L’Hostaria
620 E Hyman Ave, Aspen, CO, 81611
L’Hostaria Menu
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Address :
620 E Hyman Ave
Aspen, CO, 81611 - Phone (970) 925-9022
- Website https://hostaria.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Christina H.
I'm pretty astonished that L'Hostaria doesn't have better reviews on Yelp! I have been here a few times now, both in the bar and the dining room. If you are looking for an excellent deal, I recommend the bar menu. The dining room is quieter and better for something special. I experienced excellent service in both places, this evening's dinner especially. I didn't feel rushed, but the food came out pretty quickly and we were not left waiting for a long time. Coming from outside of New York City, I feel my expectations for Italian food are quite high. Tonight, my boyfriend and I shared the burrata and prosciutto, both excellent. You really can't go wrong with either. Then he had the osso bucco for his entree, and I had the tagliolini all' astice, a squid ink pasta with shellfish. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! All of the pastas are made fresh daily, and are perfectly cooked to barely a degree after al dente. You absolutely must have pasta here! The osso bucco was fantastic; you didn't need a knife because the veal was so tender it just fell apart with a fork. We ended the meal with tiramisu, which wasn't the best I've ever had, but was not at all heavy and very tasty. If you are looking for a quality meal that is not too expensive considering Aspen prices, this is the place. It is not snooty, and the portions don't leave you hating yourself after the meal. I am planning on coming back a few more times before the summer is over!
(5)Lynee B.
Our trip to L'Hostaria was very disappointing last weekend. We only had 2 evenings out in Aspen, and with so many great restaurants we had heard about, we wanted to make sure that we chose a great place to celebrate a birthday evening. I had been craving Italian food, and after over an hour of searching online reviews, Trip Advisor, and looking at restaurant websites, we chose to go to L'Hostaria over some of the Steak Houses and other high end restaurants on the lists. Dining room was casual, upbeat atmosphere, and since we had made a reservation we were given a nice corner booth. But when you leave a meal commenting that the FREE bread and olive oil was the best part of the meal, then you know that something has gone wrong. The Carpaccio was delicious but very meagerly portioned for the price being paid, and our entrees weren't much better. I ordered the Veal Saltimbocca which tasted like the "sauce" was super condensed and literally sticky and from a can, no prosciutto in site, and a comment was made at the dinner table that it literally tasted like a sausage patty that you get from McDonalds. My boyfriend ordered the special of the evening, Squid Ink Pappardelle with Ahi Tun, it left something to be desired. We both contemplated returning our meals, but nothing was cold, or foul, just simply very underwhelming and disappointing. Especially at $30+ an entree. We were given the dessert menu, but chose to pass as we didn't expect dessert to be that much better than the meals were. I felt bad for feeling like I'd dropped the ball on finding a nice place for a Birthday Dinner.
(2)Kathy M.
I so enjoyed eating here. Why are Aspen and Los Angeles so far away from each other? A small group of us took a table at the bar and reveled in fresh, beautifully-prepared food, super-attentive service, and interesting people-watching in a relaxed-yet upscale - atmosphere reminiscent of Cheers. The kale salad not only had an outstanding presentation, but was perfectly tenderized. The shrimp carbonara was flavorful and light (I think that Cher's character from Moonstuck would approve :-) Summary: Delicious food, Cute decor, clean bathroom, regular Aspen parking.
(5)Critic D.
Back again, not sure we would come back next trip. The menu NEVER changes, not that it isn't good - it is but after awhile it is boring. Some of the wait staff is condescending as well. Who needs that?
(2)Matt C.
Best restaurant in Aspen! The food is incredible!!! The staff are knowledgeable, incredible wine and just simply a wonderful dinning experience!
(5)Rachael B.
So happy I discovered this place and the bar menu! Finally an affordable bite in aspen! Beautiful and romantic ambience and a diverse bar menu with fresh ingredients, amazing taste and great price! I had the Bolognese and asked for spinach pasta al Dente. A lot of sauce but quite delicious. I'll be back ... A lot! :)
(5)Eric F.
Excellent wine list music the food was excellent My lamb chops a little disappointing but everything else was excellent
(4)Denise A.
After reading all the reviews I guess you visit is at hit an miss. We had dinner here an it was great. We had excellent service an the food for the most part was great. I had the gnocchi an my husband had the pork shank both very good. I would go back again for sure. Hopefully my experience would be the same.
(4)Terry B.
I should have known better when I completed the online form to book our reservation and never got a response. However, I had a recommendation from a friend so we called directly to make the reservation anyway. In hindsight I wish we would have booked elsewhere. The staff is not at all professional and our waitress had a major attitude. We were ignored for most of the meal, then rudely rushed out at the end. Obviously they have a great location and therefore more business than they deserve. I guarantee they would not make it anywhere else. Do yourself a favor and choose one of the other fantastic Aspen restaurants. I wish we did for this night!
(1)Allie N.
The food was great but the staff was not. The only way you get decent service here is to make a reservation and to look nice. Eat at the bar if you just want a quick meal because its WAY cheaper and the food is just as good . Quick service but I probably wouldn't eat here again unless I wanted to have a nice night out.
