We ordered the oysters and buffalo meatball appetizers both were very good. The mains were mostly meats. We chose the Buffalo and Lamb both arrived not cooked to the correct temperature. The lamb was well done not medium rare and Buffalo raw. We sent both back the second time the Lamb arrived raw and Buffalo still raw. The Buffalo was then cooked a bit more and was actually quite tender and tasty. The waiter was very nice and bought a couple of glasses of wine to make up for the poor presentation from the kitchen. The Grill person should have been trained to cook meat to correct temperature.
(2)
Tony M.
A fun dinner with good friends at a restaurant in a new city certainly could influence my review. I had Oso Buco, my friend Mark had Buffalo, KC had Tenderloin and Gail had the Colorado Trout. We shared bites. The desserts were crazy good! Piñon's was very very good! Service was fast and friendly. Kicks ass and balls!
(5)
sarah b.
Pinions is good. White table clock American food. Interesting bar and extensive wine list. Attentive service. Eat. At. The. Bar. They have a fixed price menu for $35 that offers a decent variety of some of their more popular items. I had the snapper which was pretty good. Wedge salad, also decent. I like this place. For the price point, I like it slightly less.
(3)
Izabela M.
Amesing place, you won't regret. Great locations on the heart of Aspen. As appetizer the Tuna Tacos is fantastic. As entree we had the Crusted Sea Bass with coconut rice unbelievable! I loved, place to go back!
(4)
Stu T.
Looks like a typical american-type cuisine establishment, but it was the best meal I had so far in Aspen. Service was just average. Go with the Tuna taco appetizers, and the trout or sea bass. Extremely flavorful, service was average.
(4)
Dave L.
Service was a bit brusk, yet efficient. If offered, get the buffalo even though your first instinct might be the steak
(4)
Carmen R.
Had dinner at Pinons while honeymooning in Aspen. My husband called ahead and notified them of the occasion as well as the fact that my birthday had also been a few days before. As a result, we were treated to not one, but two complimentary deserts. The staff was incredibly friendly, the noise level and lighting created the perfect romantic ambiance. We were checked on regularly by several staff members but also left alone when we were ready to simply enjoy each other's company. The food was delicious, the tuna tacos are a must. If you want an amazing night out in Aspen this is definitely my recommendation. I wouldn't change a thing.
(5)
Loren P.
Maybe the best food in Aspen. The food is excellent. The fare tends toward game, which is great to me. The ambience is elegant. The crowd is a little old. The fixed bar menu is a great choice. I had the Freddy salad (excellent) and filet (equally great). The wine list was excellent and fairly priced.
(5)
Kai C.
pinions is one of the best restaurants in aspen. fun bar atmosphere and an a well-priced, great bar menu. the food is amazing with high-end service. love this restaurant!!!
(5)
John H.
This is a very busy place and for good reason. The staff is totally attentive without hovering. The appetizers were great particularly the duck confit quesadilla. A perfectly prepared ribeye to go with my wife's fish which was excellent. Finally, a formal wine service which wasn't stuffy. Outstanding.
(4)
Sally S.
Four of us dined on 12/17/12 and found the food to be good but not excellent. Overall, we felt the meal was overpriced, even for Aspen. We did however, like that the more quiet conversation setting. Also, the cosmo ordered was well done. Bottom line: would not recommend.
(2)
David H.
Pinons is my favorite restaurant in Aspen. I have been there at least 20 times over the last three years and I have NEVER had a bad experience. It's so good, in fact, that whenever I try another place in Aspen, I always wish that I had gone to Pinons instead. It helps to be a quasi regular too.. They all treat you really great and appreciate the loyalty! Awesome awesome awesome.
(5)
James T.
Excellent for wild game. Try the bar menu - which has lower prices and fast service
(4)
Tommy M.
My wife and I chose this place as your anniversary night dinner for our trip to Aspen based on reviews and we were pretty blown away by the food we ate. Everything we had was perfectly cooked and prepared. The pork tenderloin dish was one of the best dinners I've ever had. One big standout for me was the nutella banana cream pie dessert, I highly recommend it. The place is pricey, but I feel you get what you pay for here. The wait staff is very professional and on the ball with refills and any questions. I will be coming back next time I'm in Aspen.
(5)
Sally B.
This restaurant was a tremendous disappointment. Our dinner for four was $300, including wine - and our waiter could not have been worse. He was disinterested and dismissive. We talked to the manager about our poor service and found him to be similarly dismissive. Food was fine - not amazing, but fine. We all ended up leaving angry that our experience was so poor when there are so many other restaurants to choose from. The restaurant is also very noisy.
(2)
Eric F.
Superb service welcoming staff accommodating Great wine list The sommelier was extremely knowledgable the food was excellent. The trout snapper lamb chops and veal chop just excellent The deserts Try the cobbler All and all a great night
(5)
John D.
Dover sole always outstanding. Jim the maitre d is one if a kind and outstanding. Hard to choose from among the appetizers. All are über tummy
(5)
lynne l.
If mediocrity is what you yearn for than RUN to Pinions in Aspen. I don't need to go into great detail, but after sending back soggy onion rings and over cooked asparagus my entree was saturated in fat and over done. The waiter was probably afraid to come back after that, so they didn't. At the end of the meal a manager or assistant asked my male friends if their meal was ok, but when I let her know my meal was a disaster she told me I should have told my waiter ( who never even glanced our way to see how we were doing after the meal was served). She really developed an attitude. Kind of obvious to me this restaurant MAY value the business of regulars and celebrities and males only. Obviously, I highly recommend to stay away from this restaurant . Personal opinion.
(1)
Mike K.
Piñons has for years been one of my favorite Aspen restaurants, but my recent experience was a total disappointment. When neither your server nor host take any interest in the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen, or care enough to inquire if everything is satisfactory, it's a sign that the passion is gone. Vegetables were over-cooked -even on the second try-onion rings were soggy,and sauces and dressings were heavy handed. The entrees were edible, but for the prices being charged I expect far better execution.
(2)
Porterhouse P.
One of the top restaurants in aspen! sommelier is great and the duck quesadillas are off the chain! Cant go wrong with anything on the menu I always get the veal chop. Cozy log cabin kinda vibe
(5)
Farooq K.
Great experience throughout the meal. Came in and was greeted by a really personable host. I have a feeling he might be the owner --- seems like he's doing it just for fun (seemed really happy to be there). Food was excellent --- steak done perfectly, salads were fresh and well done, and the (surprise) dessert was excellent. The service is what makes this place stand out. Had a vegetarian in the party and the waitress made sure to separate out the bacon bits in the salad (although it wasn't requested). I have a feeling she deduced this based on her tofu enchilada order (which was excellent). I also wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a little 'congrats' dessert as she got a job offer an hour prior to dinner (not the reason we were going out, but worked out nicely and wanted to recognize it ... although last minute). Called the restaurant in advance and the same host said "he'd take care of it". He definitely did. And he got the spelling of her name right (usually folks mess it up!!!). It's worth every penny you pay and then some.
(5)
Michael C.
First let me tell you the bread and butter are amazing. The butter tastes like a confection without sugar. It's light fluffy and as smooth as Billy D Williams. The meatballs are divine, the roasted chicken and cauliflower are spot on perfect. I also forgot to mention that the stuffing will make you slap your mama. The sea bass is seriously awesome, however the Sol in butter is the best fish I have had in my life. It is like comparing an S Class to a Phantom. I'm honestly saying I think this is one of, if the best restaurants in the county, seriously I'm not joking. I eat at God awful expensive places all around the country and world and honestly, this is a solid Michelin 3 stars.
(5)
Laura B.
This was my first trip to Pinon's, the party I was with visits every year when they come to Aspen. The service was very professional and staff was extremely courteous (including the woman who took our coats). The food was delicious, presentation was also well done. I am vegetarian and the tofu enchilada with quinoa was wonderful. When a restaurant takes the time to make the veg dish that good, you know they care about the food they are putting out. The others at table had trout and they were very pleased. It is definitely pricey so check out the menu on yelp or their website first if you have concerns on that. Another restaurant not to miss is Il Poggio in Snowmass Village! Call 2 days ahead for reservations at Both restaurants Enjoy!!!
(5)
Kathryn R.
Best Meal in Town My family and I have come to Pinons every Christmas Eve for the past 12 years and we are never disappointed! The staff is amazing and very helpful from picking the right wine choice in the right price range to describing which meat is the best for the night. For wine we tried the Walker which is a red, full bodied, very smooth (we asked them what was like Caymus and they gave us this). As for our meal, this past time we split the duck tacos (HAVE TO GET), tuna tacos (never missing them) and the bison meatballs (moist with the right amount of tomato sauce). For the next course I had the lamb (median rare) with brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes - so delicious. My mother had the same and both my father and my brother had the bision, nobody was unsatisfied! To finish off the meal we had the fruit cobbler and the nutella dessert accompanied by dessert wine. Love the family time, atmosphere and tradition that we have had coming to this place for 12 years! Go for a special occasion or sit at the bar and enjoy a more casual experience. You will love it, I promise.
(5)
Angelo S.
Great portions ... Food delivered at the right temp ... Service was efficient but celeb three tables down seemed to take occupy most of his time. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the meal and would plan a second trip.
(4)
Eric G.
Always a treat. The Crispy Oysters are amazing. We had the Buffalo, Veal, and Foie Gras topped Filet. All were perfect. Been going here for 10 years and not stopping anytime soon.
(5)
Ted N.
Couldn't get off the apps, tried 4 with the soup of the day and drank it all down with a bottle of champagne. If I was in town longer I would go back. Service was great too.
(5)
Jeremy S.
Really great dining experience. I was trying to lean healthy on this meal, so I started with the baby kale salad with prosciutto which was delicious. For my main course, I had the breaded trout which was fantastic - a much heartier dish than I expected. I also got to try a bite of the infamous parm covered veal chop, quite savory and monstrous!
(5)
Jane S.
The regular menu is a tad pricy than what you get but we did the bar menu which was very good value! I had the filet steak and my husband had the pork tenderloins and each had an appetizer for $35 each. My husbands meatball app was so yummyyyy! Definitely recommend. We had a reasonably priced bottle of wine which paired very well with our dinner. Overall, great experience!
Aspen has a lot of great food. I wouldn't go as far as to say mind-blowing but some places do a great job. Pinon's is solid. You will not have a bad meal here. It wont be the best you ever had but I promise you will get an honest cut of very tasty beef. The staff is great too. I will make this a regular stop on my trips out here.
