What's this? Seafood in Colorado? Yup, and it is really, really good. Join Jasmine and Jim Tritten,…read moreand Mark Fleisher as they report on the best restaurant in southwest Colorado. It's a four-hour drive from Albuquerque and worth every minute along NM 550. We went there for the 2025 Mesa Verde Literary Festival, where all three of us made presentations. Our reward - the Boathouse on Grand. Just click on the following YouTube video link to meet the friendly owner, Jenn Stewart, and look at her creative interior, the amazing food, and impeccable service you too will find in a small town just over the border at the Gateway to Mesa Verde. We highly recommend this interesting small restaurant, and "we're comin' back." https://youtu.be/vha-1FdyUxI?si=MAr9cTNF8KEDQFXV

Superb food, service and ambiance. Appetizers a must…read more Order whatever Jenn recommends

Tell you what, this is my favorite spot in Telluride to see live music and have a drink. Vibe is…read moreimpeccable, bar tenders are attentive and chill. Couches, tables, bar seats, every seat option one could need! Open mic on Mondays, always a good time!

Watch out for this place they weren't putting alcohol in the drinks. When we questioned the…read morebartender he said " oh sorry " happened twice what a scam bar the bartenders must be bonused on their pour cost

Excellent old fashioned! Great service and atmosphere. We stopped on our way back to our hotel, the…read morewaiter and bartender were both personable and the drinks were great.

Fantastic speakeasy find in dwntwn Durango!…read more A pw is required, but it's on their Insta. It's a functioning barber shop by day and awesome prohibition-era speakeasy by night. I was sat in the back room cuz the front bar was full. It was nice and quiet & there was an additional bar in the back. Great curated "author & bibliophile" themed libation menu. I had the St Vincent Millay (their version of a between the sheets) and it was made to classic perfection! They also have an extensive spirits menu; I always like to try local so I had a shot of 1874 San Luis Valley American Whiskey (a 3-Grain Whiskey using local rye, barley, and wheat, highlighting regional sourcing). Price-point is in line w/current mixologist cocktail costs. Definitely worth checking out!

Hidden beneath Taco Del Gnar, I wouldn't have found this place if we hadn't been directed to it by…read morea bartender at another local bar (they closed at 8--this place is open until 2). Such a hidden gem! We met both the owner and bartender, who were friends from Chicago. The bottled craft beer selection was diverse, and we were pleased to find a large offering of stouts, which is the perfect winter beer in my opinion. Several TVs, and they were willing to find a hockey game for my husband. Decor is nice. Maybe a little bright for a basement bar, but unlike your traditional dive bar, it was sparkling clean, so it's not like the dark was required to hide the dirt you'd rather not see. We'll definitely stop in again if we're ever in Ridgway. A nice little stop between Ouray and Telluride.

From the owner: STEPS is a mountain town Tavern equipped with over 40 craft beers, wines, craft cocktails/martinis…read moreand a full bar. Offering incredible live music, DJs and events. Centrally located in Ridgway, between the beautiful towns of Montrose, Ouray and Telluride. Drinks, sports, live music, jukebox and games.

Terrific new restaurant in Dolores, Colorado. Upscale and a bit pricy for the local market, this…read moreis a great fine dining option in an area without much competition in this genre. Steak Out also has a vibrant bar scene in the back of the restaurant, spilling outdoors to well planned outdoor dining and pub setup. The service is friendly and attentive. Steak Out shifts gears for lunch, offering all kinds of interesting fare for lunch. Not cheap but well worth it for what you get. Much of their menu items are both creative and genuinely delicious. Watch for unusual limits on days open. Currently, seems like they're closed Sunday and Monday and Tuesday, and then open from 11am till closing Wednesday through Saturday, which offers opportunities to drop by not only for lunch or dinner, but in between as well. Central fireplace, very comfortable seating, etc. Very pleasant vibe, welcoming locals and tourists alike. Super to have this option in Dolores, and serving the Cortez community as well. Highly recommended.

