Mountain Standard

Opened by the owners of Sweet Basil, directly upstairs, Mountain Standard has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants in Vail. The décor is Rocky Mountain Moderne where rough-hewn beams meet steel beams; there are cozy wooden booths with spot lighting and sleek banquettes. The menu focuses on the freshest ingredients and most dishes are prepared over an open fire. Appetizers include wood grilled artichokes, Three Little Pigs (a tasting of three great hams), shrimp and grits and possibly the best flatbread I have ever tasted with fresh mission figs, La Quercia ham, gorgonzola dolce and balsamic. So, yes it is the perfect blend of casual fun with serious foodie know-how. There’s a raw bar, a great selection of grilled meats and “Sides for Sharin’” but even the salads are so innovative (the green salad is served with citrus, fennel, avocado, spiced pumpkin seeds and key lime dressing), that you will want to return time and again. Oh, and don’t miss the “stout float” dessert, made with chocolate stout and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.