(3)Titus T.
Great Italian food....one of the best carbonara I have ever tasted. Great wine selections (I.e. Over 15 pages of great Italian wines).
(4)Sara N.
We had a very large group dinner here and the restaurant did a great job of handling everyone. The food was also very good. I had a very nice caprese salad. The bread they put out was also pretty tasty-a nice assortment of different Italian breads. The pastas also looked delicious. The place had a great vibe too-also great for a romantic date.
(4)Keegan D.
I hope you come hungry because the portions are HUGE! Service was quick and easy, the patio is absolutely adorable, and from what I understand, they serve food pretty late (past 10ish). The wine list was expansive and the risotto was to DIE for.
(5)Alan C.
While we have dined as this restaurant several times in the past few years, our experience this year was dismal. Let me count the ways they dropped the ball: 1) We ordered a bottle of wine, telling the server that we would hold off on ordering any food until we had a few sips of wine. 10 minutes later, we flag our server down and order a salad thinking the wine will surely arrive any minute. The salad arrived before the wine. 2) Our server had the personality of a bluegill and the expertise of a child. Never came by the table to see how things were going. 3) I ordered the lamb chops and they were just so-so--the mashed potatoes were lumpy and my asparagus was woody. We'll be looking for a new dining experience next time we're in Aspen.
(2)Silvia P.
Honest ingredients, real Italian food. Amazing wines. Tiziano, the host, knows what he's doing!
(5)Kathryn R.
Perfect for a large group! This place is consistently great and the staff are so helpful and accommodating. At the last moment we tried to add three more people, knowing that it might just not be a possibility. Immediately they checked out the reservation list and quickly put together a table (now let me tell you that this place was packed!) but they did it happily. For a group of 7 we truly enjoyed ourselves. Tried a magnum bottle of Merlot, very dry by delicious. For an appetizer I had the burrata with olive oil and tomatos, that accompanied with their foccasia bread was so divine. For the table we had the calamari which were O.K. - they were really the only part of the meal that wasn't fabulous. Then for an entree I had the lobster pasta - huge chunks of lobster accompanied by a slightly spicy tomato sauce and zucchini.. YUM.. As the finale we had the profiteroles - not the best I've had but definitely still really yummy. Overall great experience. Good for groups, special occasions and family outings. The bar is also fun for a more casual experience.
(4)Albert I.
Appetizers were a big disappointment. The artichoke app had 2 tiny artichoke pieces hiding among the greens. The caprese was a lame attempt and small. The burrata was very good but stingy portion. As for the entrees you can call the risotto soup. The gnocchi was mushy and the bolognase was average. The Osso Bucco was the highlight of the dinner. Excellent wine selection and wait staff are friendly and professional. I had a hard time getting a star rating. In NJ/NYC this would be a 2 star but I bumped it up because its Aspen. A NYC Italian restauranteer would dominate this town.
(3)tae k.
The dinner crowd was bustling at 8 pm on a Tuesday night. Interesting decor with sleek bikes hanging from the walls. The table bread was average. I ordered the Tagliolini all' Astice, a fresh daily homemade spaghetti with chunks of Maine lobster that you had to dig out. You could really taste that the noodles were fresh. They give you a small claw but you needed a cracker if you wanted to get at the meat. The claw nearly flew off my plate when I tried to crack it with my hands. The coconut gelato was good.
(4)Leann M.
There were 4 in my party and all of us loved each of our dishes. The atmosphere wasn't too loud and the service was good for how busy the restaurant was. Overall extremely satisfied!
(4)Shannon K.
What a disappointing experience this was... We are usually people who get frustrated looking at reviews on yelp that rely solely on the service at the restaurant... That being said, this was some of the worst. To begin, we arrived without a reservation which, according to previous yelp reviews, was not a huge deal. It's a Tuesday night. We were told there was a 40 minute wait for the bar which we decided to stay for. We waited right outside the hostess table and watched numerous tables be seated before us... Once we were seated we were put at the corner of the bar- no big deal for us, but proved to be otherwise later. Once we were seated it took at least 10 minutes to get any sort of acknowledgment.... We were asked if we wanted alcohol, when we declined it was another 10 minutes at least before we were served water.... After we were served water we were asked again if we wanted anything from the bar, we again declined and instead asked for calamari for an appetizer. That came quickly and was decent (marinara was spicy, but good... Refer to picture for calamari). It was not until we finished the appetizer that we requested to order for dinner... We ordered two entrees... One came out incorrectly- which was promptly fixed by Gustav (the man who served the food from the kitchen)... Food was mediocre. The chicken dish I ordered was breaded, bland chicken covered in clumps of cheese, served with cold broccoli, cold mash potatoes and bland sautéed spinach. My boyfriends dish came with a decent amount of shrimp for the price, but the sauce was still nothing to brag about... Waited for our bill for several minutes before we decided to just bring the credit card to the manager. She was sorry but defensive and offered no discount or sincere apology for terrible service we had been given. This place came recommended however we were wary because of previous yelp reviews... Decided to try anyway... As always yelp proved right, really bummed to have spent our anniversary dinner receiving no respect, poor food and terrible service. Absolutely would never recommend, nor go back.
