My boyfriend and I will be staying at the Ritz Carlton in Beaver Creek in June for 4 nights, and I am trying to decide on restaurants to make reservations. We want a nice atmosphere, good food and good service. So many I am considering have such mixed reviews. I definitely want to to go Splendido. I am also considering:
Toscanini
Beaver Creek Chophouse
Spago
Beano's Cabin
Mirabelle
La Tour
Grouse Mountain
Terra Bistro
Sweet Basil
Elway's
Does anyone have any suggestions?
OK, I'll try a first pass and hope DDavis jumps in:
Toscanini - Now run by Richard Sandoval of Mayan which he currently installing at the Westin
Beaver Creek Chophouse - OK, I'd do the Golden Eagle instead
Spago - Library quiet
Beano's Cabin - Venue is better than food
Mirabelle - I like a lot for couples dining
La Tour - Very Good
Grouse Mountain - Almost as good as Spendido
Terra Bistro - Sit at bar and do wine & apps
Sweet Basil - Still best in Valley
Elway's - Why?
Juniper - A good upscale and all locals
Zino's - Like everything but the wine list
Dish - Locals fine dining
Food by Marc - Seasons Building (used to be called the Dark Star when Vail Resorts was HQ'ed there) in Avon.
If you are here early in June, things will be slow. Except in Vail during the GoPro (use to be Teva) games.
Thank you!
I've already decided to skip Beaver Creek Chophouse, Beano's Cabin and Elway's. I live in Texas, and we have lots of good steakhouses.
The concierge recommended Sweet Basil too and said he thought Ti Amo had the best Italian in Vail Valley.
Blue Ox is, as always, spot on. You can't get better food advice in the Eagle Valley than what you will get from him.
If I had four dinners, I would choose Splendido and Grouse Mountain in Beaver Creek and Larkspur and Sweet Basil in Vail.
More affordable, but still excellent food, Ti Amo, Golden Eagle Inn and Dish.
I had not heard about Sandoval's running Toscanini. Still called that and still Italian? What happened to Cima at the Westin? How is Mayan?
Food by Marc is a new one for me. What's the skinny?
Thank you! I'm definitely doing Splendido and Grouse Mountain.
I'm considering Sweet Basil, Ti Amo (because it's Italian) and Mirabelle.
I'd also like to try Swiss Chalet at Sonnenalp because of the fondue options, and the concierge recommended it.
Any thoughts on these last 4?
Love Grouse Mountain..
Ritz is fab and make sure you have wine and apps at Anderson's cabin..
Looks like you have the “fine dining” down. Start thinking about “casual dining” which is where the I think the discoveries in the Valley are: Mountain Standard, Golden Eagle, Café Milano and Marc’s (also a caterer who does great food (http://www.foodandwinebymarc.com/), plus Kevin Furtado works with him). Kevin is the best wine guy in the Valley, he built the wine cellar at Larkspur.
If you are going to do any outdoor stuff, get a sandwich from Avon Bakery, one sand feeds two. As for the Sonnenalp, their “Bully Ranch” is where I go for a good al fresco lunch.
Ti Amo is a very friendly place in a strip shopping area, I like Zino’s better for Italian. But this Valley does new American well, ethnic not so well.
DD, Maya at the Westin is going to open in June. Their ads say “New York, Dubai & Beaver Creek” (please). Toscanini was supposed to be converted to a Mexico City style place, but hasn't happen, so maybe that deal is off.
' Their ads say “New York, Dubai & Beaver Creek” (please). '
Ha ha ha
Too bad it's not "New York, Dubai & Red Cliff""
Thanks! I'll check out the restaurants you mentioned.
These look good, especially Zino. You think the food is better than Ti Amo? I think the atmosphere would be nicer, especially on the patio by the river.
de-lurking to say....
We were up in Avon for the weekend. Based on the recommendations in this thread we chose Golden Eagle for Saturday night dinner and Sweet Basil for a long, late Sunday lunch. Both were excellent.
I loved Golden Eagle and I would eat there again in a heart beat. The duck liver brulee is out of this world and I pretty much licked my buffalo tri-tip plate clean. The tri-tip came with grilled zucchini and corn flapjacks and was topped with a ramp pesto. Holy cow! Yum!!! My gin/elder flower/cucumber/mint cocktail was also outstanding. I feel like I'm never surprised by cocktails anymore and most are too sweet or too bright, but this one had a beautiful balance of juniper and cool flavors and it had the confidence to let the alcohol stand on its own (as opposed to trying to mask or hide it).
Sweet Basil must have the nicest lunch spot in Vail. We sat on the back patio looking over the river, watching the children play. The food was beautifully plated. The service was excellent. I loved the watermelon gazpacho and the steak tar tar. The trout was a little too mild for my taste, but I like food with strong flavors. The molten chocolate tart was excellent but the popcorn ice cream that was served with it was to die for. If you have a chance to try it, don't pass it up.
Thanks for the good advice. I look forward to getting back up to the Vail Valley and trying more great restaurants.
Did delainefoss make it to Eagle County in June? Reports would be appreciated!
@blueox
Hi there - I'm staying in beaver creek next month and will be on a big family vacation (lots of kids). I'm a foodie but need to find a place for an early dinner that isn't too fine dining and can handle kids. Any recommendations?
If you are staying in the Beav and don't have a vehicle, then its some place in the Village. We had bad service and not good food at the Chophouse last spring. The locals hit the Coyote after skiing, its fun. Dial-a-ride (free van service) stays in the Beav. If they will take you to Vista in Arrowhead, that might work. Taking transportation to the Beav entrance, you can walk across the Eagle River to Box Car, still one of our go to places. I like the bar area better than the dining room. Northside in Avon would work well for a group, good prices, good food and kind of slow service.
Hey!! I just realized this post is over 3 yrs old. Going to BC tomorrow and also debating between Splendido, Mirabelle and Grouse Mountain Grill.
Do you remember what you liked best?? Made reservations at Grouse for xmas over 3 months ago but curious on the rest. I am also from Texas and love steak so have a rve at the Ritz new steakhouse WYld where Spago used to be. Any recommendations?
Haven't found steakhouse meat that compares with Chamberlain's in Dallas or Gene & Georgettes in Chicago, up here. I haven't been to Elways at the Lodge in Vail, it might be good. Local places don't do the long, dry aging that makes great steaks. Mirabelle is good Belgium food updated to new American. I like the setting at Grouse better than Splendido. Also, David Wolford is no longer the chef/owner at Splendido...he was pushed out by the folks running the Chateau.
Everything they have tried to do at the Bachelor Gulch Ritz has been "kind of stop gap". Times I've been the place, it has no energy.
We have been back to Juniper in Edwards several times and seem to be very good now. If you can be sure of getting a table in the back, they are more comfortable. For fun and funky (not steaks) try the Rose in Edwards or French 75 wine bar.
Thanks so much for the suggestions. We live in Houston and love Pappas which i believe also have in DAllas. I used to travel frequently for work to Dallas and my all time favorite was Al Bernaits...
Thanks again!!
There is a craft butcher (http://www.coloradomeatcompany.com/) across the street from City Market in Avon. The do aged meat and I think might be supply some of the local places. Check their web site and see if Chris will tell which ones.
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