Pricey? Yup. Top Quality Service and Food? Absolutely! So, I tend to look younger than my age and it can sometimes affect service in Restaurants. TO me when they ignore age and treat you as if you can afford the meal that's the mark of a good waiter and restaurant. Everyone from the Sommelier to the food runners was on top of their game. Excellent excellent meal and wine. The Sommelier didn't only suggest bottles starting @ $100. He actually listed 3 very reasonably priced wines to go with our main course selections. He was spot on. A fantastic Zinfandel that was perfect with my Buffalo. Everything was top notch here. Highly recommend
(5)
Albert I.
This is the place trying to be high-end but I didn't really feel that they make it up to that level. The meal preparation was very good. The ambiance is very sedated and the staff is professional but there is no vibe. They need a NYC makeover to get people in the door.
(3)
Johnny C.
This restaurant was quite impressive. A 5 out or 5 takes quite an extraordinary experience all the way around for me to apply this rating. Here are the facts: We arrived yesterday at 6pm and we were seated promptly. There were 3 of us in our party. There were few occupied tables at 6pm but eventually every table was filled. Our waiter (Marcel M) was confident and polite and gracious -- the rest of his team proved to be polite and sustainably attentive. Elite service! I ordered an iceberg wedge salad for an appetizer -- it was crisp, fresh and tasty. Two of us ordered the buffalo tenderloin. The presentation was fantastic and the taste was similar to a filet mignon -- happily it lacked any peculiar flavor -- the buffalo was a bit sharper in flavor than cattle but very good for even more conservative diners. The price was $48 for the buffalo. The veal chop had an excellent presentation. My table mate gave it a "4 out of 5" due to some fattiness. Overall it was described as good but the buffalo was preferred. We ordered a bottle of Bordeaux (French) '08 Chateau Tour du Moulin, from Fronsac, France. It was $51 for the bottle -- so the price was reasonable and it tasted nice. The sommelier steered us in this direction and he did not have a hint of arrogance (which we have encountered before more than we'd like with other sommeliers). Most importantly he gave us good advice for the wine selection, at a reasonable price and he was also very helpful with the rest of his serving team by removing dishes from the table and fine-tuning our dining experience -- this seemed unusual but it was very seamless and impressive! The "chocolate bread" dessert was very good and it was $14.50. 5 out of 5 stars. We will definitely return.
(5)
Charlie W.
Prices are fair. Food was great and generous portions. Staff was friendly except our waitress. Spoke with the Sommelier more than waitress.
(4)
Jan D.
Was referred here by the owner of the Blue Moon in Grand Junction, and our arrival on Christmas night was expected. We were greeted by the most gracious host, sat at the bar and enjoyed the specialty cocktails, the fried oyster w/caviar appetizer, Freddy salad and the ahi. The atmosphere was great, as was the bar staff. Had we not been told to visit, we would have missed it; walked by the doorway once. We'll definitely make Pinions a destination during our next Aspen visit!
(5)
Jerome D.
What a great place. The food is wonderful and the service cuts the mustard for sure. Probably the best fine dining restuarant in Aspen.
(4)
joannie h.
We spent 4 days in Aspen. The food was okay but nothing spectacular to boast about. I do love the ambiance and the service there was awesome.
(3)
Eric H.
It pains me to give Pinons only 3 stars. I really wanted to love this place because I did extensive research to find a special restaurant for this wedding weekend dinner. With a 4.5 out of 5 star Yelp rating and mostly glowing reviews I thought this place would deliver. Maybe it was an off night because they were closing the next day for the spring season, but here's why I left this meal disappointed. The decor of this place is great with it's dimly lit interior and classy feel. Our waiter was actually great too. He was very friendly, professional and provided excellent service It's the food that really missed the mark for me. We started with the Duck Quesedilla, which was bland and boring and definitely didn't justify the $18 price tag. The tortilla was stale and and over cooked to the point where each bite was coated with a dry, chalky texture. The duck flavor was barely noticeable. For my entree, I got the parmesan crusted veal chop. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad or anything, but it was just blah. I didn't taste the prosciutto at all, nor was there even a hint of truffle flavor in the risotto. For $48 it should have left more of a mark. My wife got the sesame crusted sea bass, which was overcooked and dry. She didn't care for the baby bok choi either, which didn't taste fresh. We had probably the best sea bass at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon the next week in Vegas, which reminded us how good this fatty, oily fish can be. The real kicker was when we got coffee and the cream that was served with it was curdled. Both of us had floating white chunks in our coffee. We didn't finish our small cups because we were so grossed out. I'm going to give Pinons the benefit of the doubt that they weren't focused on putting out the high qualtiy food they usually do due to the upcoming spring season closing. But serving curdled cream with coffee is just unacceptable, especially for the "best" restaurant in Aspen.
(3)
Doug A.
This place is amazing. I've worked in the service industry for many years, and this is one of my favorite places to eat. If you want fancy-schmancy, sit in the restaurant, but if you want casual sit in the bar. The food in the bar is just as good as the food in the dining room, but a little less expensive. The service is excellent, the food outstanding (try the lamb chops) and the ambience perfect. I am a local, and it's tied with Takah Sushi as my favorite restaurant in Aspen.
(5)
Brittany F.
I was told Pinons is the quintessential Aspen resto. A peak at the menu online and I was beyond excited to try the buffalo. I love eating wild game and don't get the chance very often in LA. We arrived on their opening night in mid-December. The setting is beautiful. Upstairs in an older building with vaulted etched ceilings and big windows. The sommelier was very helpful and we picked out a couple fantastic bottles of wine and moved into dinner. I have a love affair going on with their breadbasket. No joke, this bread has it going on! Zucchini bread was more like a dessert (but hey I was on vacation!), the walnut bread was light, fluffy and just ever so slightly sweet. Plus top it off with their creamy butter and yumm I'm in heaven. I was very saddened to hear they had no buffalo yet. VERY sad. So I decided to share the Parmesan top veal chop and the filet mignon with foie gras. Can't get foie in LA anymore so was happy to take a trip down memory lane with the delicacy here. We also shared some things to start. The tuna tartare was not particularly unique but it was nicely prepared, light and had fantastic flavors. The duck quesadilla was less of a party in my mouth and I'd skip this in the future. The veal chop was HUGE. Like I wanted to feed a small village with it. It was so rich too, topped with mushrooms and Parmesan, the cheese was melting off the side. It came on a bed of exquisite truffle risotto. I wish there were more of it. I practically licked the plate to get to this stuff. The steak was a very nice cut of meat but I wasn't a fan of the sauce which I found to be watery and peppery. We also ordered a size of creamed spinach and boy oh boy if veggies always tasted like this, it would be all I would want to eat! Overall it was a great meal and probably my favorite in Aspen. I will return when back in Aspen next year!
(4)
Bren C.
Food was ok -- service was ok. It is was you would expect.
(3)
asma a.
Great food and service and atmosphere. They found a great spot to seat us an hour early (we miscalculated our hunger!) without any problem though the place was full. The sevruga was delicious, as was the lamb. Would definitely go there agsin to try their other dishes!
(5)
Heather M.
Pretty solid meal, and great atmosphere. As nice as Aspen is, I find the restaurants very hit or miss. I would call this one a hit, hence the four stars, but I think I have somewhat low expectations in this town. I found the veal chop delicious. The whole plate, everything on it was excellent. They also do a mean bread basket. The first one had banana bread (?!!!? ... !!!) among others, and the second was a mix of really great, seemingly homemade selections. I'm not really sure what all the hooplah is about the freddy salad. It came highly recommended, and Yelpers seem to agree. Maybe "Freddy Salad," said the right way, is how you order marijuana or something? I don't know. The salad was fine, nothing special. Maybe it's because we asked for light dressing. Extra stars for ambiance and good service. Sometimes in Aspen, I feel like the restaurant expects me to be grateful for the good fortune of having come in to spend my money. Not here. I felt like their guest, which is how it should be. Thanks for that, Pinon's. I'll be back!
(4)
Jill C.
Sashimi tacos are amazing. I sat at the bar and had great, friendly attentive service. Loved the atmosphere! I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Sandy N.
There were 4 of us, and the couple we dined with who are foodies found this restaurant during our recent trip to Aspen. From start to end, the food was amazing! It's been awhile that I can say that about a restaurant so you can see how happy I was that night. We all were. We got there just when it opened so it was pretty empty but half way through the night it was packed! Good sign.. We started off with their specialty cocktails we all enjoyed. Then we were served with their homemade breads that a lady comes by to bake them as well as the desserts. There was a cranberry bread, pumpkin bread and regular french bread. My favorite was the pumpkin bread. Then for appetizers we had the crispy oysters and duck quesadillas. The oysters was not briny which was good and those quesadillas were the best quesadillas I've ever had. For main, I decided on the Sesame crusted sea bass in basil lemongrass sauce just because it sounded good and was in the mood for seafood. I'm so glad I did because that sea bass was amazing. It was moist and melt in your mouth, so fresh and the sauce was addicting. The guys ordered the Grilled Filet of Beef topped with Hudson Valley foie gras in black truffle sauce. I haven't had foie gras in awhile since it's illegal to serve them in California so I savored each bite I had of it with the filet. Great dish. Although we were all full, we could not decline dessert. Hey, the same lady that bakes those awesome breads makes the desserts so we had to share one. Luckily all 4 of us had our eyes on the same dessert - the Banana Nutella tart...oh my gosh, we scarfed up that dessert so quick it was gone in less than 10 minutes! Those frozen bananas were a nice touch. Overall, we were all extremely pleased with our experience. Service was great and the food was outstanding. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Karen S.
My husband and I came here to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Pinons came highly recommended to us by some trustworthy friends. Unfortunately, we weren't terribly impressed with the place. The complimentary bread was too sweet and cake-like. My husband had the Grilled Prime New York Steak, which he found to be just so-so. I had the Herb Crusted Colorado Trout, which we both thought was very good, although it tasted as though it had been sitting on a warming tray, cafeteria style. The same goes for the berry cobbler I had for dessert, but my husband enjoyed his Nutella banana chocolate pie. Overall, the prices are outrageous. Look, I know it's Aspen, but this is excessive even for Aspen. The quality of service didn't match the prices either. Finally, the decor has a shabby 80s look to it. Leave Pinons for the Burberry-wearing retirees that seem to adore the place (and appear to receive preferential treatment from the host.)
(3)
Paula C.
First the highlights, Jim, manager, assistant some lier, and Libby were outstanding. Food delicious. Our main server, Tim started out promising but after first course he went mia. My empty ginger ale stayed on the table through dessert when the busboy finally cleared. Wine by the glass is presented in an individual carafe. Tim tactflessy poured the entire carafe each time but luckily the assistant somelier correctly poured during dessert. Tim was mia from entree till post dessert and bill presentation. He never offered my son's a refill or asked if I'd like a second glass of wine, and he never checked in to see how our entrees were or if we needed anything. His table next to us had equally poor service. Jim and Libby stopped by to check in and refilled glasses. The wait staff pools their tips otherwise we would have left 10% on an almost $400 bill. Highly recommend the veal chop and the apple tart - sublime.