(1)John A.
Its Aspen, so it's overpriced. But it claims to be Italian, and that's where I felt a need to comment. No Italian restaurant would ever come to the table and attempt to remove food before it's done. No waiter in Italy would ever drop the check on the table before it's called for. This place is not Italian. It's Aspen.
(2)Brad C.
New favorite Italian joint in Aspen. Off the beaten path by a block or two but well worth the extra walk. Sit at at bar. Awesome menu and prices. Wine selection was good and food was delicious. Will be back before our trip is over!
(5)Aman S.
Wild boar ragout and veal Oso bucco amazing - must get both of these. Steak not so much, better steaks elsewhere in aspen.
(4)Robert P.
Over-OVER priced Italian food. Very good fresh made pasta but not worth almost $30 a plate. Cooked just right but not worth almost $30/plate. Tasty too, but not worth almost $30/plate. Trendy scene inside. Not much more to say. It's Aspen. Don't expect more than this.
(3)Jeff S.
Great calamari ap, great Osso Bucco entre, but thank god I was sitting down when I tried the chocolate fondue dessert, that was one of the best things I've ever tasted. I did have one thing happen here that brought my stars down to 4, but it's not worth mentioning.
(4)Paul S.
My family has been to L'Hostaria maybe a half dozen times over the years. We've always had a really good experience. This past visit was no exception. Service was brisk and efficient, and friendly enough. We got there before the place filled up, but it filled up fast, and the staff never missed a beat. Our waitress had a nice college-y vibe, and no one even batted an eye when my youngest spilled his water on the table. The room is loudish but not loud. Its a big space, and splitting it up into the three separated rooms really helps with the intimacy factor. It works well for big groups and for intimate, romantic dinners-- rare that both work in one place... There were six of us, and everyone ordered something different. I tried everything, and it was all delicious. We started with some meaty, nicely crisped and not too bready fried calamari that tasted like it had never seen a freezer (trust me, it all has), served with a spicy arrabiata. Three different pastas: a carbonara that had great texture (perfectly done spaghetti) but was a touch bland -- a bit more cheese and possibly a spicier pancetta would have helped; and pomodoro on spaghetti and also on gnocci that really had an old world fresh tomato flavor. Top class. I had a chicken rolatini that I thought was the star of the meal -- very crisply fried chicken breasts wrapping fontina, portobellos and prosciutto, with some asparagus and very tasty whipped potatoes -- one of those rare dishes that manages to be earthy and satisfying, and still have a touch of delicacy. Delicious. My daughter had branzino that was very nicely cooked and sauced. Branzino is a delicate fish, had to do well, but L'Hostaria did really nice job with it. My wife had a veal saltimboca that was exactly what it should be -- cheesy, salty and, again, earthy tasting. We chose a Barbera d'Alba from Enzo Boglietti, a fairly rare and very high-toned producer from this formerly peasant appellation. Man did it ever sell Barbera d'Alba! Very smart of this restaurant to invest heavily in this excellent, slightly obscure, producer. Desserts were mostly excellent. The star was the gelato and Meringue, though the meringue was a touch hard difficult to cut. Too much sugar, I think, and it was a touch too sweet. But very satisfying nonetheless.
(4)Jo A.
This will be my favorite place to go whenever I come here in Aspen, the food is amazing and so delicious. Great for big groups.
(5)Michael F.
One of Aspen's best restaurants. The food is incredible, the staff and service are better. A local favorite, go early to avoid a crowd and stay late for a good time.
(5)Ivan V.
Nice ambiance bad food. My wife had the seafood soup and I had veal chop. Both were horrible. The waiter didn't ask how to cook the veal chop. It was over cooked. When we asked he said that those were pre-made and that's why we do not have choice. So much for $38 entree.
(1)Paul V.
Aspen. Italian. Let's go. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? It's Aspen, so you'd best believe you're dealing with the best. In this case? We were, in both service and atmosphere. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Again, it's Aspen, which explains why I paid $22.50 pre-tax for an average portion of Spaghettini. Even so, that's $10 less than what I paid at nearby Rustique, so I'll let it slide here. Star Granted: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? Yum. Spaghettini is hard to mess up, but it's also equally as difficult to really get right. You can tell that L'hostaria makes their pasta from scratch, and that's doing it right without question. For this portion, the richness was perfect as well, and I left satisfied while not overly stuffed. Wonderful and unique. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? I really, really want to say yes, but alas, there was one issue. The menu has some brilliant options, but it's a bit on the small side. Italian is a fantastically broad cuisine, and yet L'hostaria tends to restrict itself to some of the pastas. Branch out a bit! Expand! No Star Granted.
(4)Woody W.
I can't imagine that such a popular and successful restaurant as this would have an arrogant pipsqueak as the "host" The food was excellent but you have to deal with this fellow who has all the charm and finesse of a junk yard dog.
