There are 5,000 bottles to choose from in the cellar. You may wait in line for 20 minutes or more, but that hot, cheesy, sobering slice or four is so worth it (bonus: this stuff tastes just as great sober, which is the ultimate litmus test). On South Mill Street Piñons is another Aspen institution, with great views of Ajax Mountain. That’s a contentious subject, of course. The cozy café also promotes fair trade and sustainability on a menu that never goes north of $10 per item. If the weather is nice, try to score a coveted spot on the patio. Fresh oysters, shrimp and crab, as well as fine wines and microbrews are on the après-ski menu. Bok Choy. The downstairs bar space is industrial-cool, but the 11-bench beer garden in the mall’s park-like center strip has already established itself as the place to be on a summer’s day. Made with toasted bread, poached eggs, peach butter, bacon, tomatoes, arugula, and shaved parmesan, it's a filling start to the day without being a major gut bomb. With 30 beers on tap and 200 by the bottle (including limited releases and everything from dubels to rye), 15 wines, and 12 craft spirits (Moscow Mules are the house special, and come in six different variations), it’s easy to see why beer aficionados flock here. A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Curbside Pickup.

But if fried chicken is more to your liking, you won’t be disappointed at this American-themed eatery built out into a refurbished 19th-century miner’s cottage.

Like other Aspen restaurateurs, owner Wendy Mitchell is … 305 Aspen Airport Business Ctr, Suite F, 970-710-7096. Stand-outs other than the sushi bar include the broiled black cod with miso, and lobster tacos; the Omakase menu, starting at $100/per person, is a pretty stellar deal for Aspen. At lunchtime elaborate sandwiches are served on house-made ciabatta. Reserve a table in the back dining room with moodier lighting and tablecloths for dinner. Sure, other ski towns try to emulate the variety and gourmet options you'll find in this pricey alpine retreat, but none really come close. Note that the sunny patio seating fills up quickly so get there early if you're desperate to enjoy the Aspen sunshine. For a “cheap” meal, order up a pie and a pitcher, but things get really hopping when the bars close. This long-awaited restaurant and farm shop from award-winning cheesemaker Wendy Mitchell of Basalt's Avalanche Cheese Company has become a local’s favorite for lunch or dinner since opening in October 2014 (it’s also in our most delicious cheese dishes in ski country. Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Paradise has been Aspen’s source for fresh confection for over 40 years.
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But even if you’re not in town during the annual summer extravaganza, Aspen provides plenty for every palate, year-round. Cash only. This legendary lounge counts itself as the 9th. Order in. There’s something to please everyone at Elk Camp on Snowmass, with several stations that include a vast salad bar, pizza, a rotisserie and soup, as well as home-made crisps and brownies.