Vail Food Scene Soars to New Heights

Golfers have been known to ski a little too; Vail has much to offer

By John Lehndorff

Vail is a little like Cher, Oprah and Taylor – so famous that a one-word name says it all. Internationally, skiers and boarders have “Vail” etched on their alpine bucket lists. For serious foodies, “Vail” means prime dining time in the Colorado mountains.

In the spring and fall, Vail and Beaver Creek get quiet and eateries shut down or reduce hours. Most are open in the summer, too. From November to March – while the celebrated champagne powder slopes are open, the all-star chefs are in the fully staffed kitchens to feed the hungry multitudes.

The Vail Valley – including Avon, Edwards and Minturn – has undergone a post-pandemic culinary revival including Michelin Guide honors. Most of Vail’s familiar dining icons like Matsuhisa and ski-in Beano’s Cabin (which boasts a fresh new menu) are still thriving. However, diners are flocking to refreshing newcomers ranging from chef Richard Sandoval’s Stoke & Rye, a Colorado-inspired grill, in Avon, to health-inspired Wild Sage feeding the needs of highly active skiers, golfers and hikers up the valley in Eagle.

The I-70 corridor towns are packed with dozens of eateries from fine dining to fast casual. To figure out where to grab some truly memorable meals, Colorado AvidGolfer consulted local insiders to answer the single most important question facing visiting couples, families and groups of friends:

“Where do you want to eat tonight?”

Kim Fuller has had a reserved table during Vail’s roller coaster dining evolution. “It’s exciting to see locals opening up these new establishments, and chefs come out with these amazing menus,” says Fuller, editor-in-chief of Vail’s Covered Bridge magazine. She has written about local fare for more than a decade.

A one-of-a-kind high end immersive eatery on Vail’s Solaris Plaza is grabbing a lot of attention. “Chasing Rabbits has a super fun entertainment focus. You can sit down for a Mediterranean dinner then go down the rabbit hole and enjoy an arcade or the Prohibition-style nightclub. So, it’s great for families and also for late night dinner. It’s definitely unique to Vail,” Fuller says.

The right bites for very picky visitors

Ashley Rasnick has built a career as a concierge property manager. She helps some very picky guests find exactly what they desire including where to eat based on their likes and dislikes. However, as a working person living in a pricey place like Vail, she also knows where to find good deals on great food and drink.

“Many of our guests always try to get into top restaurants like Matsuhisa, Mountain Standard and also Hooked in Beaver Creek for seafood. If they can get reservations, they always report having great meals. I tell them there are many restaurants in the Valley where they can get a table and it’s not so expensive,” she says. An added plus in the towns of Avon, Edwards, Minturn and Eagle-Vail is easy access of I-70 and a precious rarity – free parking.

“Italian” or “pizza” is often the answer to that big dining question, a cuisine where diverse tastes and diets can reach culinary if not political consensus. “Vail Village has fine dining Italian at La Nonna, but there’s also Alpine Pizza Company, a new take-out place in Lionshead that has good pan-style pizza. An old favorite is Vendettas – we go there for a slice after skiing,” Rasnick says.

Outside of Vail, Avon’s recently launched Fattoria is focused on rustic pasta dishes while the new Il Mago in Edwards is dishing artisan wood-fired sourdough pizzas made with organic flour. Ristorante Ti Amo in Eagle-Vail has a dedicated following for everything from panini to pasta puttanesca. “Ti Amo is dependable and very popular. They just opened a second location in Eagle,” Rasnick says.

Yes, Affordable dining in the vail valley!

Meals that won’t break the bank are available if you know where to look. “If we get done skiing or mountain biking anywhere from Vail to Eagle, we make our way to Rocky Mountain Taco, a local taco truck chain that has a bunch of locations. The one at the Vail Brewing Company tasting room in Eagle-Vail is near the golf courses. That’s where you’ll see a lot of locals stop for a beer and good Mexican food,” Kim Fuller says.

Avon also offers good bang for the buck in dining. “At Pho 20 you can get a huge bowl of Vietnamese noodles and broth big enough to share at the bar,” she says. You can even find cheaper eats in Vail Village. “My favorite place in to eat in Vail Village is El Segundo. They have excellent tacos and margaritas. Any time my friends or family visit Vail, we go there during happy hour,” Rasnick says.