(3)Brianna C.
Although this place isn't nearly as bad as most other restaurants in Aspen, most of the things we ordered were just average at best. The salmon tartar was ok, the sea bass was awful, the gnocchi was even worse. The service was average. The only good thing I must say about this place is that the Ossobucco was fabulous. Aside from that, this place was nothing special.
(3)Susan M.
Delicious! Some friends that have lived in Aspen 25 years told us it's their favorite restaurant and I totally understand why. The appetizer of parma prosciutto that we ordered was very large. My osso bucco was fabulous, great texture on the inside and out. My husband's risotto was perfect. We are really pleased and would go back over and over on our next trip to Aspen.
(4)Carrie P.
We had a lovely dinner at L'Hostaria. The place opens at 5:30. We arrived at 5:35 on a Thursday evening and, even though the place was empty, we were told that every table in the restaurant had already been reserved. So we took a seat at one of the bar tables, which was perfectly fine. However, I share this information to let you know that if you want a table in the dining room, you will have to reserve in advance. We enjoyed a lovely meal with great service. The calamari was not very good - neither tender nor fresh - but besides that, we thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our meal. We would certainly go back.
(4)Jake L.
Simple review is this: PROS: -Slightly more reasonably priced than the other spots in downtown Aspen -decor -Staff service CONS: -Dishes were good. Not great. -Speed of service (note that the people were very nice) -A bit crowded -LOUD Over the years, I've been there twice now. It's a good spot, and I will likely return for a third visit.
(3)Susie H.
We travel to Aspen each summer and each year we try this restaurant again in hopes of having the same experience we did 2 years ago. Unfortunately the server was the same server two years in a row and he had the same attitude both times...if you do not order alcohol I will make sure you wait and wait for each request you make. We would have loved to order desert-however he returned 20 minutes later. No apologizes but made a rude remark when leaving the check. We actually had to physically walk up to give our check to anyone around as he never returned. We have decided not to disclose his name as we fear he will be fired and end up another restaurant we frequent. Three is a charm on this one and we will never return.
(1)Lauren C.
Let me cut to the chase: when you get sand in the clams of your bland pasta dish - can a restaurant get any more than two *'s? I think NOT. There's (almost) nothing worse than biting on gritty sand over and over again. YUK. Redeeming qualities: good wine, delicious salads (Bresola, Burata), friendly wine server and auxiliary staff. Waiter: disinterested aspiring GQ model. UGH. Too many other restaurants to try. Avoid this one.
(2)Doug A.
I went there once and it was bad, but friends told me it was good so I decided to try again. That was a huge mistake. The food is mediocre bordering on terrible... The ambience is fine, if you want to eat dinner in God's waiting room. (The average age of the other diners was over 70 years old. I have nothing against the elderly, but you have to wonder why there are no people in their 20s 30s 40s or 50s eating there. Maybe this indicates the restaurant was actually good back in the 50s.) The service was horrendous, it's hard to believe this place stays in business. We sat in the bar, and the bartender was an absolute jerk. I was told the regular bartender was off that night... The guy we had wasn't even qualified to be a dishwasher. Somebody told me that he was usually a server, I find that hard to believe as well. Aside from the terrible food and service, the bar was filled with drunk senior citizens... Which sounds like a lot of fun, except it wasn't. I will not be back.
(1)Lindsay B.
We relied heavily on Yelp reviews while in Aspen, so here's me paying it forward-- This is a great, great spot for fantastic Italian food, including delicious housemade pastas in a cozy, romantic but lively setting. It was exactly what my boyfriend and I were looking for this past Friday night when meandering around in the off-season, trying to find a meal that would still knock our socks off. L'hostaria delivered with yummy red wines, a burrata appetizer (ohhhh, yessss), rich, savory pasta dishes--we had the wonderful wild boar gnocchi and the bolognese, and an awesome ambiance that felt intimate without being too serious. Go here, eat pasta, drink a delicious bottle of red wine with someone you love, and I promise you'll leave feeling so happy and satisfied.
(4)Rachel C.
Great food! Dining room was very quiet but the bar was very loud when we went which really killed the nice tranquil mood I was in. The beer I ordered was in a can and the glass the waitress brought with it was room temperature and not chilled, upsetting. Portions were a good size but kinda pricey. Worth it though for the taste. All in all a great hole in the wall!
(4)Susan Y.
First night in Aspen, after the almost 5 hour drive form FoCo and a stop for a quick hike at the Maroon Bells and we were hungry! The concierge at our hotel recommended L'Hostaria, specifically the bar menu. The bar was hopping, but we were seated after just a short wait. Bartender/waiter/masseur Scotty from New Zealand took good care of us, from drink orders, food recommendations, setting us up with a selection of desserts, a splash more wine, limoncello shots, another splash of wine, all the while with entertaining banter. The portions in the bar are supposedly smaller than in the dining room, so my friends and I shared an antipasto plate as an appetizer, but even without the antipasto I'm certain my pasta dish would have been plenty filling. I even chose one of the lighter preparations -- capellini with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. My friends seemed to enjoy their dishes, too -- Milanese chicken and the scallops over mixed greens. The coconut gelato with kahlua was a simple yet delicious dessert -- much better than the torta IMHO. We got out of here with a very reasonable bill, which was a great way to start our weekend in Aspen.
