ASPEN-SNOWMASS RESTAURANTS

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Ajax Tavern 685 E. Durant Ave., Aspen, CO, USA	970/920-9333 Read Review
The brains behind Mustards Grill and Tra Vigne, two of Napa Valley's finest eateries, have created this bright, pleasant restaurant, with mahogany paneling, diamond-pattern floors, leather banquettes, open kitchen, and an eager, unpretentious waitstaff. Try the grilled lamb chops with seasonal vegetables. The wine list, showcasing Napa's best, is almost matched by the fine selection of microbrews. Enjoy outstanding lunch offerings on the spacious, sunny patio, which abuts Aspen Mountain. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Butch's Lobster Bar Parking Lot 13, Snowmass Village, CO, USA	970/923-4004 Read Review
Once a lobsterman off Cape Cod, Butch Darden knows his lobster, and serves it up countless ways. The menu also includes plenty of other seafood favorites, including crab legs, shrimp, and steamers. There's also the obligatory steak and chicken dishes. Although the atmosphere isn't fancy and the service isn't doting, this is the best place in town to get your seafood fix. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
Cache Cache 205 S. Mill St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-3835 or 888/511-3835 Read Review
The sunny flavors of Provence explode on the palate, thanks to chef Christopher Lanter's savvy use of garlic, tomato, eggplant, fennel, and rosemary. The osso buco in marsala sauce is sublime; salads and rotisserie items are sensational; desserts are worth leaving room for. The bar menu offers a budget-conscious way to sample this outstanding cuisine. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Century Room 330 E. Main St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/920-1000 Read Review
Everything about the Hotel Jerome is exquisite, and dinner at the Century Room is no exception. With its high, vaulted ceilings, massive stone-and-marble fireplace, and comfortable wingback chairs, it is at once impressive and intimate. Chef Todd Slossberg's signature dishes -- try the lobster-and-crab cakes -- complement more traditional fare, such as Colorado rack of lamb. Reservations essential. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Il Poggio 73 Elbert La., Snowmass Village, CO, USA	970/923-4292 Read Review
In the cutthroat competition between resort-town restaurants, this unassuming Italian place is smart enough to let the big boys duke it out. It wins in the end, as it's possibly the best casual restaurant in the village. The classic Italian food is well received by the après-ski crowd. Try one of the hearth-baked pizzas, a hearty pasta dish, or any beef or chicken entrée. AE, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Krabloonik 4250 Divide Rd., Snowmass Village, CO, USA	970/923-3953 Read Review
Owner Dan MacEachen has a penchant for dogsled racing, and Krabloonik (Eskimo for "big eyebrows," and the name of his first lead dog) helps subsidize his expensive hobby. This rustic yet elegant cabin is on the slopes, which means you'll be treated to wonderful views on your way there. Although you can drive to the restaurant, the best -- and most memorable -- way to arrive is by dogsled. You'll dine sumptuously on some of the best game in Colorado -- caribou and wild boar, for starters. Wash it all down with a selection from Snowmass's most extensive wine list. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V.
L'Hostaria 620 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-9022 Read Review
This subterranean hotspot is sophisticated yet rustic, with an open-beam farmhouse ceiling, sleek blond-wood chairs, contemporary art, and a floor-to-ceiling glass wine cooler in the center of the room. The menu relies on simple, subtle flavors in specialties such as goat-cheese flan on mixed greens, gnocchi with duck ragout, risotto with veal sauce, and a delectable veal Milanese. For a change of pace, check out the carpaccio bar, which features wonderful cured meats and fish. AE, MC, V.
Little Annie's Eating House 517 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-1098 Read Review
Everything at this charmer is ultra simple, from the wood paneling and red-and-white checked tablecloths to the fresh fish, barbecued ribs and chicken, and Colorado lamb. Annie's is a big favorite with locals, who like the relaxed atmosphere, dependable food, and reasonable prices, not to mention the Bundt cake and "shot and a beer" special. AE, DC, MC, V.
Manrico by Massimo Masciaga 403 S. Galena St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/544-5494 Read Review
Aspen's newest and most expensive restaurant (the duck foie gras with truffle ice-cream appetizer goes for $38), Manrico sits above the cashmere boutique of the same name -- a point underscored by the (gulp) cashmere chairs and cashmere-bound menus. Sample chef Massimo's finest fare -- Italian with a French flare -- by ordering the eight-course dinner ($275 per person). The best seats in the house in good weather are on the oustide deck facing Aspen Mountain. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V.