(4)
Cristina W.
Probably the most highly-recommended restaurant in Aspen. Has been around forever and the ambiance is dark, upscale, fancy. Spotted not one, but two sommeliers walking around. Really great service all around, and the owner even came over to greet us. We were bummed out that they were out of the caviar that is featured as an appetizer on their menu. Between four people, this is what we had: APPETIZERS: Tuna Tacos - cute little tacos filled with Tuna Sashimi. Pretty similar to tuna tartare appetizers that are everywhere. Crispy Oysters - Oysters fried to perfection and served with cream on top of their shells. Really enjoyed this one. Seared Foie Gras - The portions were plump, and seared nicely. Happy that I got my fill of foie gras before returning to California. Arugula Salad - Pretty good salad, nice flavors. ENTREES: Pan-Seared Buffalo Tenderloin - Had to order this since it was such a unique menu offering. Very tender (cooked medium-rare) but rather gamey-tasting. Sides of mashed potatoes and roasted veggies complemented the meat well. Pheasant (Special Entree, not on menu) - Delicious! The pheasant meat was very juicy and nice portions - who knew pheasants were that large?! Parmesan Crusted Veal Chop - Excellent, but must admit that my favorite part of this dish was the white-truffle risotto it was served with. YUM. Herb Crusted Colorado Trout - Nicely prepared, delicious with the subtle mustard sauce that accompanied it. DESSERT: Nutella Banana Cream Pie - this is sooooo good. Not a commonly-found dessert anywhere, and every bite was cleaned off the plate!! If you like bananas, this is the perfect dessert for you! Overall an amazing experience. Would love to come back if I'm ever in Aspen again!
(5)
Page A.
My hubby and I visited Pinon's on their last night open before they closed for the Fall season. First off, they were out of the bison (which seems to be reported fairly often on YELP) so that was disappointing. I started with the Fried Oysters and they were TO DIE FOR! My husband had the tuna tacos which he really loved, but I thought they were overpowered by the taste of Sriracha. We shared the Filet with Foie gras for our main. We ordered the filet Medium rare but it was served to us overcooked at Medium. The mashed potatoes that came with the dish were amazing, as was the foie gras. The filet however was lack-luster and thin. We also ordered a side of risotto which was a bit undercooked and lacked depth in flavor. Finally we shared the banana/nutella tart for dessert, and were so excited for it as the raves on Yelp have been "over the top." Alas, the crust was too hard and the flavors "meh". The frozen bananas on the dish were the highlight of the dessert. Overall...we were a bit disappointed with the experience and for the price we paid for our meal (it was very expensive), I think we would rather spend our money elsewhere.
(3)
ROCKITSOBE L.
Great food and scene here. We had the salmon and tuna tacos. Make reservation ahead of time very busy place.
(4)
S D.
I made a reservation thru Open Table with special instructions to sit at the bar. When we arrived for our seating, we were told by the host that he had our table ready, we said we asked to sit at the bar. We asked to wait ,he said there was another couple ahead of us waiting for a bar seat ( no reservations), he obviously did not read the special instructions or it didn't transfer over. He said do you want the table or not ,because I can fill this restaurant all night long. Wow, took me back , that was rude and he was the front of the house . It was like when Julia Roberts in Pretty Women walks into a high end shop and the ladies are rude to her when she clearly can pay for the items. We thought about it and ended up staying, because we heard the food was good. He took us to our table ( in the way back), I asked if anything opened up at the bar could he tell us. He never once came back to see how things were, he walked in the area several times but never came to us, a nice "I'm sorry for the mix up " would have been enough and maybe I wouldn't feel the need to write this. I timed how long it took for us to get our menus, it was 20 mins and it wasn't even packed. Overall, our server was good and nice and the food was tasty. Later on I was told the person that greeted us so poorly was the Owner. That was my first impression of the restaurant , I most likely will not be going back because of that.
(3)
C S.
This local's favorite for a nice dinner!
(5)
Aaron S.
I've been coming to Aspen for the past 15 years and this was my first experience dining at Pinion's even though I've heard the hype for many years now. This restaurant really lives up to it's reputation for wonderful food and great service. The ambiance is awesome and the quality of service and food was top-notch. Would certainly recommend this place anyone!
(5)
Brian M.
Was able to go their last night open on April 5th. My wife and I both agree that this place deserves high praise. Appetizers, entrees, dessert and coffee were all excellent.
(5)
Critic D.
We had dinner for 5 here this week. The place is just lovely. The menu is interesting. Wine selection was good, even had some decent half bottles. Two people split the filet mignon and found it to be excellent. Red snapper and sea bass were great. The Colorado lamb also excellent. We were so delighted we even got dessert. The apple crumb something was heavenly and the mixed berry tart also to die for. The only complaint we had was with our server. She seemed to have an attitude, we were waiting for one member of the party to park and as she grabbed the napkin we said we are waiting for one more, very snotty she replied I know I am putting the menu under the napkin. OK. Then later in the meal we asked another question, her response was so rude she actually came back to apologize. If someone from the Pinions is reading this - she was tall, blond and with an accent. It is a shame that a great dinner's memories are of a rude server.
(4)
Maggie C.
Very lovely experience. Pinons is in a perfect location, just off Galena. The contemporary decor and negative space maximizes the conversational enjoyment at one's table. The staff is fantastic and knowledgeable. I ordered halibut which was sensational followed by fruit cobbler with a fresh assortment of berries and kiwi. Beautiful setting and elegant fare.
(5)
Bonita A.
We went here on a recommendation, it was the best decision we made on our trip to Aspen. The food is amazing, top chef quality! Aside from the lamb chops and steaks as entrees they also offered a price fixe menu that was less expensive than the entree by itself. This is great that an elegant restaurant like this would give the price fixe option. For appetizers we had the lobster quiche, duck quesadilla and tuna tacos...wow, yum! The shrimp, mango and grapefruit salad was so fresh too. For entrees we had the lamp chops and sesame crusted seabass. Everything was A+! The view is gorgeous and there are large windows so you have a great view of the snowy mountains. The bus boys came around very often to clear our table and refill our water, which is basic but we can totally appreciate it. The manager came by twice to check on us which was nice. As the night went on, the lights continued to dim and we dined in a sea of candlight, so elegant, classy, romantic and just the experience you should have in Aspen.
(4)
Chelsea V.
Pinons has some of the best food in Aspen! The strawberry basil Martinis were to die for along with the Freddy Salad and the steak.
(5)
Grace M.
Very nice, on the expensive side. Food is good, atmosphere is quiet and nice. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is. They have a good selection if items, but trends to be more on the side of fancy foods. Foie Gras, veal, buffalo etc. not a lot of choices for folks looking for less exotic fair. Not somewhere we would go again
(4)
Julie B.
We were recommended by our concierge at The Sky Hotel to have dinner at Pinons, during our honeymoon weekend. It was an excellent choice. It was right at the end of the season (late September) before Pinons and most of the town closes down (sorry this is a delayed review), so the restaurant was quiet. Although pricey, they had a special fixed price menu for 3 courses. My husband had the Freddy Salad and Prime Ribeye steak. I had the Spinach, Goat Cheese Salad and the Sesame Crusted Sea Bass. Everything was excellent and the portion sizes generous. For dessert, I think we had an apple berry crumble and bread and butter pudding, both were very good. Our Sommelier perfectly matched the wines to each of our meals which enhanced the overall experience. Service was good. The total bill, including tip, was around $200 which we thought was fairly reasonable for a place of this caliber - we expected to pay around that - but because we were able to order the fixed price menu, it represented better value for money ie. we got more food for our $200 then we would have if we'd just ordered a la carte. It's not a place we would go to regularly, as we don't tend to spend that much on a night out at dinner, unless it's for a special occasion, but we would certainly recommend Pinons and go back again - for a special occasion! But we probably won't go back to Aspen for quite a few years.
(4)
Michael B.
Good food, but, incredibly poor service. The owners refused to honor our Open Table coupons. They said that Open Table made a mistake in the printing of the coupons and they aren't to blame. The bartender jumped in to pick a fight as I was discussing the issue with the manager. Save your money, go elsewhere. The food was good, but, nothing special.
(2)
D G.
It's easily one of my top 3 in Aspen. We sat at the bar and the food, service, everything was perfect.
(5)
Sarah Z.
I'm torn between three and four stars. On the upside, the service was very good and attentive, and the fish was incredibly fresh. On the downside, the flavors fell short overall and my companions salad was of the ice berg lettuce variety. I had a whitefish (can't remember right now) with bok choy, which was sort of bland. I started with the duck pasta, and sadly the pasta was over cooked. Also, we felt a bit rushed through our meal. I'm surprised this is considered one of the best restaurants in Aspen. It was good, but not great.
(3)
Jenna R.
An overall fantastic meal! After much debate, my husband and I decided on Pinons; mainly b/c I wanted lamb and husband wanted buffalo. Both were amazing. We started our meal with one of their salads and the soup of the day (eggplant). Again, both tasty. Somehow we managed to get some of, ok, maybe all of, the bread pudding down. Yum. The cocktails were not weak either. It was pricey ($180 including tip), but well worth it.
(4)
J. C. G.
Thoroughly enjoyable, from the promptness of seating right through dinner and dessert. Fantastic options, a great wine list, and top-end service make for a pleasant meal. The trick is that all that goodness adds up, which you will notice when the bill comes. Be prepared for ~$200/person. I'll go back...
(5)
Aman S.
good food and service and good ambience
(4)
Bernard M.
Excellent restaurant. From beginning to end, it was a great meal. I had their New Zealand Elk (don't know why they didn't go local. maybe this is less gamy?) which was tasty. I have only gone here once, but I would recommend it if you visit Aspen.
(4)
Robbie M.
I really enjoyed the food. We ate in the bar where they had a fixed menu. The Salads were great. I had the Trout and it was delicious. I would definitly go back again
(4)
Amikam R.
Pinons occupies an elegant room on the second floor of a commercial building. There's also seating outside. We were two for dinner on a Wednesday and a Sunday. The menu is big enough and the wine list huge - but the choice of wines by the glass is rather anemic. There's also a nice prix fixe menu for $38. We had the prix fixe menu on Wednesday and ordered a la carte on Sunday. The white asparagus soup was very good, the salad also very good. The NZ lamb was OK and the trout good. The jasmine rice could have been replaced with something tastier. The Colorado lamb - from the regular menu - was much better than its NZ counterpart on the prix fixe menu. The sole (a special on the regular menu) was good and overpriced at $49. The service comes in waves, after some attention they disappear only to reappear later. Water had to be asked for. The uneven service is the reason for the three stars. Food-wise this was a better place than the other restaurants we have been to in Aspen.