(5)Andrea K.
After reading the reviews, John and I were excited to try the bar menu for dinner. Everything sounded delicious. We ended up ordering the steak and the scallops. Both were just ok. I thought some of the scallops were a little fishy. John's steak wasn't a great cut or anything and it certainly wasn't something that made me want to go back for more and more. The bread was good and the bartender was great. I had an excellent glass of Valpolicella - but for $12, it definitely should make me swoon! We probably will not visit here again on another trip to Aspen...too many other places to try!
(3)Phil T.
We were in Aspen a couple weeks and L'Hostaria was highly recommended. We sat at the bar and ordered from the bar menu. I had a seafood soup and wife had a salad. Service was good and so was the food. Place was packed for a Tuesday night. Hot place in town. Enjoyed the place.
(4)C K.
We love everything about L'Hostaria! Scotty and Pride, the best bartenders, and all the waitstaff are so attentive and personable. You really get the sense that they are glad you are there. The bar menu can't be beat (get the Chicken Milanase with a side of Marinara-$14) or the steak. The antipasta platter is great for sharing as an app. I go here with my girlfriends about once a month and have a great time and really feel like we are getting a good deal. Great drinks, great food and all reasonably priced. We get disappointed when we branch out and try any other restaurant. Why fix what's not broken?!?!? You won't be disappointed.
(5)H C.
Great spot. Always busy. Consistent high quality fresh Italian food - even at the bar.
(5)Lantz W.
Finest Italian food in Pitkin Co. Good wine list and excellent service.
(5)A Soleil B.
L'hostaria is one fancy-schmancy place. I dined with 6 other ladies, which made it very hard to keep conversations steady on such a large round table. The noise level is already very boisterous and lively, so it wasn't too bothersome to bounce around short conversations. The salads are very tasty and nice to split [even though there is a $3 split fee]. For my entree I decided I felt adventurous and went for the coniglio [rabbit]... one of the women I was with joked about finding Peter Cottontail's lucky foot in my bowl, and she was relatively close. Instead of being breast meat or pulled off the bone, there it was, all on the bone and clearly in the shape of it's hind leg. I was able to ignore it and enjoy the savory flavor for a while until the broth of the stew-like dish receded and the leg became more pronounced. So what my point is, is only order this dish if you are confident you can stomach [no pun intended] the idea of eating Peter Cottontail for dinner. On a somewhat lighter note, it was humorous for me to see a glossary of terms in the back of the menu.. for people such as myself who like to read the menu online before entering the restaurant and having no idea what anything is because they had forgotten to look up a list of terms. We ordered about 5 desserts and basically passed them around. The coconut gelato in Kalhua, and hazelnut gelato, and meringues with ice cream were all tasty. I would only warn against the tiramisu and some strange cheese cake we were given.. No good! We split the bill evenly amongst all of us, and after throwing in two bottles of wine, it totaled to about $70 per person
(3)Eliza M.
I found it to be good enough to eat there twice! I was in Aspen for business last week. While I didn't have to pay for the meal, I still had to stay within my per diem (which doesn't go very far in Aspen, honestly). I asked the concierge at my hotel for a less expensive option and he recommended L'Hostaria-- and specifically the bar menu. So I decided to follow his advice! I went in on Tuesday night and sat at the bar. There was live music playing in the corner (a little loudly, but I was also RIGHT next to the band... so, my own fault!). The place was packed and I squeezed in. I was greeted by a friendly bartender named Scotty from New Zealand (oops-- called you an Aussie, sorry Scotty!) and looked over the menu. I got the steak, with a mushroom sauce, with mashed potatoes and vegetables-- for 14.50. The steak was cooked PERFECTLY. Literally. The next night I did the same exact thing-- sidled up to the bar, said hi to Scotty, and looked over the menu. This time I got the beef carpaccio (delicious, subtle, and big portion!) and some homemade pasta. I can't remember EXACTLY what I ordered but it was good! Both meals were a tad salty for my taste, but hey-- I'm only 25, who needs to monitor their salt intake now? I'll worry about that when my blood pressure becomes a [bigger] issue. All in all, I really enjoyed my tim at L'Hostaria. the locals are going to be mad at me for spreading the word, but it's totally worth it for a good, reasonably priced meal in a nice environment in Aspen!
(4)Tynan F.
