Oh! Randolph (VT)

A Dazzling Breakfast in Slab City...

pile o’ taters. A gluten free option that tasted every bit as rich as any big breakfast diner offering.

When my son suggested a place in Randolph for breakfast, I raised an eyebrow. He lives in White River Junction. I live in Sharon. Looking to the northern fringes of the Upper Valley for a Saturday morning meal just hasn’t been something we’ve tried. Our food forays have been more central-Upper Valley centric, our gastronomic habits more driven by ease of access, but today, oh, today. Oh!, Randolph. You dazzled.

Try Wit & Grit for your next breakfast outing. You won’t be disappointed. From the lovely morning greetings and smiles from all the staff, to some rather sumptuous food — not your run-of-the-mill fare — this little nook won’t disappoint. It’s more than an above-average breakfast. It’s really quite good.

An intoxicating menu (breakfast & lunch), including breakfast beverages!

My son had the pile o’taters, which he devoured with gusto. Even for a tall guy, there was plenty to fill him up from its deep, square bowl. Generously piled tater tots smothered in cheese, bacon, bell peppers, pickled jalapenos, wit & grit house sauce ("something deliciously garlic aoili’ish, he told me), house salsa fresca, topped with an over-easy egg. He remarked that the taters were wonderfully light, and they didn’t taste of a deep frier.

burrito got back. This one was for me. I loved it — and they had my favorite hot sauce!

I’m never able to resist a breakfast burrito, so I had the burrito got back. Heaven. That’s about a much as I need to say about it. Okay, I’ll say it again. Heaven.

Here’s what the menu has to say: scrambled eggs with cheese, taters, house salsa fresca, wit & grit house sauce (no idea what’s in it except, well, heaven), and choice of bacon, sausage, or both (why choose? I had both!). This might have been the best breakfast burrito I’ve had — and I’ve had dozens, or more accurately, dozens of dozens. They’d infused the underbelly of the shell with a grilled cheese, slightly browned on the bottom. Really yummy.

An unassuming little storefront on Merchants Row in downtown Randolph. A little wit, not much grit, and plenty of good fare. Open Friday - Monday, 7 am - 2 pm. Dine-in and take-out.

At 8 am, we were among just a few diners in a cavernous space, but the place had filled up by 9 am when we left. Service was excellent. Coffee was more than good. I was happy to be able to look into the kitchen — a nod to transparency by the chef that I always find refreshing. And co-owner, Hannah, was zealous in her desire to make sure we had everything we needed. Coffee was refilled regularly, and they even had Tapatio, one of my favorite hot sauces to add a bit of spice to the morning.

Here’s the view of the dining room, with a big bar for fun while eating.

An easy view from our table into a glistening kitchen.

What more is there to say other than “ya gotta try this place” the next time you’re looking for breakfast out. They offer lunch, too, so maybe that’ll be our next dining foray. I’m sure we won’t be disappointed. Oh! Randolph, you’ve captured our hearts and palates.

A view from under the bridge. Slab City. Did you know this term derives from towns that grew up around sawmills? There were once nine slab cities in Vermont. The original slabs of wood with bark discarded after cutting and processing that piled up around the sawmills is how the name came into being.

My son and I wandered around downtown Randolph after breakfast. There’s plenty going on, from The Gear House, a good bike shop, to a barber, and a great little bagel spot called Wee Bird Bagel Cafe where we each bought a few bagels to take home. We also wandered through Chef’s Market which, surprise, surprise, also serves breakfast, and it smelled delightful. Maybe that’ll be our next breakfast outing. Though I think any place will be hard pressed to top today’s meal at wit & grit. Oh!, Randolph. You delight.

Dave Celone, VP of alumni relations & development at Vermont Law and Graduate School, writes from Sharon, VT, where he’s thinking about his next delicious meal in an as-yet-undiscovered spot in Vermont. What fun!