(3)
Susan W.
I feel this is the only place in Aspen that could compete with restaurants in my home town of San Francisco. I have been coming here for 10 years and it never disappoints. Frank, the host, is wonderful and really runs the restaurant. Even in high season when things are booked up and crazy, he makes you feel very important and always comes by to make sure your meal is perfect. Frank come to San Francisco we need you.
(5)
Tris P.
We heard great things about this place, so we were all very excited for this meal. We arrive and the ambiance was pretty good. We sat down at the table and after about 20-25 minutes our server came over to the table. We were frustrated that it took so long, and I mentioned to him that we had waited almost 30 minutes to even order a drink. He only commented, "Well, I have a large group over there," and pointed to a group of 6 (we were 4). Sorry, that's not my fricken problem; this is your restaurant and that is YOUR JOB. We ordered our entire meal and purchased a bottle of wine. He read back a small portion of our order as he walked away. He never returned. We had food runners (which happens, i worked in a restaurant and understand), and bussers that looked after our table as best they could, but that is the servers job. The food was pretty good; clearly from the other Yelp reviews you can see that. However, it was $40 a plate and was a small step above a casual chain restaurant. Yeah, only a little better. We've dined at the best places in Aspen, and this place should not be included with them. If you're going to spend money on a good dinner, you are MUCH better off going to Campo de Fiori or somewhere like that. Great food, great service, and about the same price. I would never recommend this place, nor will I ever go back.
(2)
Nicholas B.
I spend thousands/month on a corporate AMEX at high priced restaurants all around the country. I can honestly say this was one of the best meals that didn't come from a friend or family members kitcken I have had out in years!. We enjoyed a fantastic mushroom soup that was evenly balanced and delicious, a super fresh burratta salad, a bison tenderloin that was phenomenal, maybe the best sea bass I've had in my life and a berry cobbler for dessert that was on point. If I had some constructive feedback it would be that our initial waiter didn't give us much attention once the rush arrived. All in all, outstanding! I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Anastasia B.
Even with all of the seemingly great dining options in Aspen, Pinons was clearly my first choice for dinner. Professional service, clear view of the ski lifts, quieter ambiance than most restaurants, and top-notch food. If you can't afford to eat here, then don't. Unfortunately, they were out of the pan seared buffalo tenderloin (espresso seared, with boursin country potatoes and huckleberry sauce), which was the main reason why I chose Pinons in the first place. Instead I picked my second choice meal, which was the herb-roasted rack of Colorado lamb with pistachio nuts, rutabaga mash, and carrot-ginger broth. It was delicious, but still tinged with a little disappointment that it wasn't buffalo tenderloin. I can order lamb anywhere, but buffalo tenderloin...not so much. When I travel I like to order what I can't find on menus back home. I also had a bite (or two or three) of the parmesan crusted veal chop, stuffed with proscuitto and fontina, served with white truffle risotto and mixed forest mushroom sauce. I don't usually eat veal 'cause I'm socially conscious like that, but the almighty lawd baby jeebus didn't strike me dead when that perfect harmonious bite of poor little innocent baby veal stuffed with proscuitto and fontina with white truffle risotto and mushroom sauce hit my palate. Oh-em-gee is all I have to say. Did I mention that I don't eat veal? Last, but certainly not least. If you see the words "lobster corn dogs" on the menu, order it! Don't bother looking at the rest of the appetizers. Order it! Don't think twice about. Order it! Don't ask your dumbass indecisive husband what the hell he wants. Order it! I guarantee it will be one of the best things you've ever ate. Take that Ted Allen.
(5)
Jim B.
The service was spot on - attentive without being intrusive. Food was fantastic. We had the sea bass and the trout. Both were delicious. Presentation was excellent, salads were very fresh. Overall, we really liked this place. It was full, but you could hold a conversation without having to yell, and never felt like they were frenzied or hurried despite being busy. Highly recommended! Jim
(5)
Emerson R.
Pinons remains one of the top restaurants in Aspen....a spot it has held for years. It's food, decor, and service are superb.
(5)
Mariah C.
Oh, Pinons. I just don't know how to review you. I guess we'll call it 3 1/2 stars. I feel like my dining experience, and hence my review, would have been entirely different if I'd come here with different people. Personally, I found my dinner and wine to be 4 stars at the very least, but some of my fellow diners were so unhappy that it dragged down my excitement. I'll do this as a bit of a point/counterpoint. What I Thought: From the start, I thought Pinons had a lovely ambience. Our party was there on a rainy evening, and it added to the cozy mood inside the restaurant. Our service was friendly and prompt. I had the trout, which was delicious, and my partner's steak looked and tasted fantastic. I ordered a glass of white wine, which was perfectly chilled, and went nicely with my meal. What They Thought: Here's the deal. My party just didn't want to be here from the get-go. The excited foodies in our crowd made the reservation, and everyone else begrudgingly came along for the ride. I got the sense that they wanted something less fancy and less pricey. They found the menu to be high-falutant. One of our diners ordered her steak medium-well, but got a pretty pink/red piece of meat. When my partner complained about this at the end of our meal, our waitress apologized, and said she had written down "medium." Although I agree that a high-priced steak should have been cooked to the temperature it was ordered, they weren't alerted early enough in the meal to have actually had the opportunity to fix it. So there you have it. Everyone left this dining experience a little grumpy, but I personally didn't think it was so bad, and would probably give it another try if I was looking for a nice dinner out in Aspen.
(3)
Lantz W.
Has consistently been THE 5* dining experience in Aspen for the last 20 years. Rob and Beth really have it together. Check out: SASHIMI TUNA TACOS; FREDDY SALAD; PARMESAN CRUSTED VEAL CHOP. I miss Frankie on the front desk, but life goes on in Aspen :-( BTW, they have a great bargain menu if you are an early eater.
(5)
Bryan Z.
For my money Pinons is probably the best restaurant in town. It's straighforward, high quality and incredibly consistent with great service. These guys take the experience seriously and deliver a flawless product. You never have to worry about coming in, spending way too much money for poor food and bad service. Sure, it ain't cheap. but nothing in Aspen is. Great wine list and solid menu--maybe not the most creative in the world but it's all really well done. The Tuna Tartare Tacos are a brilliant way to start and the Freddy salad is perfection. I've had the parmesean crusted veal chop, the NY Strip and a Dover Sole special and all have been amazing and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Sure the Pappy Van Winkle is $15 cheaper around the corner but at Pinons you can have the table all night and enjoy an evening with old friends. It's a fun and relaxed atmosphere void of any stuffiness or pretentiousness. Just an enjoyable experience and I look forward to making it a part of every Aspen trip in the future.
(5)
Christine F.
Pinons has the best deal in Aspen. And it's super secret. We aren't gazillionaires, and I will admit that the prices at Pinons (upon first glance) made me cringe a little. It's a pricey joint, but their menu looked divine and we found out about an unpublicized deal they have going... If you are seated at 5:30pm you get 3 courses (app, entree and dessert) for $40. About 2/3 of the menu is included on this deal. I don't give a damn if we were the only people in the restaurant at that time (we definitely were), that deal is awesome, so away we went. Amazing service. We started off with 3 types of awesome breads as we perused the menu (dill, rosemary and banana). Side note: my husband said that Pinons should get 6 stars because they served banana bread with dinner. I agree. Anyway, for my app I chose the Fig, walnut and goat cheese salad and my husband chose the duck quesadillas. Holy HUGE salad, batman! Tons of arugula, beets (golden and purple), candied walnuts, goat cheese, figs and sherry vinaigrette. It was a festival of flavors - I am a sucker for this particular flavor combination though, so I may be biased. My husband's duck quesadillas were brimming with duck and a spicy chipotle sauce. Very tasty. For my entree I chose the sea bass with a basil/lemongrass sauce and crispy jasmine rice. My husband chose the pepper encrusted pork chop. The sea bass was divine. It was perfectly cooked - it was light like air and had a slightly crispy sesame crust. The rice it was served with seemed to have a crispy crust as well (baked rice, maybe?) and had a sweet, fragrant jasmine flavor. This was one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had. Blew me away. My husband loved his pork chop as well - it came with an apricot chutney and garlic mashed potatoes. Super tasty stuff. For dessert it was a no brainer. We both got the Nutella banana chocolate pie. DUH. I'm not a HUGE chocolate person, but this was incredible. There were layers of chocolate Nutella cream with bananas nestled in a crumbly, sweet crust. It was insane. I can't praise it enough. The service, food and ambience at Pinons at top notch. We will definitely return.
(5)
Leslie S.
Awesome views, great service and good food. I had the sole special and my friend had the lamb. The highlight of the meal was the dessert, a toffee cake with an Oreo crust. So yummy.
(4)
Cristina N.
Great wine list! The foi gras was great!
(4)
Blake E.
We visited Aspen for our 10th wedding anniversary and wanted the best and we got it. We had table 1 in the back corner and it was perfect for a quite meal. The service was excellent, wine list workable, and the food was fabulous. I had the Buffalo which was honestly the best piece of meet I have ever had (btw, so much leaner than a filet with even more flavor). If you are seeking a great dinning experience request table 1 and order the Buffalo. Either way you can't go wrong at this excellent restaurant.
(5)
Tina S.
This is my favorite restaurant of the year so far... I know it's early but this is going to be hard to beat. Went to Aspen for the long weekend and came here on Saturday night. The place was fairly busy but our seasoned server had no problem keeping up. We ordered the seared prawns for an appetizer. Perfect. I had the filet for my main course. Perfect. Paired my steak with a glass of their Pinot Noir.... forgot the name so I'll just call it Perfect! Everything was fantastic and definitely justified the steeper prices. I hope I can go back one day!
(5)
Ziggy B.
My wife and I were on a motorcycle trip across America, and we stopped in Aspen to visit my daughter who is a classical musician, Anyway, we were strolling through Aspen's streets and we wanted to find a nice place to eat an elegant dinner. We used YELP! to find Pinon just around the corner from our location. What a pleasant surprise after the local Japanese Sushi place turned us down without a reservation. Pinon's staff was friendly, seated us at a nice big table, and we proceeded to be feted with great food and excellent wine. I had the Lamb and I am a lamb freak and it was awesome. It's pricey, but hey, this is Aspen, dude!
(5)
Dominique W.
the lobster ravioli appetizer was the star if this meal.
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 : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Ivan K.
We ordered the oysters and buffalo meatball appetizers both were very good. The mains were mostly meats. We chose the Buffalo and Lamb both arrived not cooked to the correct temperature. The lamb was well done not medium rare and Buffalo raw. We sent both back the second time the Lamb arrived raw and Buffalo still raw. The Buffalo was then cooked a bit more and was actually quite tender and tasty. The waiter was very nice and bought a couple of glasses of wine to make up for the poor presentation from the kitchen. The Grill person should have been trained to cook meat to correct temperature.