After dining here about 3 years ago and having a fantastic meal, I was surprised to hear poor reviews over the years since I've been here. I decided to go try it again with my sister last week in hopes that these were falsities. To some extent, they were. Service was great. Knowledgable and happy staff made us feel comfortable. Appetizer of Caprese and Arugula Salads were good, but nothing to rave about. Arugula lacked flavor and spice, according to my sister. For Entree, we shared two pastas (one basic and one with pancetta and onion) which were very good. I actually found that going back to the basics--in this case homemade tomato sauce, mozz, and fresh pasta topped with parm--really paid off. The pasta with pancetta and onion was good, but the flavor of the additives greatly overpowered that floury fresh pasta taste that I was looking forward to. We also had the "stuffed" chicken which was a good 80% dark meat...not good. Although I liked the premise of infusing the bird with spinach, feta, onions, and white beans, it turned out to be surprisingly bland. Overall, main meal wasn't bad, but could have been better with a bit more attention to detail in seasoning. And then came dessert. By far, the best dessert I had while on my trip to Aspen. We had the Apple Tart (essentially a giant slice of apple pie), pistachio gelato, and the tiramisu. All were mouth-watering in their descriptions, and somewhat unlike their predecessors, in their actual taste too. After all, I would expect nothing less from the former pastry chef of U2 (for real... one of the first chef's notes on the menu). Overall, probably wouldn't return just because there are so many other places in Aspen to find great Italian food. This was good Italian food, but could have easily been a lot better.
(3)Joe P.
We had great food and great service Very good
(4)Scott L.
Not that great, but we had take out. The place seemed cool, maybe our food would have been better. Had a steak, cooked unevenly and seasoned weirdly. All the portions were too small and seemed like whoever made it didn't give a rats ass what we thought. Spent 130 bones for 4 light eaters and felt like twice as much food should have been served at twice the quality. 3 stars because it was edible and fast, and the maitre d was cool. Not recommended though, should've went with Brexxi.
(3)Betsy H.
We ate in the bar area and the prices were great for what I expected in Aspen and I was thrilled that they joyfully had gluten-free options. Great selection of wines. Fun place and the tartar was excellent!
(4)Scott S.
Italian done right. A fish served whole. Drinks that wont stop as long as you are will to pay for them in the end. The bar menu is delightful.
(4)Sarah M.
I haven't been to the other Italian restuarant, but this place was good! Not THAT good that next time I'm in Aspen I would be a return guest rather than trying the other one, but this place was pretty good. We had the calamari for an app which was good, but not as good as other places I have been to. For dinner we had a lobster risotto special and the chocolate cake for dessert. The dessert was more icecream than cake though, so we didn't finish it. Over all, it was a good experience, but I'll be trying other places before coming back here again.
(4)Bonita A.
I'm definitely not one to complain but this place was nothing to write home about. The prices do not reflect the quality of the food. My caprese salad had soggy tomatoes, yuk! Our friends ordered the veggie ravioli and all three who ordered it said they regretted that dish. Decent Italian food but i wasn't having a culinary orgasm or anything. The service was not very memorable. I'm not sure if it's the elevation or the fact that the service deals with snooty rich people year round but they didn't feel like they had to go out of their way to be personable or have any sense of a personality, which would have made this place stand out a little more.
(2)Jon S.
My wife and I dined at L'hostaria during a birthday getaway to Aspen. Everything started out well. friendly server, good appetizers, good wine. After that, our server then disappeared for long periods of time. After we finished our entrees, we were left sitting around for over 25 minutes without a single sign of him. The last we had seen him was over 45 minutes earlier when he brought our entrees. The table next to us was served by the same waiter, and after initially greeting them, they were waiting around for the same time without being even able to order. We needed to head out to meet some friends, so we finally just went up to the hostess stand to let them know how long we were waiting. We received our ticket, and she graciously comped us 1/2, or so we thought. It seemed like a very nice gesture, and I was happy they were making up for it. We paid the 1/2 price bill that we received. Then, the next month, my credit card statement showed up with the full price (which I had never authorized or signed for!) We contacted the restaurant, and it took over a week for them to get back to us. They said it was because I didn't have a reservation (I did indeed have a reservation, made 2 weeks earlier). They then said it was a "mistake" and that they were going to charge full price. telling someone you are going to make up for a bad experience, then unilaterally deciding you aren't going to live up to that, is a terrible way to run a business. So, 4 stars for the food, 1 star (I'd give less if I could) for the wretched service and treatment. There are far better options in Aspen to spend your money.
(2)Mark T.
Best meal I've had in Aspen. Been here a few times over the past few years and it never fails to impress. The house cabernet is decent and the bar menu is a great deal - everyone in my party was impressed with their meals - especially for the price. The place gets packed as obviously lots of locals and tourists alike frequent this place.
(5)Akram b.
Average food and nothing special I stopped going there. Aspen has no good Italian reasturant
(3)Yaha O.
Good wine menu, but noisy and crowdy. The "rollatina di pollo" is good but not awesome and for $28 to me is expensive. Saltimboca good but not awesome neither $29. Good service. Need to down stairs for the restaurant.
(2)Robyn B.
The pasta dishes are huge and so good you'll want to eat every bite. Everyone at the table ordered something different and we each tasted each others. We all enjoyed everything but were far too stuffed for dessert which next time I would want to save room to try. The servers were very attentive and we were served very quickly which was perfect because we were all starving after a full day of skiing. The spaghettini was my favorite dish.
