pork dumplings and chili Thai wings are popular choices for a shared table, while ahi tuna nachos bring the pizza-and-sushi idea together in appetizer form.

There are plenty of dishes for diners who want something squarely in comfort-food territory. The menu includes burgers, a Vermont cheesesteak, lobster rolls, lobster salad and a 12-ounce New York strip steak.

Truffle fries show up alongside some dishes, with the truffle flavor kept restrained rather than turning the whole plate into a perfume counter. That is a small but welcome detail for anyone who likes the idea of truffle fries more than an overwhelming dose of truffle oil.

Dessert stays happily uncomplicated. Chocolate cake, chocolate confusion cake and Maine whoopie pies give the table a few easy ways to finish without changing the restaurant’s casual, generous spirit.

A whoopie pie makes particular sense after a meal built around sharing. It is the sort of dessert that can be passed around for a few bites while someone studies the beer list and decides that dinner may not be over quite yet.

Matterhorn’s beer list includes a variety of beers on tap, and the broader drink selection suits the bar’s long-running après-ski role. This is a place where a drink can be a prelude to dinner, an accompaniment to a pizza, or the reason a meal stretches a little longer.

Look above the bar and you may notice a local tradition: regulars can have personal mugs displayed there. It is an appealingly old-fashioned bit of bar identity, one that helps explain how the room can feel welcoming to visitors without losing its local footing.

A stage in the interior is used for live music or performances, and the volume can rise considerably when a band starts. On those nights, Matterhorn becomes more social and more animated; on a quieter visit, the stream-side and back-room seating can offer a calmer counterpoint.

The seating options are unusually varied for a casual mountain-area restaurant: booths, bar seating, high tables, a private dining room, patio or terrace tables, and areas looking toward the woods and moving water. The covered patio beside the stream is especially appealing when outdoor conditions cooperate.

Stream-side tables are among the most sought-after seats, so it is worth requesting that area when making a reservation. Outdoor seating has accommodated diners with a dog, though that should not be treated as a blanket policy for every visit.

Matterhorn can handle large parties, including groups around 15, and its pizza-sushi-burger range makes it a practical choice for families and mixed-age gatherings. Reservations are recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings, holidays, ski-season visits and larger groups; some weeknights can be less difficult.

There is a free on-site parking lot with generally ample space, though it can fill during particularly busy periods. Families should also know that the room has an adult-oriented bar character in some of its décor, even as the menu and portions remain very approachable for kids.