(2)Tony M.
A fun dinner with good friends at a restaurant in a new city certainly could influence my review. I had Oso Buco, my friend Mark had Buffalo, KC had Tenderloin and Gail had the Colorado Trout. We shared bites. The desserts were crazy good! Piñon's was very very good! Service was fast and friendly. Kicks ass and balls!
(5)sarah b.
Pinions is good. White table clock American food. Interesting bar and extensive wine list. Attentive service. Eat. At. The. Bar. They have a fixed price menu for $35 that offers a decent variety of some of their more popular items. I had the snapper which was pretty good. Wedge salad, also decent. I like this place. For the price point, I like it slightly less.
(3)Izabela M.
Amesing place, you won't regret. Great locations on the heart of Aspen. As appetizer the Tuna Tacos is fantastic. As entree we had the Crusted Sea Bass with coconut rice unbelievable! I loved, place to go back!
(4)Stu T.
Looks like a typical american-type cuisine establishment, but it was the best meal I had so far in Aspen. Service was just average. Go with the Tuna taco appetizers, and the trout or sea bass. Extremely flavorful, service was average.
(4)Dave L.
Service was a bit brusk, yet efficient. If offered, get the buffalo even though your first instinct might be the steak
(4)Carmen R.
Had dinner at Pinons while honeymooning in Aspen. My husband called ahead and notified them of the occasion as well as the fact that my birthday had also been a few days before. As a result, we were treated to not one, but two complimentary deserts. The staff was incredibly friendly, the noise level and lighting created the perfect romantic ambiance. We were checked on regularly by several staff members but also left alone when we were ready to simply enjoy each other's company. The food was delicious, the tuna tacos are a must. If you want an amazing night out in Aspen this is definitely my recommendation. I wouldn't change a thing.
(5)Loren P.
Maybe the best food in Aspen. The food is excellent. The fare tends toward game, which is great to me. The ambience is elegant. The crowd is a little old. The fixed bar menu is a great choice. I had the Freddy salad (excellent) and filet (equally great). The wine list was excellent and fairly priced.
(5)Kai C.
pinions is one of the best restaurants in aspen. fun bar atmosphere and an a well-priced, great bar menu. the food is amazing with high-end service. love this restaurant!!!
(5)John H.
This is a very busy place and for good reason. The staff is totally attentive without hovering. The appetizers were great particularly the duck confit quesadilla. A perfectly prepared ribeye to go with my wife's fish which was excellent. Finally, a formal wine service which wasn't stuffy. Outstanding.
(4)Sally S.
Four of us dined on 12/17/12 and found the food to be good but not excellent. Overall, we felt the meal was overpriced, even for Aspen. We did however, like that the more quiet conversation setting. Also, the cosmo ordered was well done. Bottom line: would not recommend.
(2)David H.
Pinons is my favorite restaurant in Aspen. I have been there at least 20 times over the last three years and I have NEVER had a bad experience. It's so good, in fact, that whenever I try another place in Aspen, I always wish that I had gone to Pinons instead. It helps to be a quasi regular too.. They all treat you really great and appreciate the loyalty! Awesome awesome awesome.
(5)James T.
Excellent for wild game. Try the bar menu - which has lower prices and fast service
(4)Tommy M.
My wife and I chose this place as your anniversary night dinner for our trip to Aspen based on reviews and we were pretty blown away by the food we ate. Everything we had was perfectly cooked and prepared. The pork tenderloin dish was one of the best dinners I've ever had. One big standout for me was the nutella banana cream pie dessert, I highly recommend it. The place is pricey, but I feel you get what you pay for here. The wait staff is very professional and on the ball with refills and any questions. I will be coming back next time I'm in Aspen.
(5)Sally B.
This restaurant was a tremendous disappointment. Our dinner for four was $300, including wine - and our waiter could not have been worse. He was disinterested and dismissive. We talked to the manager about our poor service and found him to be similarly dismissive. Food was fine - not amazing, but fine. We all ended up leaving angry that our experience was so poor when there are so many other restaurants to choose from. The restaurant is also very noisy.
(2)Eric F.
Superb service welcoming staff accommodating Great wine list The sommelier was extremely knowledgable the food was excellent. The trout snapper lamb chops and veal chop just excellent The deserts Try the cobbler All and all a great night
(5)John D.
Dover sole always outstanding. Jim the maitre d is one if a kind and outstanding. Hard to choose from among the appetizers. All are über tummy
(5)lynne l.
If mediocrity is what you yearn for than RUN to Pinions in Aspen. I don't need to go into great detail, but after sending back soggy onion rings and over cooked asparagus my entree was saturated in fat and over done. The waiter was probably afraid to come back after that, so they didn't. At the end of the meal a manager or assistant asked my male friends if their meal was ok, but when I let her know my meal was a disaster she told me I should have told my waiter ( who never even glanced our way to see how we were doing after the meal was served). She really developed an attitude. Kind of obvious to me this restaurant MAY value the business of regulars and celebrities and males only. Obviously, I highly recommend to stay away from this restaurant . Personal opinion.
(1)Mike K.
Piñons has for years been one of my favorite Aspen restaurants, but my recent experience was a total disappointment. When neither your server nor host take any interest in the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen, or care enough to inquire if everything is satisfactory, it's a sign that the passion is gone. Vegetables were over-cooked -even on the second try-onion rings were soggy,and sauces and dressings were heavy handed. The entrees were edible, but for the prices being charged I expect far better execution.
(2)Porterhouse P.
One of the top restaurants in aspen! sommelier is great and the duck quesadillas are off the chain! Cant go wrong with anything on the menu I always get the veal chop. Cozy log cabin kinda vibe
(5)Farooq K.
Great experience throughout the meal. Came in and was greeted by a really personable host. I have a feeling he might be the owner --- seems like he's doing it just for fun (seemed really happy to be there). Food was excellent --- steak done perfectly, salads were fresh and well done, and the (surprise) dessert was excellent. The service is what makes this place stand out. Had a vegetarian in the party and the waitress made sure to separate out the bacon bits in the salad (although it wasn't requested). I have a feeling she deduced this based on her tofu enchilada order (which was excellent). I also wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a little 'congrats' dessert as she got a job offer an hour prior to dinner (not the reason we were going out, but worked out nicely and wanted to recognize it ... although last minute). Called the restaurant in advance and the same host said "he'd take care of it". He definitely did. And he got the spelling of her name right (usually folks mess it up!!!). It's worth every penny you pay and then some.
(5)Michael C.
First let me tell you the bread and butter are amazing. The butter tastes like a confection without sugar. It's light fluffy and as smooth as Billy D Williams. The meatballs are divine, the roasted chicken and cauliflower are spot on perfect. I also forgot to mention that the stuffing will make you slap your mama. The sea bass is seriously awesome, however the Sol in butter is the best fish I have had in my life. It is like comparing an S Class to a Phantom. I'm honestly saying I think this is one of, if the best restaurants in the county, seriously I'm not joking. I eat at God awful expensive places all around the country and world and honestly, this is a solid Michelin 3 stars.
(5)Laura B.
This was my first trip to Pinon's, the party I was with visits every year when they come to Aspen. The service was very professional and staff was extremely courteous (including the woman who took our coats). The food was delicious, presentation was also well done. I am vegetarian and the tofu enchilada with quinoa was wonderful. When a restaurant takes the time to make the veg dish that good, you know they care about the food they are putting out. The others at table had trout and they were very pleased. It is definitely pricey so check out the menu on yelp or their website first if you have concerns on that. Another restaurant not to miss is Il Poggio in Snowmass Village! Call 2 days ahead for reservations at Both restaurants Enjoy!!!
(5)Kathryn R.
Best Meal in Town My family and I have come to Pinons every Christmas Eve for the past 12 years and we are never disappointed! The staff is amazing and very helpful from picking the right wine choice in the right price range to describing which meat is the best for the night. For wine we tried the Walker which is a red, full bodied, very smooth (we asked them what was like Caymus and they gave us this). As for our meal, this past time we split the duck tacos (HAVE TO GET), tuna tacos (never missing them) and the bison meatballs (moist with the right amount of tomato sauce). For the next course I had the lamb (median rare) with brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes - so delicious. My mother had the same and both my father and my brother had the bision, nobody was unsatisfied! To finish off the meal we had the fruit cobbler and the nutella dessert accompanied by dessert wine. Love the family time, atmosphere and tradition that we have had coming to this place for 12 years! Go for a special occasion or sit at the bar and enjoy a more casual experience. You will love it, I promise.
(5)Angelo S.
Great portions ... Food delivered at the right temp ... Service was efficient but celeb three tables down seemed to take occupy most of his time. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the meal and would plan a second trip.
(4)Eric G.
Always a treat. The Crispy Oysters are amazing. We had the Buffalo, Veal, and Foie Gras topped Filet. All were perfect. Been going here for 10 years and not stopping anytime soon.
(5)Ted N.
Couldn't get off the apps, tried 4 with the soup of the day and drank it all down with a bottle of champagne. If I was in town longer I would go back. Service was great too.
(5)Jeremy S.
Really great dining experience. I was trying to lean healthy on this meal, so I started with the baby kale salad with prosciutto which was delicious. For my main course, I had the breaded trout which was fantastic - a much heartier dish than I expected. I also got to try a bite of the infamous parm covered veal chop, quite savory and monstrous!
(5)Jane S.
The regular menu is a tad pricy than what you get but we did the bar menu which was very good value! I had the filet steak and my husband had the pork tenderloins and each had an appetizer for $35 each. My husbands meatball app was so yummyyyy! Definitely recommend. We had a reasonably priced bottle of wine which paired very well with our dinner. Overall, great experience!
(5)Alex B.
Had been in Aspen/Snowmass for a few days having expensive mediocre meals when I decided to try finding an expensive great meal. Found Pinons on yelp and after reading a few reviews decided to give it a try. Walked in without a reservation and was immediately seated. We were a party of two. We tried the soup of the day which happened to be New England clam chowder and was surprised how delicious it was. I had the filet which was accompanied by small foie gras medallions. Delicious!! My companion had the roast pork loin which was also very tasty. For desert we tried the chocolate creme brûlée which consisted of a chocolate soufflé like cake accompanied by white and dark chocolate crisps and a scoop of what looked like Oreo cookie ice cream. The meal was expensive but not out of the ordinary for Aspen standards. Well worth it.
(5)Adam E.
Aspen has a lot of great food. I wouldn't go as far as to say mind-blowing but some places do a great job. Pinon's is solid. You will not have a bad meal here. It wont be the best you ever had but I promise you will get an honest cut of very tasty beef. The staff is great too. I will make this a regular stop on my trips out here.