Apres is everything in vail

“Apres” may be the single most cherished word in the Vail Valley and the state’s other ski towns. More than just a French-accented happy hour, apres is a  state of mind in this part of the state of Colorado.

“It’s post-golf, post-work, post-shopping but before dinner. Basically, it’s apres everything,” says Fuller.

The appropriately named Apres Cafe at the Vail Racquet Club in East Vail fits that late-afternoon mood, Fuller says. It’s a family-friendly place with well-made burgers, pizzas and cocktails.

Apres experts agree that one must-see destination for late-day drinks and snacks is The Remedy, the classy bar upstairs at the Four Seasons.

“The Remedy is easy to recommend. You sit outside around these big firepits with a great view. One of the best treats is a mug of their signature hot chocolate,” Ashley Resnick says.

Whiskey lovers know that the Four Seasons is also home to the Scottish-inspired Speyside Cafe, famous for a huge selection of Macallan single malts. Many of the same visitors also stroll to the 10th Mountain Distillery Tasting Room to sample award-winning Colorado spirits.

Two consensus apres favorites are located in Edwards. “The Drunken Goat is really wonderful for paninis and charcuterie boards with a good happy hour,” Rasnick says.

Nearby, Craftsman Brew Co. in its newly expanded quarters was made post-slope gatherings, according to Fuller. “Craftsman is a fun sit-down gastropub with lots of hearty, yummy options with a big menu of small plates,” she says.

The old is the new again in Minturn 

The most charming of the towns on I-70 around Vail is Minturn which has become a dinner destination.

For decades the centerpiece of the community was the historic Minturn Saloon, known for cold beer, hot enchiladas and a decidedly funky mountain atmosphere. After a total renovation, the establishment, originally built in 1901, has made a comeback.

“The owners have reopened and reimagined the Minturn Saloon. It’s the same style of cuisine but very elevated,” Kim Fuller says. Fresh on the menu are dishes like birria tacos and pork cheek tostadas.

Down the street, a meaty tradition is maintained at the golf course-free Minturn Country Club. “We’ll go there when the family visits because it’s a cool experience. They get to cook their own steaks if they want to,” Rasnick says.

Minturn’s other Mexican cuisine attractions include the brick-and-mortar flagship location of Rocky Mountain Taco. “We go to the Mexican Bar and Grill two or three times a month. Their salsas are truly phenomenal,” she says.

Before you leave the town, make a stop at Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea. The roaster tucked away in a small business park offers fresh roasted beans, a serious tea selection and coffee cupping sessions can be scheduled with a master roaster in its tasting room.

Wake Up and Smell the Bagels

Fueling for the slopes may require something more inspirational that the same-old scrambled egg buffet the hotels put out. Instead, locals recommend a handful of places worth braving Vail’s early morning chill.

Topping the short list of a.m. spots everyone recommends is The Village Bagel with locations in Edwards and Gypsum. “They make everything by hand. It’s about as East Coast as you can get out here,” says Ashley Resnick.

For fresh tastes, the must-visit choice is Hovey & Harrison, a combination cafe, bakery and market in Edwards. “Hover and Harrison is the best, especially for baked goods. It’s a wonderful place to meet for breakfast and lunch or get cookies and pastries to go,” Kim Fuller says.

Avon’s Northside Kitchen has a split personality. It’s a cafe that dishes maple bacon doughnuts and house-baked English muffins by day and transforms into a sit-down bistro by night complete with an extensive wine list.

Other morning spots include East Vail’s West Side Cafe, the brunch-y Vintage in Vail Village, Avon’s kitschy Route 6 Cafe & Lounge and the Columbine Cafe & Bakery offering quiche Lorraine to apple strudel. Lunch at the latter spot always includes dessert.

Finally, those feeling golf-deprived can work up a high-altitude sweat skiing the course at the Vail Nordic Center, the winter resident at the public Vail Golf Club. The Grill on the Gore is famous for its comfy soup, chili and cornbread buffet with all the fixings and many beer choices.

Vail’s great gastronomic upgrade is far from done. Iron Chef America” star chef Makoto Okuwa has announced that he will debut a high-end sushi bar in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Vail hotel at the end of January.

 

More from John Lehndorff

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Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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John Lehndorff is the former dining critic for the Rocky Mountain News. He can be reached at [email protected].