Remember that episode of the TV skit show, “Portlandia,” where the couple has so many questions about the provenance of their dinner that they embark on a trip to the farm before eating? Today, the fictional “Aliki Farms” might just have the restaurant on-site.
Here in Colorado, there are a few places where diners can go to a restaurant situated on a farm or ranch, and it makes for a memorable and scenic meal. This is different from a “farm dinner,” where a long table is placed in a field (or other scenic spot near where the meal is sourced) because there is the infrastructure of a kitchen and indoor dining is also an option.
As you plan out a summer road trip or special occasion, add one of these farm restaurants to the agenda — or make one the reason you head to the area.
When choosing to dine at a restaurant on an organic farm, you are also supporting a local business with roots in the community.
Southwestern Colorado
Driving north from downtown Durango towards Purgatory Ski Resort on Highway 550, be sure to stop at the for dinner before you go for a soak at the Durango Hot Springs just down the road.
James Ranch Grill describes itself as “table on the farm” because its seasonal menu is mainly sourced from James Ranch. The 400-acre ranch is home to cattle, chickens and pigs that are grass-fed. They also grow their own vegetables and rely on local farmers for what they don’t grow themselves here. Order a grass-fed burger with their freshly made J/R Belford cheese on top. Wine and beer is from Colorado makers, too. (But try the root beer; it’s amazing.)
While waiting for your meal, you can visit with the pet goats that are kept nearby or wander a garden path while you gaze across the fields towards the cliffs in the distance. Where you sit will depend on the season — either outside at a picnic table on the terraced lawn or inside by the fireplace where large windows still let you take in the view.
No reservations taken; this is a fast-casual place where you take your chance on how busy it might be when you show up throughout the year, then order at the window before finding your seat with a view.
If you live nearby or have a cooler in your car for the return trip, stop in their on-site market to buy their grass-fed beef and artisan cheese. Depending on the season, you’ll find a bounty of other fresh and packaged foods available in this market.
Over in Hotchkiss, just outside of Paonia, the includes a restaurant that is open seasonally (specifically as of April 22). The 36-acre organic farm grows grapes for wine, peaches, apples, a variety of flowers and vegetables, and they also raise chickens, pigs, and Scottish Highland cows.
The small restaurant feels nearly surrounded by the farm. Depending on the time of day and the season, guests might be sitting in the shadow of giant sunflowers while a rooster crows nearby, or appreciate the freshly picked garden flowers decorating the table while they sip a Mesa Winds Chardonnay and listen to the bleating of the sheep.
Reservations are strongly recommended here for an upscale dinner or Sunday brunch. The menu changes as the garden grows and more foods come in season.
Western Slope
After years of using the decadent Lavender Body Butter, I made a detour as I was driving through Grand Junction to see their shop surrounded by lavender fields. And then I drove by because there was a distillery there. I circled back. In an unexpected twist, these businesses are partners: a distillery and a food trailer are nestled into the midst of the lavender fields.
At the lavender farm, there are 11 varieties of these fragrant flowers and over 1,000 plants, all made into appealing body care, home decor, and culinary items. Out back behind the
shop, you’ll find the Highlands Distillery Yurt Bar and the Picnic Food Trailer. This is a casual place with pizzas and sandwiches available and outdoor seating in the summer months where hanging red umbrellas create shade on a hot summer’s day.
There is at least one drink on the menu made with lavender syrup and garnish, and seasonally the local peaches are used for specialty drinks, too. No reservations needed here.
Front Range
You may have seen Boulder’s Black Cat Farmstead selling goods at the Boulder County Farmer’s Market, but what might be a surprise is the dinners that are served at their 500-acre farm.
Out at the in Longmont, guests can book a dinner inside one of their “garden cabanas,” charming windowed structures that allow you to sit amid the splendor of the farm while indoors. Woodstoves keep these intimate spaces cozy during cold nights. Reservations are required for the four-course meal; each “cabana” (they look like little greenhouses) can hold up to seven guests.
The farm’s restaurant, , is just off Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall. Here, they serve three-course dinners by reservation and on select Wednesdays there is a monthly Harvest Dinner (formerly called Dirt Dinners) that highlights one seasonal ingredient in four courses. Bramble & Hare has caught the attention of the Michelin folks, earning a Green Star for making strides in sustainability in the industry.