(4)Brent W.
This is one of the more highly touted restaurants in Aspen, and I have to say the reputation is justified. The location is upstairs in one of the little shop fronts near the main part of downtown Aspen. You go upstairs to find a cozy little restaurant on second floor. In addition, there's a bar area and patio which are pretty nice. We started off with some salads and then split the veal chop, which is more than enough of a serving. We finished things off with a delicious nutella themed dessert. Overall, we had an excellent experience. It's a really elegant restaurant, and the portion sizes are quite nice so splitting an entrée worked out well. It's a little on the expensive side, but a lot of the very basic restaurants in Aspen are quite expensive as well. When in Rome, you might as well eat like the Romans! Just be prepared to pay for it.
(5)Matt R.
Pricey? Yup. Top Quality Service and Food? Absolutely! So, I tend to look younger than my age and it can sometimes affect service in Restaurants. TO me when they ignore age and treat you as if you can afford the meal that's the mark of a good waiter and restaurant. Everyone from the Sommelier to the food runners was on top of their game. Excellent excellent meal and wine. The Sommelier didn't only suggest bottles starting @ $100. He actually listed 3 very reasonably priced wines to go with our main course selections. He was spot on. A fantastic Zinfandel that was perfect with my Buffalo. Everything was top notch here. Highly recommend
(5)Albert I.
This is the place trying to be high-end but I didn't really feel that they make it up to that level. The meal preparation was very good. The ambiance is very sedated and the staff is professional but there is no vibe. They need a NYC makeover to get people in the door.
(3)Johnny C.
This restaurant was quite impressive. A 5 out or 5 takes quite an extraordinary experience all the way around for me to apply this rating. Here are the facts: We arrived yesterday at 6pm and we were seated promptly. There were 3 of us in our party. There were few occupied tables at 6pm but eventually every table was filled. Our waiter (Marcel M) was confident and polite and gracious -- the rest of his team proved to be polite and sustainably attentive. Elite service! I ordered an iceberg wedge salad for an appetizer -- it was crisp, fresh and tasty. Two of us ordered the buffalo tenderloin. The presentation was fantastic and the taste was similar to a filet mignon -- happily it lacked any peculiar flavor -- the buffalo was a bit sharper in flavor than cattle but very good for even more conservative diners. The price was $48 for the buffalo. The veal chop had an excellent presentation. My table mate gave it a "4 out of 5" due to some fattiness. Overall it was described as good but the buffalo was preferred. We ordered a bottle of Bordeaux (French) '08 Chateau Tour du Moulin, from Fronsac, France. It was $51 for the bottle -- so the price was reasonable and it tasted nice. The sommelier steered us in this direction and he did not have a hint of arrogance (which we have encountered before more than we'd like with other sommeliers). Most importantly he gave us good advice for the wine selection, at a reasonable price and he was also very helpful with the rest of his serving team by removing dishes from the table and fine-tuning our dining experience -- this seemed unusual but it was very seamless and impressive! The "chocolate bread" dessert was very good and it was $14.50. 5 out of 5 stars. We will definitely return.
(5)Charlie W.
Prices are fair. Food was great and generous portions. Staff was friendly except our waitress. Spoke with the Sommelier more than waitress.
(4)Jan D.
Was referred here by the owner of the Blue Moon in Grand Junction, and our arrival on Christmas night was expected. We were greeted by the most gracious host, sat at the bar and enjoyed the specialty cocktails, the fried oyster w/caviar appetizer, Freddy salad and the ahi. The atmosphere was great, as was the bar staff. Had we not been told to visit, we would have missed it; walked by the doorway once. We'll definitely make Pinions a destination during our next Aspen visit!
(5)Jerome D.
What a great place. The food is wonderful and the service cuts the mustard for sure. Probably the best fine dining restuarant in Aspen.
(4)joannie h.
We spent 4 days in Aspen. The food was okay but nothing spectacular to boast about. I do love the ambiance and the service there was awesome.
(3)Eric H.
It pains me to give Pinons only 3 stars. I really wanted to love this place because I did extensive research to find a special restaurant for this wedding weekend dinner. With a 4.5 out of 5 star Yelp rating and mostly glowing reviews I thought this place would deliver. Maybe it was an off night because they were closing the next day for the spring season, but here's why I left this meal disappointed. The decor of this place is great with it's dimly lit interior and classy feel. Our waiter was actually great too. He was very friendly, professional and provided excellent service It's the food that really missed the mark for me. We started with the Duck Quesedilla, which was bland and boring and definitely didn't justify the $18 price tag. The tortilla was stale and and over cooked to the point where each bite was coated with a dry, chalky texture. The duck flavor was barely noticeable. For my entree, I got the parmesan crusted veal chop. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad or anything, but it was just blah. I didn't taste the prosciutto at all, nor was there even a hint of truffle flavor in the risotto. For $48 it should have left more of a mark. My wife got the sesame crusted sea bass, which was overcooked and dry. She didn't care for the baby bok choi either, which didn't taste fresh. We had probably the best sea bass at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon the next week in Vegas, which reminded us how good this fatty, oily fish can be. The real kicker was when we got coffee and the cream that was served with it was curdled. Both of us had floating white chunks in our coffee. We didn't finish our small cups because we were so grossed out. I'm going to give Pinons the benefit of the doubt that they weren't focused on putting out the high qualtiy food they usually do due to the upcoming spring season closing. But serving curdled cream with coffee is just unacceptable, especially for the "best" restaurant in Aspen.
(3)Doug A.
This place is amazing. I've worked in the service industry for many years, and this is one of my favorite places to eat. If you want fancy-schmancy, sit in the restaurant, but if you want casual sit in the bar. The food in the bar is just as good as the food in the dining room, but a little less expensive. The service is excellent, the food outstanding (try the lamb chops) and the ambience perfect. I am a local, and it's tied with Takah Sushi as my favorite restaurant in Aspen.
(5)Brittany F.
I was told Pinons is the quintessential Aspen resto. A peak at the menu online and I was beyond excited to try the buffalo. I love eating wild game and don't get the chance very often in LA. We arrived on their opening night in mid-December. The setting is beautiful. Upstairs in an older building with vaulted etched ceilings and big windows. The sommelier was very helpful and we picked out a couple fantastic bottles of wine and moved into dinner. I have a love affair going on with their breadbasket. No joke, this bread has it going on! Zucchini bread was more like a dessert (but hey I was on vacation!), the walnut bread was light, fluffy and just ever so slightly sweet. Plus top it off with their creamy butter and yumm I'm in heaven. I was very saddened to hear they had no buffalo yet. VERY sad. So I decided to share the Parmesan top veal chop and the filet mignon with foie gras. Can't get foie in LA anymore so was happy to take a trip down memory lane with the delicacy here. We also shared some things to start. The tuna tartare was not particularly unique but it was nicely prepared, light and had fantastic flavors. The duck quesadilla was less of a party in my mouth and I'd skip this in the future. The veal chop was HUGE. Like I wanted to feed a small village with it. It was so rich too, topped with mushrooms and Parmesan, the cheese was melting off the side. It came on a bed of exquisite truffle risotto. I wish there were more of it. I practically licked the plate to get to this stuff. The steak was a very nice cut of meat but I wasn't a fan of the sauce which I found to be watery and peppery. We also ordered a size of creamed spinach and boy oh boy if veggies always tasted like this, it would be all I would want to eat! Overall it was a great meal and probably my favorite in Aspen. I will return when back in Aspen next year!
(4)Bren C.
Food was ok -- service was ok. It is was you would expect.
(3)asma a.
Great food and service and atmosphere. They found a great spot to seat us an hour early (we miscalculated our hunger!) without any problem though the place was full. The sevruga was delicious, as was the lamb. Would definitely go there agsin to try their other dishes!
(5)Heather M.
Pretty solid meal, and great atmosphere. As nice as Aspen is, I find the restaurants very hit or miss. I would call this one a hit, hence the four stars, but I think I have somewhat low expectations in this town. I found the veal chop delicious. The whole plate, everything on it was excellent. They also do a mean bread basket. The first one had banana bread (?!!!? ... !!!) among others, and the second was a mix of really great, seemingly homemade selections. I'm not really sure what all the hooplah is about the freddy salad. It came highly recommended, and Yelpers seem to agree. Maybe "Freddy Salad," said the right way, is how you order marijuana or something? I don't know. The salad was fine, nothing special. Maybe it's because we asked for light dressing. Extra stars for ambiance and good service. Sometimes in Aspen, I feel like the restaurant expects me to be grateful for the good fortune of having come in to spend my money. Not here. I felt like their guest, which is how it should be. Thanks for that, Pinon's. I'll be back!
(4)Jill C.
Sashimi tacos are amazing. I sat at the bar and had great, friendly attentive service. Loved the atmosphere! I'll definitely be back!
(5)Sandy N.
There were 4 of us, and the couple we dined with who are foodies found this restaurant during our recent trip to Aspen. From start to end, the food was amazing! It's been awhile that I can say that about a restaurant so you can see how happy I was that night. We all were. We got there just when it opened so it was pretty empty but half way through the night it was packed! Good sign.. We started off with their specialty cocktails we all enjoyed. Then we were served with their homemade breads that a lady comes by to bake them as well as the desserts. There was a cranberry bread, pumpkin bread and regular french bread. My favorite was the pumpkin bread. Then for appetizers we had the crispy oysters and duck quesadillas. The oysters was not briny which was good and those quesadillas were the best quesadillas I've ever had. For main, I decided on the Sesame crusted sea bass in basil lemongrass sauce just because it sounded good and was in the mood for seafood. I'm so glad I did because that sea bass was amazing. It was moist and melt in your mouth, so fresh and the sauce was addicting. The guys ordered the Grilled Filet of Beef topped with Hudson Valley foie gras in black truffle sauce. I haven't had foie gras in awhile since it's illegal to serve them in California so I savored each bite I had of it with the filet. Great dish. Although we were all full, we could not decline dessert. Hey, the same lady that bakes those awesome breads makes the desserts so we had to share one. Luckily all 4 of us had our eyes on the same dessert - the Banana Nutella tart...oh my gosh, we scarfed up that dessert so quick it was gone in less than 10 minutes! Those frozen bananas were a nice touch. Overall, we were all extremely pleased with our experience. Service was great and the food was outstanding. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Karen S.
My husband and I came here to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Pinons came highly recommended to us by some trustworthy friends. Unfortunately, we weren't terribly impressed with the place. The complimentary bread was too sweet and cake-like. My husband had the Grilled Prime New York Steak, which he found to be just so-so. I had the Herb Crusted Colorado Trout, which we both thought was very good, although it tasted as though it had been sitting on a warming tray, cafeteria style. The same goes for the berry cobbler I had for dessert, but my husband enjoyed his Nutella banana chocolate pie. Overall, the prices are outrageous. Look, I know it's Aspen, but this is excessive even for Aspen. The quality of service didn't match the prices either. Finally, the decor has a shabby 80s look to it. Leave Pinons for the Burberry-wearing retirees that seem to adore the place (and appear to receive preferential treatment from the host.)
