Got done driving 10 hours and wanted to get a drink and some food. Came in at 8 with an hour left, had the bartender and chef complaining that we would be ordering food RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. We closed out after one drink because of it. I'm not going to stay where I'm not wanted. Also bartender was short and rude. Asked something about a drink and her response was "it's what it sounds like". Well thank you for the information. As a bartender myself I recommend not coming here for service. And to top it off. My tab was $28 dollars for 2 drinks!!! If you want to feel like a bother and be treated like bottom barrel .. come here!! read more

The food was AMAAZZING!! The Servers were so cheerful, and nice! French onion soup and fried cheese ravioli were really delicious. read more

Loungin' Lizard - restaurant with a menu on the wall - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

Great food and a great atmosphere. We had to wait a little bit to have our order taken, but the food was worth the wait. I had the spicy Buffalo chicken sandwich and the piece of chicken on it was enormous. Such good flavor in it as well. I also had the truffle fries as a side and they were spectacular. read more

Loungin' Lizard - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

We visited the Loungin' Lizard after spending a few hours in Mesa Verde. Wonderful service, clean restaurant and bathrooms, and the food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the spicy chicken tenders, and they had a great flavor. The portion was huge, and the chipotle ranch was delicious with the chicken and the fries. If we're ever back in the area, we will definitely visit again. read more

Loungin' Lizard - Menu, June 2022 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

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First and foremost, the friendliest staff ever. So nice. Food was fantastic. Mahi tacos and a spinach salad with shrimp. Highly recommend read more

We're kinda regulars at da Lizard. Like, 2 or 3 times a year . Love the menu! Love the bar! Love the friendly staff! Love the whole vibe!! Already looking forward to February! read more

good food, ambiance, great service,drinks are delicious. A lil expensive but worth it

Just passing through on our way to Santa Fe and stayed overnight in Cortez. Found the Lizard on Yelp and my husband picked it as our dinner date. The patio was clean and lovely. Why eat inside when there is an outdoor space. Germaine was very patient with us as we juggled tables to suit my husband's desires for shade and answered questions about menu items to accommodate our needs. We don't usually eat heavy meals in the evening but the aroma of lovely garlic and onions was enough to say you will want to come try the rest of the amazing food. My husband had the spinach salad with strawberries and balsamic reduction with blackened shrimp. It looked beautiful and he was very pleased. I had a white Zinfandel and roasted Brussels, which were great. Walnuts was a different addition and a welcome one as well. It was a lovely dinner. Come on a warm evening and enjoy the patio, the steaks and sandwiches. read more

Dang kids!!!! This place is awesome. So excited we drove by. They made a boring salad awesome tons of comfort food and allergy friendly! Even my very opinionated 6year old love it. First night close to town and we are coming back before we leave. I never do that. Love! read more

The service was amazing, we were well talked care of. I'm from texas and this is the best burger i've had yet in colorado. Would recommend the bison burger. Will be coming here on my next trip. read more

Loungin' Lizard - Bison Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

It's a fun bar and restaurant with an old west yet hip feel. The service was friendly and fast. We had chicken lettuce wraps that were surprisingly good. Pulled pork pizza which was good. We saw some of the burgers and sandwiches which looked really great. read more

Amazing food! Amazing drinks! Can't wait to go back! Definitely recommend! I had the Southwest Cuban & hand cut fries. Everything was great including the homemade bun! read more

Great gluten-free options!!! They are very allergy conscious. We were served by Liz, who helped us have a wonderful meal. She was quick, kind, extremely knowledgeable about gluten allergies, and helped us with answering our questions about our potential selections. I had the poblano relleno , which was filled with delicious rice, beans, and cheese, and was surrounded by corn masa and sauce. My wife had the cocoa coated shrimp with rice and sautéed veggies. We topped it off with a shared bowl of ice cream. I tried not to eat the entire meal, but just couldn't resist. So delicious! We were just passing through, and almost skipped this place because we wanted dinner, and the Yelp description says it serves breakfast and lunch. They serve dinner too!!! You can't miss the giant lizard on the side of the building. Cool place!!! Good mix of locals and tourists. read more

My husband and I are kind of assholes when it comes to food. We are from Portland, OR and have all the markings of pretentious food snobs. We are currently on a long road trip and needed to eat, before the hanger set in. To be honest we were sticking our noses up at all the options in town and ended up here. Man we're we shocked. This place is incredible. I had the chicken pot pie w/ a side spinach salad. I want to eat that spinach salad for every meal forever. The chicken pot pie was also delicious, with a subtle spicy kick that I'm all about. We shared the blood orange cheesecake for dessert. Also, slaps. I would add a little dried cranberries to it but other than that it's perfect. Saw some other reviews complaining about prices. I disagree, we paid $55 for 2 incredible meals, 2 soda and dessert. Yes there's a 5% charge for using card, but 5% of $55 is only $2.75. If your complaining about that grow up. Eat here, foods great, staffs great, worth it. read more