(4)Scott B.
I enjoyed both the food and ambiance of L'Hostaria. I'd say this is a great find, and I fully credit yelp with the find. The highlights were the Burrata appetizer (just make sure to put it on some of their tasty bread), the Buffalo Carpaccio, the braised Pork shanks, and the lamb (though I was disappointed that "goat cheese encrusted only meant a small dollop of goat cheese on the top of each lamb chop). I was disappointed in the Beef Carpaccio -- I think it could have used some acidity or something. The person in my party who had the gnocchi enjoyed it, but I wasn't that impressed personally. But both of these were minor complaints; they just didn't live up to the other dishes. My only REAL complaint is that our waitress disappeared for lengthy periods of time. First, after we had ordered wine she disappeared for about ten minutes while we sat ready to order. Then when the check came, she was absent again. Our waitress' performance aside, the service was quite good. The food came promptly and well timed. So the bottom line is that I'd whole heartedly recommend this place. Solid food that actually isn't all that expensive (appetizers are 10-18, entres top out at 34). Last, If you're a fan of Italian wines, this place certainly has you covered. I suggest reservations if you don't want to stand around for long as it does get busy. They only take phone reservations to my knowledge.
(4)Margo N.
We were at this restaurant right before Christmas. We were at the door 2 minutes after opening for the evening. Place was empty, we had a reservation as we were told - must have to get in. Hosstes/ manager pretended to be Italian with fake accent got pale white when I start talking Italian ( as I am ). Why I did this just because she was very rude. Now about the food: No Good !!!!!!!!! My chicken was too salty and dry, Foccacia bread was under cooked in the middle. My friends fettucine Alfredo was terrible. Pasta was all broken up and soft ( she did ask for al dente) sorry forgot they pretend to be Italian. In addition they used flour to thicken the sauce (you could taste it). The proper way cream reduction, takes time but is well done and place like this, charging those prices should know better. Service was terrible as well. Restaurant was empty and service was super slow.
(1)Rodney H.
Wow 2 nights in a row we 5 star in Aspen 100% for sure i suggest to eat at the bar with this menu you cannot go wrong Good wine list ,we ordered 2004 Il Bosco D'allesandro Shiraz which was excellent. We shared a Gorgonzola salad, calamari,penne puttanesca,pork shank followed by dessert a superb Coconut Gelato with Kahlua. Service was warm & friendly, our waitress was a young Aussie & she was very good, the hosts greet you warmly at the door & the whole atmosphere was very good, i wish i could give 6 stars.
(5)Neil S.
Recommended by the concierge as a good place for Italian food. Made reservation for early dinner. There are two menus, a bar and full dinner. The difference is portion and price. We decided to eat at bar. We ordered brusheta as an appetizer. Interesting presentation, little slices of dry bread with chopped tomatoes and in the center of plate bell peppers seasoned with olive oil. It was not appealing for us because dry bread tasted like old bread and we do not like bell peppers. I don't remember reading that on menu. That was a tough start but they came threw with flying colors with entree. Ordered spinach pasta with meat sauce. Absolutely wonderful! Coupled with a delicious wine,el brilante, the meal became a success. Would visit again and bring my friends.
(4)Jimmy S.
Looking for Italian tonight and found it thanks to yelp. My group of 4 didn't quite fit in with the rest of the clientele, but that is Aspen for you. Restaurant was great, service great, and the special of the night was delicious.
(5)Caitlin P.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Aspen. The bar menu prices are about half of what the dining room is, and I recommend getting there early because it gets packed. I get the NY Strip steak almost every time because it is so good, but have had many different pasta dishes there as well, and they have all been great. $15 for a good steak in Aspen, can't really beat it.
(5)A R.
For those of you looking for a fun local place with good Italian fare this is the place. It's a little hard to find at night because it is located lower than street level ( basement). Google maps tells you it's on the corner of hymen and spring so don't look for a restaurant front on the corner, but a dimly lit sign will lead you down to this popular spot. I'm so glad we chose to come here instead of camp de fiore, which was quite empty. We didn't have reservations but they seated us promptly on a Saturday night in the bar area. There are plenty of cute tables with comfy benches. Scotty the bartender was also our server and started us out with some bread. On his recommendation I had the night's special of sea bass, which was perfectly cooked, served with sautéed spinach and vegetable hash. The tiramisu was light and delectable. Definitely a good italian option while in Aspen.
(3)Debbie C.
We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at L'Hosteria. We are never disappointed by our meals and our server was very good this evening. The place was packed,e tutti era delizioso!
(4)Matt L.
Great atmosphere just on the outskirts of Aspen. We sat down at a great table outside almost immediately. However, after 15 we still had not even met out waiter, we went and complained the owner/manager but little was done. This was the story of our night as we were constantly neglected. Never offered a refill on our drinks or even asked how our meals were. If they had asked I would of told them I've had better. The ravioli was a little too al dente for my taste and the veal was bland. For the $200 bill I left feeling like I had been robbed.
(2)Chuck S.
