Pine Creek Cookhouse

Horrid food,horrid service, horrid cost ($110 per person, they even charge for ski rental when you don't rent any, or ski trail use, and tips for "the cowboys" whoever they were....

Best Views. Get out fo town for a real experience. Sit outside! Order the fresh fish. Must have banana walnut bread.

I had the pleasure of spending the Christmas holidays with both of my sons in Snowmass. When I got there, the son that lives in Snowmass said that we were going to have a special lunch experience. That was an understatement! The sleigh ride in with my granddaughter was special (everybody else skied in). The blankets provided kept you warm (except for a short period when the wind got up - that was a bit painful). Arriving at the restaurant we were greeted by a roaring fire and friendly staff. (This could have been because my son is part owner of the Grateful Deli in Aspen and seems to know everybody in the area who is in the food service business but I got the impression that the staff would be good no matter who the customer was. The food was delicious (and generous servings - everybody got to taste everyone else's entree). The wild game meatloaf was like no other meatloaf I had ever had - incredible (sorry mom and late wife). If you were in the area over Christmas you probably remember that it was overcast and snowed almost the whole week but just as we were leaving the restaurant, the sun came out for about 10 minutes and I got some incredible pictures of the scenery in front of the restaurant. All in all - unique and enjoyable experience. Be aware, even at lunch, this is not a cheap place to eat. Be prepared to part for some serious coin for this unique experience. I thought it was worth it.

My wife and I went there for dinner last year -- we cross-country ski'd in, returning under a nearly full moon. The menu was great, staff very nice, and we even got some avalanche forecast info for an upcoming hut trip! This year we went for lunch, and it seemed to work out to be just as expensive -- and I needed to purchase separate ski rentals and an area pass for skiing in. The food was good, but the ambiance during the day wasn't quite it. I do recommend going there for dinner -- and definitely ski in!

If you visit Aspen and you're trying to get that authentic Rocky Mountain experience, you really do need to dine at the Pine Creek Cookhouse. I prefer lunch because views of the valley are amazing, summer or winter. If you REALLY want that Rocky Mountain experience, you need to bike there in the summer (13 miles each way) or cross-country ski there in the winter (1 mile or so each way). I recommend reservations for lunch and dinner, but if you want to go mid-week in the summer for lunch, you will probably get away without one. If the weather is nice, sit on the patio and wear sunscreen! Did I mention the food? The quail salad is consistently good.