We stopped at this place for dinner, has good reviews and really the only place open in town. We were greeted and took a seat at the bar. Cool vibe. We ordered drinks and had the slow smoked pork nachos as an appetizer. Definitely not like your typical nachos. They were like individual nacho chips but on wantons. They were so yummy! For entrees we ordered the Creamy Mushroom Spaghetti and Blackened Chicken Rigatoni. We loved our dishes! For not being an "Italian" restaurant they were spot on delicious "Italian" dishes. We left full and satisfied. The service was quirky but great! Definitely recommend stoping and eating here. read more

We stopped by here for lunch, passing through Cortez, on our way to Mesa Verde. What a great surprise! The portions were huge, and my Frito taco Pie hit the spot! read more

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Well, my partner and I had dinner here this evening (08/21/2022). I had the open-face meatloaf sandwich and he had the pork nachos. Well, about an hour later, we were both throwing up our $40 dinner!! We NEVER had this happen to us, simultaneously, before at other local restaurants!!! On top of that, we were charged a 5% "service" charge for using our credit card!!!!! WTF?!?! Our server explained to us that, that's what they do: pass on the service charge for the bank to use credit cards via a state passed bill!!! WHAT DA FCUK!?!?! We're NEVER going back to this establishment, EVER!!!! If I could, I'd give this establishment a -10 !!! DO NOT GO HERE!! read more

We sat out on the patio. The white chili bean fries were a fabulous appetizer. Then we had the Spicy Salad, Green Chili burger, and French Onion burger. The margarita was strong w fresh lime, and the root beer float w homemade vanilla ice cream was fantastic. read more

Loungin' Lizard - Front sign :) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

* Cajun Smoked Wings * Bison & Pork Belly Burger * Elk Shepherd's Pie Everything was *really* good. The wings were crispy with a sweet/spicy/smoky seasoning. They almost tasted like Korean wings (which I love). A little sticky, a little hot, a little sweet. Not messy, and just really good. A little dry but I'll forgive that because they tasted so good The Bison cheddar burger was great. The bun wasn't not greasy at all. The bison was tasty and didn't fall apart. The pork belly was a nice addition that pushed it to the next level. The fries were spot on My wife's Elk Shepherds Pie was also really good. There is a very little heat in the sauce that was unexpected but welcome. Nicely done overall. Highly recommended. read more

Very please with the quality of the food and the service. The staff was friendly and courteous. We stopped in for dinner and really enjoyed it. read more

Came here just for the Southwestern Cuban- WOW! So glad I did. Those reviews were right on. Absolutely the BEST Cuban sandwich I've ever had. Great pickle flavor, luscious pulled pork, a few green chilies thrown in for a little heat-done. Spouse ordered a Green Chile burger cooked to perfection. It must have been good since it was devoured. Local beer is excellent, as was the service. I'd love to try other dishes, but not sure I can skip the Cuban! read more

Loungin' Lizard - Amazing Cuban sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

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Visited there a couple of weeks ago while on a road trip. Service was great! Food is very delicious and was happy to hear they have many gluten free options that were very tasty. We will be visiting again next time we are in the area read more

Good good. Nice selection. Nice outdoor patio. Nice staff. Nice and big selection of craft beers.

Food was too spicy. Waitress was not very attentive. Didn't offer to refill water glasses. Had to ask for table service and the place really wasn't that crowded. read more

French Onion burger was terrific, but the restaurant was very loud making communication with our server difficult. This created a bit of frustration/confusion with the bill, apparently on both sides. read more

Great comfort food menu, from bison burger to elk shepherds pie to grilled cheese. Fun place to eat.

We traveled from Phoenix, Az with a friend just for your bison burgers and the elk shepherd pie. They were both amazing.

This was my first time here, and it was so good. We ordered the grilled cheese sandwich, chicken tenders, and chicken fried steak. The grilled cheese came with soup and fries. The portions were a good size. The staff was courteous and helpful. Great place. read more

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Very sad. Drove all the way in to town to have lunch on our road trip... The menu looked great. The restaurant lied and said County rules prohibit puppies on the patio. A couple doors down and across the way, Annie was totally welcomed on the patio. read more

After a long day hiking the cliff dwellings, the hubby and I just wanted a bite to eat. The first place (J Fargo's) was empty but still said it would be a 45-55 minute wait so I was nervous to try another place but so glad I did! Service was great, food was excellent, and we got to enjoy the weather and ambiance in their patio which looks fairly new or recently updated. It looks like they are still limited on seating inside but it's great out on the patio! read more

This place is awesome. Got the truffle fries and chicken fried pork tenderloin and some margaritas, simply amazing. Louisiana native approved (we know good food ) Pork tenderloin moist and tender perfectly fried. Gravy fresh and delicious. Margaritas were outstanding as well. read more