The Chef is quite talented. However, be warned, the waiters are both arrogant and ignorant. They bring the food out of the kitchen with NO IDEA who to serve it to. We were a group of 16 and they served the wrong food to 8 of us. I mentioned it to our waiter; he got short with me saying we moved around. Well, we did move and talk but we all returned it our original seats when the food was served. I should have learned from last year. I saw the same waiter remove a partially eaten plate of pasta that he served to the wrong table and re-serve to another patron. YUK!
(1)C Rad R.
Great locally run italian owned restaurant. Best Italian we have found in Aspen. Good service. Enjoy.
(4)Caroline G.
A friend and I popped in while visiting for the Food & Wine Classic - she had been to L'hostaria on a previous trip and couldn't remember the name, only that it was great. I found it on Urban Spoon and off we went! We sat at the bar and ordered five different items off that menu. We also ordered a lot of wine, so I don't remember what all those items were : ) I know I had a fabulous antipasto and she the gnocchi. Oh yes, I also had a dish of angel hair past with a sun-dried tomato sauce. The food was all divine. Fabrizio personally made sure we had everything we wanted and gifted us a delightful bottle of asti Moscato. Friendly locals took a shine to us ladies and helped us sample more of the wine list. We will definitely be back.
(5)Tracy A.
Thank heavens for Yelp, or we would not have known about this place during our July visit to Aspen. It's low-key, a nice-looking place where they cook great Italian food and offer great service -- but resist the urge to tell you how fabulous they are. Our food was fantastic, especially the minestrone ($9, and believe me, it was worth it). There's nothing better than basic food done really, really well. We had pasta dishes and both were excellent. Sitting there, you know you're in a happy place -- soft lighting, cheerful crowd. I will always include L'hostaria on my must-do list when I'm in town.
(5)Neal R.
I enjoyed my meal at L'hostaria. For an appetizer, the table shared an excellent burrata mozzarella. Later on, I tried an equally stellar order of spaghettini with light shallot cream sauce, prosciutto, and mushrooms. As an entree, I split an order of the buffalo, which likely was the most tender piece of red meat I've had in recent memory. The service was attentive and courteous. As dinner progressed, the room became louder, making dinner conversation a tad difficult. Nevertheless, it was a pleasure to eat at a restaurant as popular as its food was delicious. A rare Aspen treat!
(4)Erica W.
Oh my good lord! The crowd at the door immediately let us know that this place would probably be great- but it was elbow to elbow so we headed to the Silver Queen for a laid back pre-dinner cocktail. Came back and our table was ready. Everything was stupendous! The carpaccios (breasola and beef carpaccio) were amazing. Burrata was love on a plate with miraculously perfect sweet tomatoes in early March. Spaghetttini was divine- perfect portion, divine sauce- not too heavy not top light, just perfect! The pork shark was flipping amazing- serious earth shakingly good melt on your mouth pork in a heavenly sauce- and did I mention HUGE- could have fed 2-3 easily. One misstep was the lobster in the tagliollini al astice - it was slightly over cooked - not hugely - just didn't have the same delicate touch as the other dishes. Saltimbicco was delicious. Sommelier was very helpful and picked a great wine to pair with everything. Service was great- love love love this place! Torta de ricotta with rhubarb sauce was a perfect ending to a exquisite meal with a glass of limincello. Well done - from the gracious hostess to our delightful server and attentive busser who kept our post skiing glasses full to the talented kitchen team! We will definitely be back!
(5)Catherine H.
We ate at the bar. The atmosphere was great and so was the food. The bartender, Scottie, was hilarious. He keeps the cocktails flowing!
(5)Alex D.
L'Hostaria is one of my favorite restaurants in Aspen. The patio in the summer is great. Dine at the bar or in the dining room, which can be very romantic if you opt for a booth. Simple, fresh Italian fare. Nothing over done. Extensive, original wine list. Knowledgeable, professional staff. Finish your meal with the coconut gelato topped with Kahlua.
(5)E Alan R.
Best Tuesday night eating and music experience going. Great to eat at the bar, you will be well taken care of. Go with a local, they'll know everyone. Have the fungi!
(4)Bill G.
L'hosteria is a great place. There are several owners/managers, and they all work overtime to make sure you have a great time. The food, the drinks, and the staff are all close to perfection in my book. Not overpriced or ostentatious (hard to find in this town, believe me), but a great time. I like to sit at the tables by the bar, it's always packed, but not noisy or hard to move around in.
(4)Heidi T.
It's totally adequate if you like lousy service, overpriced wine, and mediocre pasta. Oh, and being seated 20 minutes late for a reservation.
(1)Ben B.
Dining during the Christmas 2008 holiday season, we found L'Hostaria to be a very busy restaurant, both in the bar and the restaurant itself. Our waiter had too many tables to serve, he was friendly, but checked in only occasionally. Some of our pasta dishes were tasty, particularly the lobster pasta and the beef gnochi,, but the minestrone was weak and the spinach pasta was not flavorful. Prices are reasonable and the hostess very friendly and helpful. Overall, a mixed experience at L'Hostaria.
(3)