3 Best Restaurants in Summit County, Colorado

"Hidden gem" describes this strip mall café perfectly because it's unlikely you'd stumble across this creative outpost on your own. But local foodies and tourists who do their research know where to go for lunch in the summer. Starting around Thanksgiving, you can get dinner here, too. Grab one of the family-style tables and dig in to meals like a sauté of shrimp, scallops, and cod or a wood-grilled chicken salad with curried mayonnaise and toasted pumpkin seeds. The menu occasionally changes, but the chef, who works in an open kitchen so that he can converse with customers, may occasionally sneak you something made to order.

This 1930s homestead was once part of a working cattle ranch, and cowboy memorabilia is strewn throughout, nicely blending with stylish throw rugs, antler chandeliers, and a trophy mount. The gorgeous and massive stone fireplace is a cozy backdrop for dessert, or sipping an aperitif or after-dinner coffee. The seasonal five-course menu emphasizes local ingredients, including farm-raised game and fresh fish.

In this ski lodge dating from the 1880s, the four-course, prix-fixe dinner is a favorite for its Colorado-spun American cuisine. Main courses have included whiskey sage–glazed Muscovy duck, peppered bacon-wrapped buffalo tenderloin, and thyme-seared wild Alaskan halibut. The delicious homemade bread and soup make for a memorable beginning. Adjourn to the cozy lounge for the decadent desserts and specialty coffees by the fire. Swing by for après-ski in winter and cocktails on the patio in summer.