(3)Paula C.
First the highlights, Jim, manager, assistant some lier, and Libby were outstanding. Food delicious. Our main server, Tim started out promising but after first course he went mia. My empty ginger ale stayed on the table through dessert when the busboy finally cleared. Wine by the glass is presented in an individual carafe. Tim tactflessy poured the entire carafe each time but luckily the assistant somelier correctly poured during dessert. Tim was mia from entree till post dessert and bill presentation. He never offered my son's a refill or asked if I'd like a second glass of wine, and he never checked in to see how our entrees were or if we needed anything. His table next to us had equally poor service. Jim and Libby stopped by to check in and refilled glasses. The wait staff pools their tips otherwise we would have left 10% on an almost $400 bill. Highly recommend the veal chop and the apple tart - sublime.
(4)Cristina W.
Probably the most highly-recommended restaurant in Aspen. Has been around forever and the ambiance is dark, upscale, fancy. Spotted not one, but two sommeliers walking around. Really great service all around, and the owner even came over to greet us. We were bummed out that they were out of the caviar that is featured as an appetizer on their menu. Between four people, this is what we had: APPETIZERS: Tuna Tacos - cute little tacos filled with Tuna Sashimi. Pretty similar to tuna tartare appetizers that are everywhere. Crispy Oysters - Oysters fried to perfection and served with cream on top of their shells. Really enjoyed this one. Seared Foie Gras - The portions were plump, and seared nicely. Happy that I got my fill of foie gras before returning to California. Arugula Salad - Pretty good salad, nice flavors. ENTREES: Pan-Seared Buffalo Tenderloin - Had to order this since it was such a unique menu offering. Very tender (cooked medium-rare) but rather gamey-tasting. Sides of mashed potatoes and roasted veggies complemented the meat well. Pheasant (Special Entree, not on menu) - Delicious! The pheasant meat was very juicy and nice portions - who knew pheasants were that large?! Parmesan Crusted Veal Chop - Excellent, but must admit that my favorite part of this dish was the white-truffle risotto it was served with. YUM. Herb Crusted Colorado Trout - Nicely prepared, delicious with the subtle mustard sauce that accompanied it. DESSERT: Nutella Banana Cream Pie - this is sooooo good. Not a commonly-found dessert anywhere, and every bite was cleaned off the plate!! If you like bananas, this is the perfect dessert for you! Overall an amazing experience. Would love to come back if I'm ever in Aspen again!
(5)Page A.
My hubby and I visited Pinon's on their last night open before they closed for the Fall season. First off, they were out of the bison (which seems to be reported fairly often on YELP) so that was disappointing. I started with the Fried Oysters and they were TO DIE FOR! My husband had the tuna tacos which he really loved, but I thought they were overpowered by the taste of Sriracha. We shared the Filet with Foie gras for our main. We ordered the filet Medium rare but it was served to us overcooked at Medium. The mashed potatoes that came with the dish were amazing, as was the foie gras. The filet however was lack-luster and thin. We also ordered a side of risotto which was a bit undercooked and lacked depth in flavor. Finally we shared the banana/nutella tart for dessert, and were so excited for it as the raves on Yelp have been "over the top." Alas, the crust was too hard and the flavors "meh". The frozen bananas on the dish were the highlight of the dessert. Overall...we were a bit disappointed with the experience and for the price we paid for our meal (it was very expensive), I think we would rather spend our money elsewhere.
(3)ROCKITSOBE L.
Great food and scene here. We had the salmon and tuna tacos. Make reservation ahead of time very busy place.
(4)S D.
I made a reservation thru Open Table with special instructions to sit at the bar. When we arrived for our seating, we were told by the host that he had our table ready, we said we asked to sit at the bar. We asked to wait ,he said there was another couple ahead of us waiting for a bar seat ( no reservations), he obviously did not read the special instructions or it didn't transfer over. He said do you want the table or not ,because I can fill this restaurant all night long. Wow, took me back , that was rude and he was the front of the house . It was like when Julia Roberts in Pretty Women walks into a high end shop and the ladies are rude to her when she clearly can pay for the items. We thought about it and ended up staying, because we heard the food was good. He took us to our table ( in the way back), I asked if anything opened up at the bar could he tell us. He never once came back to see how things were, he walked in the area several times but never came to us, a nice "I'm sorry for the mix up " would have been enough and maybe I wouldn't feel the need to write this. I timed how long it took for us to get our menus, it was 20 mins and it wasn't even packed. Overall, our server was good and nice and the food was tasty. Later on I was told the person that greeted us so poorly was the Owner. That was my first impression of the restaurant , I most likely will not be going back because of that.
(3)C S.
This local's favorite for a nice dinner!
(5)Aaron S.
I've been coming to Aspen for the past 15 years and this was my first experience dining at Pinion's even though I've heard the hype for many years now. This restaurant really lives up to it's reputation for wonderful food and great service. The ambiance is awesome and the quality of service and food was top-notch. Would certainly recommend this place anyone!
(5)Brian M.
Was able to go their last night open on April 5th. My wife and I both agree that this place deserves high praise. Appetizers, entrees, dessert and coffee were all excellent.
(5)Critic D.
We had dinner for 5 here this week. The place is just lovely. The menu is interesting. Wine selection was good, even had some decent half bottles. Two people split the filet mignon and found it to be excellent. Red snapper and sea bass were great. The Colorado lamb also excellent. We were so delighted we even got dessert. The apple crumb something was heavenly and the mixed berry tart also to die for. The only complaint we had was with our server. She seemed to have an attitude, we were waiting for one member of the party to park and as she grabbed the napkin we said we are waiting for one more, very snotty she replied I know I am putting the menu under the napkin. OK. Then later in the meal we asked another question, her response was so rude she actually came back to apologize. If someone from the Pinions is reading this - she was tall, blond and with an accent. It is a shame that a great dinner's memories are of a rude server.
(4)Maggie C.
Very lovely experience. Pinons is in a perfect location, just off Galena. The contemporary decor and negative space maximizes the conversational enjoyment at one's table. The staff is fantastic and knowledgeable. I ordered halibut which was sensational followed by fruit cobbler with a fresh assortment of berries and kiwi. Beautiful setting and elegant fare.
(5)Bonita A.
We went here on a recommendation, it was the best decision we made on our trip to Aspen. The food is amazing, top chef quality! Aside from the lamb chops and steaks as entrees they also offered a price fixe menu that was less expensive than the entree by itself. This is great that an elegant restaurant like this would give the price fixe option. For appetizers we had the lobster quiche, duck quesadilla and tuna tacos...wow, yum! The shrimp, mango and grapefruit salad was so fresh too. For entrees we had the lamp chops and sesame crusted seabass. Everything was A+! The view is gorgeous and there are large windows so you have a great view of the snowy mountains. The bus boys came around very often to clear our table and refill our water, which is basic but we can totally appreciate it. The manager came by twice to check on us which was nice. As the night went on, the lights continued to dim and we dined in a sea of candlight, so elegant, classy, romantic and just the experience you should have in Aspen.
(4)Chelsea V.
Pinons has some of the best food in Aspen! The strawberry basil Martinis were to die for along with the Freddy Salad and the steak.
(5)Grace M.
Very nice, on the expensive side. Food is good, atmosphere is quiet and nice. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is. They have a good selection if items, but trends to be more on the side of fancy foods. Foie Gras, veal, buffalo etc. not a lot of choices for folks looking for less exotic fair. Not somewhere we would go again
(4)Julie B.
We were recommended by our concierge at The Sky Hotel to have dinner at Pinons, during our honeymoon weekend. It was an excellent choice. It was right at the end of the season (late September) before Pinons and most of the town closes down (sorry this is a delayed review), so the restaurant was quiet. Although pricey, they had a special fixed price menu for 3 courses. My husband had the Freddy Salad and Prime Ribeye steak. I had the Spinach, Goat Cheese Salad and the Sesame Crusted Sea Bass. Everything was excellent and the portion sizes generous. For dessert, I think we had an apple berry crumble and bread and butter pudding, both were very good. Our Sommelier perfectly matched the wines to each of our meals which enhanced the overall experience. Service was good. The total bill, including tip, was around $200 which we thought was fairly reasonable for a place of this caliber - we expected to pay around that - but because we were able to order the fixed price menu, it represented better value for money ie. we got more food for our $200 then we would have if we'd just ordered a la carte. It's not a place we would go to regularly, as we don't tend to spend that much on a night out at dinner, unless it's for a special occasion, but we would certainly recommend Pinons and go back again - for a special occasion! But we probably won't go back to Aspen for quite a few years.
(4)Michael B.
Good food, but, incredibly poor service. The owners refused to honor our Open Table coupons. They said that Open Table made a mistake in the printing of the coupons and they aren't to blame. The bartender jumped in to pick a fight as I was discussing the issue with the manager. Save your money, go elsewhere. The food was good, but, nothing special.
(2)D G.
It's easily one of my top 3 in Aspen. We sat at the bar and the food, service, everything was perfect.
(5)Sarah Z.
I'm torn between three and four stars. On the upside, the service was very good and attentive, and the fish was incredibly fresh. On the downside, the flavors fell short overall and my companions salad was of the ice berg lettuce variety. I had a whitefish (can't remember right now) with bok choy, which was sort of bland. I started with the duck pasta, and sadly the pasta was over cooked. Also, we felt a bit rushed through our meal. I'm surprised this is considered one of the best restaurants in Aspen. It was good, but not great.
(3)Jenna R.
An overall fantastic meal! After much debate, my husband and I decided on Pinons; mainly b/c I wanted lamb and husband wanted buffalo. Both were amazing. We started our meal with one of their salads and the soup of the day (eggplant). Again, both tasty. Somehow we managed to get some of, ok, maybe all of, the bread pudding down. Yum. The cocktails were not weak either. It was pricey ($180 including tip), but well worth it.
(4)J. C. G.
Thoroughly enjoyable, from the promptness of seating right through dinner and dessert. Fantastic options, a great wine list, and top-end service make for a pleasant meal. The trick is that all that goodness adds up, which you will notice when the bill comes. Be prepared for ~$200/person. I'll go back...
(5)Aman S.
good food and service and good ambience
(4)Bernard M.
Excellent restaurant. From beginning to end, it was a great meal. I had their New Zealand Elk (don't know why they didn't go local. maybe this is less gamy?) which was tasty. I have only gone here once, but I would recommend it if you visit Aspen.
