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    Turtle Lake Refuge Cafe

    4.5 (13 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    TURTLE LAKE REFUGE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Front of the Cafe
    Dr. Cija E.

    What a beautiful and refreshing experience we had at the Turtle Lake Refuge Cafe today! This is one spot I didn't want to miss while visiting the area we look forward to moving to soon! Great spread today! Love all the staff and locals we spoke to today! We also got to enjoy petting the furry friends there visiting as well! Great experience! Love the mission and purpose! Many Thanks!! ~ Dr. Cija Ebeling, Ph.D.

    Madeline S.

    My girlfriend and I were visiting Durango from San Antonio, TX and were delighted to find this gem of a spot. So often do we find ourselves questioning the source of our food and how it's prepared (especially as it relates to food allergens such as gluten, animal byproducts, refined/processed sugars, unproductive oils, etc.) but here we did not have to. Open Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:11 AM-2:22 PM, we walked around to their back patio (twice!), sat down, and were presented with beautifully pre-determined fresh meals consisting of a beverage, soup, salad, entrée, and dessert for a suggested donation of $15. They have select merchandise available for purchase and treats available onsite and at Durango Natural Foods Co-op. This is a great option for the health-conscious/gluten-free/vegan/raw and I look forward to coming back! Pictured are two of the meals we had. The first consisted of a pineapple wheatgrass ginger juice, a lemon mellow root soup, a salad with balsamic vinaigrette, a veggie pesto, and a coconut fig bar. The second consisted of a wheatgrass juice, a creamy shiitake nettle soup, a fresh salad with a sesame dressing, cabbage tacos, and a banana chia pudding.

    Banana Strawberry Sundae (with house-made banana ice "cream" and granola)

    Lovely gem a short walk from downtown Durango, in a residential neighborhood. All food served is both vegan and raw. The food is fresh, healthy and pleasing -- cleansing even. The location is the back of a residence. On this summer day, tables were set up outside on the patio, in the shade, next to an herb garden. The ambiance was relaxing and peaceful. It's an interesting concept. There's a set menu that changes each day, and all guests are served the entire set menu for the day: a green juice, a salad, a soup, an entree, and a dessert. The "suggested donation" for this complete meal is $15 plus tip. Given the freshness of the food, I think it's worth that. The challenge is to remember that it's only open two days a week for lunch, and you may not be able to know what you'll be getting until you arrive since they don't seem to update their social media with the menus regularly. When I visited, they served a comfrey-wheatgrass lemonade, green salad with lemon vinaigrette (lettuce picked that same morning), a cold parsley-zucchini soup with cashew cream, and a nori roll stuffed with seeds, mircogreens, and topped with an orange sauce (which reminded me of an citrus salsa), and a banana-strawberry sundae. The high points for me were the nori rolls and the sundae. The nori rolls were absolutely delicious, due to the sauce. They were flavorful, well-seasoned and savory. The sundae consisted of house-made vegan banana "ice cream" with fresh granola and whole strawberries -- it was fantastic on a hot day, with a nice crunch from the granola topping. It was a real treat! The soup was interesting and refreshing -- very mild, but just a tad bland. It felt like a palette cleanser between the salad and main course. I'd have also liked a little more tangy bite in the salad dressing, but it was okay, and the just-picked greens were delightful--the barely-there dressing allowed the freshness to shine through.

    Vegan cabbage taco, gazpacho & microgreen salad

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    7 years ago

    A hidden gem. Delicious food that makes the body and mind feel good. I always leave feeling relaxed and content.

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    3 years ago

    unless you like vinegar and everything tastes the same and little kids wander around and touch everything... well, I'll pass. I tried.

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    Steamworks Brewing Company - Blackened Tuna Bowl*

    Steamworks Brewing Company

    4.1(1.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Must do if you're in Durango! This spot is popular on weekends or during big games, so plan…read moreaccordingly or expect a wait. We didn't wait too long and really enjoyed our meal. We started with the Bavarian pretzel, which was served with beer cheese and mustard. It was delicious and fresh! I then had the southwestern burger, which is always a favorite of mine because of the green chilis. The burgers are always cooked nicely (I order medium) and I was able to substitute a side salad, which was easily one of the best side salads I've ever had at a brewery. We are doing dry January, so no beers this time, but had a lovely hop water that they brew there and even left with a growler full. Highly recommend Steamworks for an authentic Durango experience or if you're just trying to catch a game or hangout with friends. It definitely has fun, local brewery vibes. We will definitely be back!

    There are a lot of breweries to choose from in Durango, and during our family vacation we tried…read morequite a few of them. One of our favorites was Steamworks Brewery in downtown Durango. The location was perfect for us because we were able to easily walk there from our hotel. We were lucky enough to get outdoor seating, which made the experience even better. It was great to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful Durango weather, and people watch while having dinner. We decided to do a beer flight so we could sample a variety of their beers before committing to a full pint. It was a great way to try different styles, and we each ended up finding a favorite. Everything we tried was really good. My husband liked their Buffalo wings and whiskey burger, I enjoyed the seared tuna bowl, and our kids liked their pizza. It is definitely a busy and popular spot, especially during peak vacation times, so I would recommend putting your name in early and expecting there could be a wait. In our opinion it was worth it. Steamworks had a great casual vibe that worked well for both families and adults wanting to enjoy a brewery experience. The downtown location adds to the charm, and it definitely felt like one of those must visit spots while in Durango.

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    Steamworks Brewing Company - Main bar

    Main bar

    Steamworks Brewing Company
    Steamworks Brewing Company - Loved the mug

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    Loved the mug

    Turtle Lake Refuge Cafe - vegan - Updated May 2026

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