After an unexpected;y long morning hike in the Canyon of the Ancients, we hit Cortez with a big appetite for a late lunch. Loungin' Lizard did not disappoint! I got a green Chile cheeseburger (not spicy, just flavorful - don't be scared off by the name), my gf got the French onion burger (she LOVES onions), and my sister got the white chicken chili cheese fries (which had bonus chunks of crispy pork belly on top). They were all delicious, and the fries that came with everything were phenomenal. We were so hungry, and happily sucked everything down. My only negative is that my green Chile cheeseburger, which I ordered cooked medium, was on the rarer side of medium-rare, but I ate most of it (all but the qtr with the completely soggy bun). We loved Loungin' Lizard and would definitely come here again. read more

Loungin' Lizard - White chicken chili cheese fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

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We stopped by for lunch before heading into Mesa Verde and were so pleasantly surprised. The food is delicious and lots of options. We each had the soup/salad combinations. Very nice staff and can't wait to come back and try one of the pot pies. Thanks! read more

Loungin' Lizard - Chicken chili soup and spinach salad combo! Yummy! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

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Jesus. writing this review while I'm still at my table, finishing the meal. Felt compelled to because HOLY SHIT this bison cheddar burger with pork belly is SO GOOD. the meat is so perfect and moist, wow. The only thing that I think could be improved is if the bun was softer (like, say, a potato bun, vs the slightly dry brioche). The burger comes with EXTREMELY GOOD FRIES. That's what makes it a home run. Also got the chicken pot pie and it is AWESOME. I can see why some people might be disappointed with how little crust there is, but I've seen many restaurants do something similar (doesn't make it great, just recognizing that it's common enough). Still delish! Extremely impressed. read more

Loungin' Lizard - sorry, took the photo midway through the meal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

Went their tonight with my husband. Very, very good. I got the blackened chicken rigatoni and it was SO very good. My husband got the cocoa rubbed shrimp and he said it was really good read more

Great food, amazing service, tons of space to bring your friends. Definitely stop by and order the Blackened Chicken Rigatoni, so so good! read more

Loungin' Lizard - Blackened Chicken Rigatoni - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

I am so thrilled Lounging Lizard is open during COVID-19! We come here every year to celebrate our Anniversary, and this year the only difference was we had lunch on the patio instead of inside. It was awesome! The drinks were Great, and the Food was gormet!...so so good. Staff was awesome and I felt safe in the atmosphere! Staff wearing masks and very Covid conscious and right on! 5 stars! read more

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In town to enjoy the NP. Our host recommended this place and it was fabulous. We ate on the back deck at sunset and the temps were perfect. We had the Brussel sprout appetizer, blackened chicken rigatoni, and the chicken and Chile tacos. Everything was amazing. The service was excellent too, which was nice considering the current labor shortage! Would highly recommend! read more

Loungin' Lizard - Brussel sprouts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

We gave this restaurant 3 tries and we will never return. It's a shame this big nice place can't do any better on the food. Tonight was extra bad and they cranked up 80's pop rock sounding as if on AM radio speakers. We asked twice to turn it down some to the level when we arrived, then we could barely talk over it. We ordered a $20 Elk Shepherd Pie and it was pathetic. The small amount of ground elk meat was tasty, but my 9 yr old could have made that dish better using instant mash potatoes. It was nothing but the meat with a little gravy mixed up with over processed starch activated mashed potatoes & cheese. Like you throw ground meat, cheese & bad mashed potatoes in a bowl and mix it up. For $20!. The Spinach Salad was ok. But they left all the woody stems on the spinach. It had a nice dressing, a little cheese, nuts & red onion for $14. Ridiculous. The shrimp appetizer was okay, anyone could make it in 5 min. It was WAY over salted & spiced despite the spice was good.. just over done. Last time we had the Truffle cheese fries for $10 I think. Horrible! A bowl of mushy soggy fries with some melted plain cheese & I guess a little truffle oil for flavor. Really bad. We have had some other dishes that don't stand out as bad, but just okay. I can't remember them. We did not order dessert, or a second drink as we had planned. We felt too ripped off and insulted they wouldn't turn that annoying music down a bit. They are really missing the mark but I guess have a few good things on the menu and there isn't much to choose from in Cortez unless you like average Mexican Restaurants.. plenty of those! Service was nice other than the manager refusing to turn the music down a bit. That Shepherds Pie. Incredibly disappointed. Seemed like something in a cheap cafeteria but even those places can be better than this. A real waste of that nice ground Elk. read more

Loungin' Lizard - Shepherds Pie. Just wrong. And we love a good Shepherd Pie. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cortez, Colorado

I ate here my first night in Cortez (Friday night). Staff is super friendly and personable. I ordered the Elk shepherds pie and a side of sautéed vegetables. It was delicious! I also ordered a bread pudding for dessert. It was homemade and huge! I only recommend ordering it for 2 people, not as a solo. It also comes with cinnamon ice cream. I love that this place is on the main strip in Cortez. The building is nice too and has a historical feel to it. It also gave me an opportunity to find an awesome organic health food store across the street. read more