THE PARTY PLACE
Donita’s Cantina
330 Elk Ave., Crested Butte, 970-349-6674
Dinner daily, closed after ski season ends
MEXICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: You could almost live on the chips and salsa, and the huge portions of chile-smothered enchiladas and fajitas, paired with a well-mixed margarita, make this a tough place to get into.
WHAT TO GET: Chimichanga.
THE A.M. FUEL-UP
Izzy’s Deli
218 Maroon Ave., Crested Butte, 970-349-5630
Breakfast, lunch Wednesday-Monday, closed Tuesday
DELI, BREAKFAST $
WHY WE LOVE IT: The breads that come with the filling breakfasts are baked on premises, a slim stand-alone that sits along the creek. Homemade soups and sandwiches, along with potato latkes that’ll make your bubbe weep.
WHAT TO GET: The challah French toast.
THE CROWD PLEASER
Slogar Bar & Restaurant
517 Second St., Crested Butte, 970-349-5765
Dinner daily
AMERICAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: An 1882 building that houses an inviting eatery serving hefty platters of skillet-fried chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, rich gravy and fluffy biscuits.
WHAT TO GET: Bigger pants.
THE LOCALS’ FAVORITE
Soupçon
127 Elk Ave., Crested Butte, 970-349-5448
Dinner Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday
FRENCH, $$$-$$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: A lovely log cabin where the new chef sends out contemporary French and American dishes that look like paintings made from butter, cream and fresh herbs.
WHAT TO GET: Foie gras or frog legs.
DURANGO
THE GRANDE DAME
Chez Grand-mère
3 Depot Place, Durango, 970-247-7979
Dinner Tuesday-Saturday
FRENCH, $$$-$$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Step into Grandmother’s house, as it might have been 150 years ago in a coastal French village, when every meal began hours in advance with fresh produce, meat and fish.
WHAT TO GET: Crab cakes.
SITE FOR ALL SEASONS
Cyprus Cafe
725 E. Second Ave., Durango, 970-385-6880
Lunch and dinner daily, closed 2:30-5 p.m.
MEDITERRANEAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Inside can get crowded in that cozy Mediterranean way, where after a few ouzos, everyone’s a pal. The patio opens when warm weather returns and is frequently filled with live jazz.
WHAT TO GET: Salt-roasted duck.
THE RISING SUN
East by Southwest
160 E. College Drive, Durango, 970-247-5533
Lunch Monday-Saturday, dinner daily
JAPANESE, $$-$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The chef/owner lays a cool Latin patina over traditional Japanese dishes. Sushi and sashimi are colorful sculptures; familiar Pacific Rim flavors hobnob with Kobe beef, tea-smoked duck, scallops and foie gras.
WHAT TO GET: Chef’s seven-course tasting menu.
THE BEST BISTRO
Jean-Pierre’s Bakery
and Café
601 Main Ave., Durango, 970-385-0122
Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily
FRENCH, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: This corner bakery/bistro/wine bar is situated in a grand old building with uneven hardwood floors and exposed brick.
WHAT TO GET: Croque madame.
THE LOAFER
Ken & Sue’s
636 Main Ave., Durango, 970-385-1810
Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch
AMERICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The eclectic menu offers something for everyone.
WHAT TO GET: Aunt Lydia’s meatloaf
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
THE LOCALS’ HANGOUT
Juicy Lucy’s Steakhouse
308 Seventh St., Glenwood Springs, 970-945-4619
Lunch and dinner daily
STEAKHOUSE, $$-$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: White linen napkins and rustic atmosphere in a locals’ joint with a terrific wine list and top-notch steaks, burgers and salads. No reservations, so expect a wait. WHAT TO GET: Steak.
THE EGG AND YOU
Rosi’s Little Bavarian
Restaurant
141 W. Sixth St., Glenwood Springs, 970-928-9186
Breakfast Wednesday-Monday, closed Tuesday
GERMAN, BREAKFAST, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: It looks like a little house with murals painted on the outside, and inside is just as cute. Great blueberry pancakes, fresh- baked patries and fresh- squeezed juices, but the egg dishes really shine here. Crazy busy, but that’s no surprise, because this is the best breakfast in town.
WHAT TO GET: Eggs Neptune, poached eggs on English muffins, topped with real crab and hollandaise.
THE HOME FIRE
Tequila’s
132 W. Sixth St., Glenwood Springs, 970-384-1588
Lunch, dinner daily
MEXICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The big, round platters of food look like something your Mamacita would insist you eat when you came home from college all skinny, and the margaritas are made with fresh-squeezed lime juice and top-shelf tequilas. Three kinds of salsa – the spicy really is – come with the chips.
WHAT TO GET: A margarita and a combo plate.
