Delicious Dining Destinations in Aspen
It’s not difficult to find a restaurant in Aspen, Colorado, but it is difficult—in a town with so many options—to decide where to eat. Thankfully, restaurants are held to a high standard in Aspen, where residents and visitors have elevated expectations of both their food and service.
We recently visited Aspen for a little skiing, shopping, and Wintersköl—and of course, we ate a lot. Here are three different restaurants serving up delicious fare in Aspen, Colorado.
Photo courtesy Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop
Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop
319 E. Hopkins
The simple name of this restaurant accurately describes their food. Meat & Cheese serves up meats and cheeses beautifully and simply plated, and it’s often locally sourced.
While meat and cheese boards are the stars here, there are other scrumptious items on the menu, as well. Their rotisserie chicken was the best I’ve ever eaten, and you don’t have to take my word for it. It’s become a popular take-home item for locals looking for a delicious and easy Sunday evening meal.
Ryan’s favorite was the evening special of Taiwanese braised ribs with fish, bourbon, and honey seasoning. I paired my meal with wine, while Ryan ordered the jalapeno- and pineapple-infused tequila margarita, recently voted Best Margarita in Aspen.
Founded by the owners of Avalanche Cheese Company located down-valley from Aspen in Basalt, Meat & Cheese is doing their part in spreading the news about the tastiness of simple, farm-fresh food. And they're spreading the news through providing great food that inspires conversation. I know that Ryan and I will be talking about our Meat & Cheese dining experience for a very long time.
Photo courtesy of Home Team BBQ
Home Team BBQ
Inside the Inn at Aspen
38750 Hwy 82
South Carolina barbecue has arrived in Aspen, Colorado, and the locals couldn’t be happier about it.
Aspen restaurateur, Chris Lanter, executive chef and co-owner of Cache Cache in downtown Aspen, opened Home Team just a month ago. This is Home Team’s first restaurant outside of Charleston, South Carolina.
While Lanter’s Cache Cache is upscale, Home Team is accessible to all, including the hardworking locals who have been flocking to Home Team for pork cracklins and chicken wings dipped in Alabama White Sauce (mayo, vinegar, and pepper).
We dined on wings, smoked turkey, brisket and ribs during our meal at Home Team, and while the barbecue hit the spot, their mac n’ cheese side is addictive. Stir in a little Death Relish, a habanero concoction that Coloradans will love, and I could eat this mac n’ cheese for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Home Team's price point, atmosphere, and food is on point for anyone (including families) looking for a relaxed dining experience in Aspen.
Photo courtesy of bb's
bb’s
525 E. Cooper Avenue
On our last night in Aspen, we kicked up the fancy a few notches and dined at bb’s for dinner. This restaurant features a contemporary space with food that is innovative yet familiar. Owner, Bruce Berger—who named the restaurant after his wife, Barbara—loves to travel, and this is reflected in his restaurant’s menu.
We started with pork belly steamed buns with house-made kimchi. A meal in and of itself, these buns are a popular menu item in bb’s bar and we could taste why.
The dinner menu at bb’s is sure to please everyone, from avid meat-eaters to those with gluten intolerances. As shameless carnivores, Ryan and I chose meat entrees; the Brandt beef New York strip steak for Ryan, and the Broken Arrow Ranch antelope for me.
While dinner at bb’s is a splurge for most, a meal here won’t soon be forgotten. Be sure to ask your server for the perfect wine or beer to accompany your meal. As in all the restaurants we patroned in Aspen, the staff at bb’s has vast culinary knowledge and exquisite timing and manners.