Matsuhisa 303 E. Main St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/544-6628 Read Review
Renowned in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Tokyo, Nobu Matsuhisa brings his nouveau-Japanese cuisine to Aspen. Although you shouldn't expect to see Nobu in the kitchen, his recipes and techniques are unmistakable. His jalapeño yellowtail is scrumptious, his anticucho beef (skewered and grilled beef hearts) is delicious, his new-style sashimi marvelous, and his prices astronomical. Check out Matsuhisa Lounge upstairs for cocktails and a limited sushi menu. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
Piñons 105 S. Mill St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/920-2021 Read Review
The Southwestern ranch-style dining room has leather-wrapped railings, a teal green ceiling, and upholstered walls. The contemporary American menu scores high on creativity: for an appetizer, try the lobster strudel, a mainstay of chef Rob Mobillian. For your entrée, try the foie gras topped beef fillet. The service and wine list are impeccable. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V. No lunch.
Pine Creek Cookhouse 11399 Castle Creek, Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-1044 Read Review
Strap on cross-country skis or board a horse-drawn sleigh (or hike during the summer) to get to this homey log cabin. The emphasis is on game specialties, including quail, elk, and wild boar. Lunch offerings include hot smoked-salmon salad, spinach crepes, and Hungarian goulash. In winter or summer, shoot for a seat on the deck for breathtaking views of the Elk Mountains. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V.
SIX89 689 Main St., Carbondale, CO, USA	970/963-6890 Read Review
Locals might argue that the best food in the valley is not served in the posh eateries of Aspen, but in this Carbondale favorite. The irreverent menu and whimsical lexicon (a glossary is provided for your reference); superb service; and inventive preparations of excellent local produce, game, and fish create a downright delightful dining experience. Try the salad with seared chevre gnocchi or the black angus fillet with lobster tater tots. There's an extensive wine list (and a knowledgeable sommelier) to complement your meal. If you're feeling adventurous, put yourself in chef Mark Fischer's capable hands with "Random Acts of Cooking," a family style tasting menu. Reservations essential. AE, D, MC, V. No lunch.
Syzygy 520 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-3700 Read Review
Personable owner Walt Harris succeeds at providing a harmony of expressive cuisine (the name refers to the alignment of heavenly bodies) thanks to a sterling, unusually helpful waitstaff and the assured, sublimely seasoned creations of chef Morton Oswald. The food is crisply flavored and sensuously textured, floating from French to Asian to Southwestern influences without skipping a beat. Standouts include the Szechuan tempura lobster with grilled pineapple and Asian-vegetable salad, and main courses such as elk tenderloin with sun-dried fig chutney and chili aioli. The patient and knowledgeable will find a few good buys on the extensive wine list; enjoy a glass while listening to Aspen's best live jazz. Reservations essential. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch.
Takah Sushi 320 South Mill St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-8588 or 877/925-8588 Read Review
In a town with several sushi haunts, locals will tell you that Takah Sushi has the best plates and prices (a bento box with miso soup and hot sake runs only $30). It has an outdoor patio right off the pedestrian mall for the see and be-seen crowd, and a rowdy basement for larger parties. The large and tasty appetizers include gyoza (pork and vegetable pot stickers) and Takah's terrific egg roll. There are even straight seafood plates like blackened tuna steak in Cajun spices and baked black cod fillets for those who are sushied-out. AE, MC, V.
The Wild Fig 315 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO, USA	970/925-5160 Read Review
A friendly establishment with an unbeatable location right off the pedestrian mall, this cozy restaurant and bar offers light Mediterranean dishes in a distinctive decor. The faux tin ceiling and tiled walls feel like a cross between a Chicago speakeasy and a New York subway station. Likewise, the restaurant has one of Aspen's most unusual plates: "fish in the bag" (the fish of the night is cooked and served in a brown paper bag). For dessert try the warm figs, of course, and a cup of amante coffee, custom-roasted in the northern Italian tradition. Reservations essential. AE, MC, V.
Toppers 300 Puppy Smith St., Aspen, CO, USA	970/920-0069 Read Review
Cheerful Greg Topper, previously the esteemed chef of the Ajax Tavern, has opened a fuss-free café and take-out shop with first-rate American food. He serves fresh salads, soups, and fancy pizzas (think truffle oil), and the best sandwiches in town. Locals love the $9.95-$10.95 Aspen Bowls: you mix and match main items -- such as fennel-spiced pork stew, red snapper, and rock shrimp vegetable curry -- with various sides. If you come for dinner, get the succulent, slow-braised short ribs. Also popular are venison chili, rotisserie chicken, trout puttanesca, and Colorado lamb. MC, V.