THE PIT STOP
Vicco’s Charcoalburger
Drive-In
51659 Highway 6, Glenwood Springs, 970-945-6652
Lunch, dinner daily
BURGERS, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: So what if it’s kitschy, Vicco’s 1950s-style drive-in burger shop griddles great burgers. and serves ’em on
buttery, toasted buns.
WHAT TO GET: Burger and a chocolate malt
GRAND JUNCTION
THE WORK STATION
Main Street Bagels
Artisan Bakery & Café
559 Main St., Grand Junction, 970-241-2740
Breakfast, lunch daily
BAKERY/DELI, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: Free wifi and fat cinnamon rolls make for a top stop to get some work done. The health-conscious will appreciate the smoothies and a choice of a meat or veggie soup and sandwiches served on their fresh-baked breads mean you can log on right through lunch.
WHAT TO GET: A pecan schnecken, pastry loaded with gooey nuts.
THE REWARD
Rockslide Brewpub
& Restaurant
401 Main St., Grand Junction, 970-245-2111
Lunch, dinner Monday-Saturday; brunch, lunch, dinner Sunday
BREWPUB, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The roomy Rockslide is a great place for a post-hike reward. An ice-cold beer, a vegetable-laden salad and a char-edged steak will do nicely, and if you’ve really worked it hard, a plate of baseball-size, chocolate-drenched profiteroles for dessert.
WHAT TO GET: Prime rib.
PAONIA
THE SURPRISE
The Flying Fork
Bakery and Café
101 Third St., Paonia, 970-527-3203
Lunch, dinner daily, closed
Monday
.
ITALIAN- AMERICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The artisan baked goods are exquisite, home-made soups are heartwarming and chef Kelly Steinmetz clearly knows his way around thin-crust pizza as well as he does red meat, fish and seafood.
WHAT TO GET: Breakfast pastries; for lunch, the grilled lemon-ginger chicken salad; for dinner – either Portobello mushroom, gorgonzola, porcini butter and sage pizza with a salad, or the muscovy duck breast.
TELLURIDE
THE WAKEUP CALL
Café San Sophia
330 W. Pacific Ave., Telluride, 970-728-3001
Breakfast daily, 8 to 10 a.m.
AMERICAN, BREAKFAST, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: A little-
known secret: The San Sophia Inn’s breakfasts are open to the public, and they are delicious. For $13.95 per person, the buffets offers such tempting combinations as egg strata, strawberry smoothies, applewood bacon and homemade eclairs, or buckwheat pancakes with fresh fruit, turkey apricot sausage and peaches and cream mille feuille.
WHAT TO GET: The buffet,
of course.
THE MOTHER LODE
Fat Alley
122 S. Oak St., Telluride, 970-728-3985
Lunch, dinner daily
BARBECUE, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Heaping platters of hickory-smoked everything for a fair price. Sit at one of the communal tables and grab a handful of napkins; you’ll need them for the greasy pork ribs slicked with sweet, sticky sauce. Great bourbon list.
WHAT TO GET: Combo plate with ribs, brisket and sides, including the spicy beans.
THE HIPSTER
Honga’s Lotus Petal
& Tea Rooom
135 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride, 970-728-5134
Dinner daily
ASIAN, $$-$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Top-notch sushi and an extensive vegetarian roster, as well as the best mojitos in a non-Cuban place we’ve ever had, all served in a colorful space.
WHAT TO GET: Try to eat just 10 potstickers.
THE SPLURGE
La Marmotte
150 W. San Juan Ave., Telluride, 970-728-6232
Dinner daily
FRENCH, $$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: A warm, elegant dining room and the best of modern French cuisine awaits after a chilly day on the slopes. The well-chosen wine list is suprisingly divided between France and California, and the staff is adept at helping to select the perfect bottle for the nightly changing menu from chef Mark Reggiannini, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten protégé.
WHAT TO GET: If it’s available, the crispy-skinned roast chicken breast stuffed with brie, tapenade and spinach.
THE PARTY
Las Montañas
100 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, 970-728-5114
Lunch, dinner daily
LATIN, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: The vibrant Las Montañas combines a pan-Latin menu – with dishes that pull from Cuba, Mexico, Peru and New Mexico – with an atmosphere that answers the question, “Where’s the
party?” Snappy margs and housemade tortillas too.
WHAT TO GET: The tortilla-
crusted chile relleno stuffed with corn and cheese.
THE CROWD PLEASER
The Sweet Life
115 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, 970-728-8789
Lunch, dinner daily
AMERICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The Sweet Life belies the idea that resort town restaurants have to be expensive (a BLT for $3.75!). Everything here is made from scratch, including the ice cream, made by co-owner Kenny Rosen, who with Jennifer Hayes has made this cutey diner a locals’ fave.
WHAT TO GET: A burger with a side of deep-fried mac & cheese triangles.