Staff was very friendly and communicated to my group of 7 that they had a private event in the next…read moreroom and there would be a longer than expected wait time. The restaurant has an upscale vibe. Not quite white cloth but a place to celebrate a special event. I ordered a Merlot and the 16oz ribeye. Everyone at the table ordered steaks: wagyu steak, New York strip, and the filet mignon. My steak was divine!!! Melt in your mouth amazing flavor. The tomato jam on top was pretty damn tasty too. Although after a while it became too much so I had to move it off to the side. The veggies were cooked perfectly and the baked potato was good. I tried the wagyu and while it was tender and good I much preferred my ribeye. Everybody else seemed to enjoy their steaks. Our only complaint was that we waited an hour and a half for our food. Our reservation was for 1830, we did not get our steaks until 2000. They did give us a complimentary soup or salad for the wait which was nice but 1.5 hours is a little much. But if I were to find myself in the area I would make a stop for this place... I'd just make sure there are no parties lol.

If you're looking for a place that delivers seriously great drinks, unbeatable happy hour deals,…read moreand a vibe that is peppy but not overtly loud, look no further than Derailed Pour House on Main Avenue. From the moment you walk in, you're surrounded by an atmosphere that's cozy, eclectic, and downright fun, twinkle lights, creative décor, and a laid-back yet lively energy that makes every visit feel special. Their happy hour from 4-6 PM every day is hard to beat with all the classics like wines, mules, Cosmopolitans, margaritas, mojitos, and Manhattans for just $6, plus tasty appetizers for 6& and even quesadillas for a $10. It's one of those deals that's perfect for catching up with friends after a ski day or just kicking back with a well-made cocktail without breaking the bank. Speaking of food, their carne asada quesadilla is amazing, rich, flavorful, and the perfect pairing for any of their drinks. And if you're lucky enough to have Tonny as your server, count yourself fortunate: attentive, personable, and genuinely one of the best in the business, the kind of hospitality that turns a great meal into a memorable night out. Between the delicious drinks, great value, funky ambience, and standout service, Derailed is a must-visit spot in downtown Durango. Whether you're here for happy hour, dinner, or just a cocktail, it's easy to see why locals and visitors alike sing its praises.

I've been coming to this location when it was farquarts. It's been many things since then…read more Loved the trees inside and their great use of used doors to make quaint seating areas if you want to be romantic or hang out with friends. Great full bar too. When I ordered what I thought was a smash burger I was surprised to see the size of this thing! It was huge, could barely eat half of it. Service was great! Nice happy hour specials too. Visit when you go to Durango!

We looked for a lunch spot via Yelp on our way home from Telluride…read more Yelp did it again. Loungin' Lizard will be our go to every time we pass through Cortez in the future. We walked in and were immediately greeted by one of the bartenders and told to sit wherever we liked. We found a nice booth off to the side of the bar area. Our server Patrick stopped by the booth and pointed us to the food menu in the chalkboard. We also had another server but I didn't catch her name. They were both very friendly and attentive. I ordered the special for the day. A green chili Rueben & fries. Wow, this sandwich was so delicious! What a creative combination of flavors. Even the slaw in the Rueben included the green chilis. The fries were hot and crispy. My husband ordered the spicy BBQ pulled pork tacos. He said the tacos were amazing and the flavors were off the charts. They were topped with a slaw and pickles. The side of "tortilla chips" had a dusting of a very flavorful spice. Not sure what it was but very tasty. Looking over the menu, this restaurant has some very creative dishes. We can't wait to stop by again! My husband ordered

This place is bomb. Super friendly servers, great tap list and drink menu, and the food was so…read moretasty. I went with the Southwest Cuban. Portions were generous, pork was delicious, and the mustard cheese sauce was phenomenal. I used the fries to get every last bit. If I didn't live 1000 miles away I could eat here until I tried the entire menu and then do it all over again.

This farm to table restaurant had a versatile, promising menu. The older, exposed, stone-walled…read moreinterior was charming. The service was excellent. Curiously, both our entrees were lacking a key element. My farm salad was missing the apple slices. The feta cheese thus overpowered the dish. My husband's bratwurst meal was served with a mayonnaise based aioli instead of the mustard with beer cheese ( a common accompaniment to bratwurst) listed on the menu. When he asked the served about it we were told it was the correct condiment.

We were there late on a Tuesday evening and were sat immediately…read more Tanner, our waiter, was attentive and personable. We had the side salad with the most incredible, flavorful, garlicky croutons and we shared the lamb meatballs - they had a great combination of flavors! My husband had the Old Cowboy and I had the lemon basil martini. Both were wonderful additions to our meal.