(4)Robbie M.
I really enjoyed the food. We ate in the bar where they had a fixed menu. The Salads were great. I had the Trout and it was delicious. I would definitly go back again
(4)Amikam R.
Pinons occupies an elegant room on the second floor of a commercial building. There's also seating outside. We were two for dinner on a Wednesday and a Sunday. The menu is big enough and the wine list huge - but the choice of wines by the glass is rather anemic. There's also a nice prix fixe menu for $38. We had the prix fixe menu on Wednesday and ordered a la carte on Sunday. The white asparagus soup was very good, the salad also very good. The NZ lamb was OK and the trout good. The jasmine rice could have been replaced with something tastier. The Colorado lamb - from the regular menu - was much better than its NZ counterpart on the prix fixe menu. The sole (a special on the regular menu) was good and overpriced at $49. The service comes in waves, after some attention they disappear only to reappear later. Water had to be asked for. The uneven service is the reason for the three stars. Food-wise this was a better place than the other restaurants we have been to in Aspen.
(3)Susan W.
I feel this is the only place in Aspen that could compete with restaurants in my home town of San Francisco. I have been coming here for 10 years and it never disappoints. Frank, the host, is wonderful and really runs the restaurant. Even in high season when things are booked up and crazy, he makes you feel very important and always comes by to make sure your meal is perfect. Frank come to San Francisco we need you.
(5)Tris P.
We heard great things about this place, so we were all very excited for this meal. We arrive and the ambiance was pretty good. We sat down at the table and after about 20-25 minutes our server came over to the table. We were frustrated that it took so long, and I mentioned to him that we had waited almost 30 minutes to even order a drink. He only commented, "Well, I have a large group over there," and pointed to a group of 6 (we were 4). Sorry, that's not my fricken problem; this is your restaurant and that is YOUR JOB. We ordered our entire meal and purchased a bottle of wine. He read back a small portion of our order as he walked away. He never returned. We had food runners (which happens, i worked in a restaurant and understand), and bussers that looked after our table as best they could, but that is the servers job. The food was pretty good; clearly from the other Yelp reviews you can see that. However, it was $40 a plate and was a small step above a casual chain restaurant. Yeah, only a little better. We've dined at the best places in Aspen, and this place should not be included with them. If you're going to spend money on a good dinner, you are MUCH better off going to Campo de Fiori or somewhere like that. Great food, great service, and about the same price. I would never recommend this place, nor will I ever go back.
(2)Nicholas B.
I spend thousands/month on a corporate AMEX at high priced restaurants all around the country. I can honestly say this was one of the best meals that didn't come from a friend or family members kitcken I have had out in years!. We enjoyed a fantastic mushroom soup that was evenly balanced and delicious, a super fresh burratta salad, a bison tenderloin that was phenomenal, maybe the best sea bass I've had in my life and a berry cobbler for dessert that was on point. If I had some constructive feedback it would be that our initial waiter didn't give us much attention once the rush arrived. All in all, outstanding! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Anastasia B.
Even with all of the seemingly great dining options in Aspen, Pinons was clearly my first choice for dinner. Professional service, clear view of the ski lifts, quieter ambiance than most restaurants, and top-notch food. If you can't afford to eat here, then don't. Unfortunately, they were out of the pan seared buffalo tenderloin (espresso seared, with boursin country potatoes and huckleberry sauce), which was the main reason why I chose Pinons in the first place. Instead I picked my second choice meal, which was the herb-roasted rack of Colorado lamb with pistachio nuts, rutabaga mash, and carrot-ginger broth. It was delicious, but still tinged with a little disappointment that it wasn't buffalo tenderloin. I can order lamb anywhere, but buffalo tenderloin...not so much. When I travel I like to order what I can't find on menus back home. I also had a bite (or two or three) of the parmesan crusted veal chop, stuffed with proscuitto and fontina, served with white truffle risotto and mixed forest mushroom sauce. I don't usually eat veal 'cause I'm socially conscious like that, but the almighty lawd baby jeebus didn't strike me dead when that perfect harmonious bite of poor little innocent baby veal stuffed with proscuitto and fontina with white truffle risotto and mushroom sauce hit my palate. Oh-em-gee is all I have to say. Did I mention that I don't eat veal? Last, but certainly not least. If you see the words "lobster corn dogs" on the menu, order it! Don't bother looking at the rest of the appetizers. Order it! Don't think twice about. Order it! Don't ask your dumbass indecisive husband what the hell he wants. Order it! I guarantee it will be one of the best things you've ever ate. Take that Ted Allen.
(5)Jim B.
The service was spot on - attentive without being intrusive. Food was fantastic. We had the sea bass and the trout. Both were delicious. Presentation was excellent, salads were very fresh. Overall, we really liked this place. It was full, but you could hold a conversation without having to yell, and never felt like they were frenzied or hurried despite being busy. Highly recommended! Jim
(5)Emerson R.
Pinons remains one of the top restaurants in Aspen....a spot it has held for years. It's food, decor, and service are superb.
(5)Mariah C.
Oh, Pinons. I just don't know how to review you. I guess we'll call it 3 1/2 stars. I feel like my dining experience, and hence my review, would have been entirely different if I'd come here with different people. Personally, I found my dinner and wine to be 4 stars at the very least, but some of my fellow diners were so unhappy that it dragged down my excitement. I'll do this as a bit of a point/counterpoint. What I Thought: From the start, I thought Pinons had a lovely ambience. Our party was there on a rainy evening, and it added to the cozy mood inside the restaurant. Our service was friendly and prompt. I had the trout, which was delicious, and my partner's steak looked and tasted fantastic. I ordered a glass of white wine, which was perfectly chilled, and went nicely with my meal. What They Thought: Here's the deal. My party just didn't want to be here from the get-go. The excited foodies in our crowd made the reservation, and everyone else begrudgingly came along for the ride. I got the sense that they wanted something less fancy and less pricey. They found the menu to be high-falutant. One of our diners ordered her steak medium-well, but got a pretty pink/red piece of meat. When my partner complained about this at the end of our meal, our waitress apologized, and said she had written down "medium." Although I agree that a high-priced steak should have been cooked to the temperature it was ordered, they weren't alerted early enough in the meal to have actually had the opportunity to fix it. So there you have it. Everyone left this dining experience a little grumpy, but I personally didn't think it was so bad, and would probably give it another try if I was looking for a nice dinner out in Aspen.
(3)Lantz W.
Has consistently been THE 5* dining experience in Aspen for the last 20 years. Rob and Beth really have it together. Check out: SASHIMI TUNA TACOS; FREDDY SALAD; PARMESAN CRUSTED VEAL CHOP. I miss Frankie on the front desk, but life goes on in Aspen :-( BTW, they have a great bargain menu if you are an early eater.
(5)Bryan Z.
For my money Pinons is probably the best restaurant in town. It's straighforward, high quality and incredibly consistent with great service. These guys take the experience seriously and deliver a flawless product. You never have to worry about coming in, spending way too much money for poor food and bad service. Sure, it ain't cheap. but nothing in Aspen is. Great wine list and solid menu--maybe not the most creative in the world but it's all really well done. The Tuna Tartare Tacos are a brilliant way to start and the Freddy salad is perfection. I've had the parmesean crusted veal chop, the NY Strip and a Dover Sole special and all have been amazing and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Sure the Pappy Van Winkle is $15 cheaper around the corner but at Pinons you can have the table all night and enjoy an evening with old friends. It's a fun and relaxed atmosphere void of any stuffiness or pretentiousness. Just an enjoyable experience and I look forward to making it a part of every Aspen trip in the future.
(5)Christine F.
Pinons has the best deal in Aspen. And it's super secret. We aren't gazillionaires, and I will admit that the prices at Pinons (upon first glance) made me cringe a little. It's a pricey joint, but their menu looked divine and we found out about an unpublicized deal they have going... If you are seated at 5:30pm you get 3 courses (app, entree and dessert) for $40. About 2/3 of the menu is included on this deal. I don't give a damn if we were the only people in the restaurant at that time (we definitely were), that deal is awesome, so away we went. Amazing service. We started off with 3 types of awesome breads as we perused the menu (dill, rosemary and banana). Side note: my husband said that Pinons should get 6 stars because they served banana bread with dinner. I agree. Anyway, for my app I chose the Fig, walnut and goat cheese salad and my husband chose the duck quesadillas. Holy HUGE salad, batman! Tons of arugula, beets (golden and purple), candied walnuts, goat cheese, figs and sherry vinaigrette. It was a festival of flavors - I am a sucker for this particular flavor combination though, so I may be biased. My husband's duck quesadillas were brimming with duck and a spicy chipotle sauce. Very tasty. For my entree I chose the sea bass with a basil/lemongrass sauce and crispy jasmine rice. My husband chose the pepper encrusted pork chop. The sea bass was divine. It was perfectly cooked - it was light like air and had a slightly crispy sesame crust. The rice it was served with seemed to have a crispy crust as well (baked rice, maybe?) and had a sweet, fragrant jasmine flavor. This was one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had. Blew me away. My husband loved his pork chop as well - it came with an apricot chutney and garlic mashed potatoes. Super tasty stuff. For dessert it was a no brainer. We both got the Nutella banana chocolate pie. DUH. I'm not a HUGE chocolate person, but this was incredible. There were layers of chocolate Nutella cream with bananas nestled in a crumbly, sweet crust. It was insane. I can't praise it enough. The service, food and ambience at Pinons at top notch. We will definitely return.
(5)Leslie S.
Awesome views, great service and good food. I had the sole special and my friend had the lamb. The highlight of the meal was the dessert, a toffee cake with an Oreo crust. So yummy.
(4)Cristina N.
Great wine list! The foi gras was great!
(4)Blake E.
We visited Aspen for our 10th wedding anniversary and wanted the best and we got it. We had table 1 in the back corner and it was perfect for a quite meal. The service was excellent, wine list workable, and the food was fabulous. I had the Buffalo which was honestly the best piece of meet I have ever had (btw, so much leaner than a filet with even more flavor). If you are seeking a great dinning experience request table 1 and order the Buffalo. Either way you can't go wrong at this excellent restaurant.
(5)Tina S.
This is my favorite restaurant of the year so far... I know it's early but this is going to be hard to beat. Went to Aspen for the long weekend and came here on Saturday night. The place was fairly busy but our seasoned server had no problem keeping up. We ordered the seared prawns for an appetizer. Perfect. I had the filet for my main course. Perfect. Paired my steak with a glass of their Pinot Noir.... forgot the name so I'll just call it Perfect! Everything was fantastic and definitely justified the steeper prices. I hope I can go back one day!
(5)Ziggy B.
My wife and I were on a motorcycle trip across America, and we stopped in Aspen to visit my daughter who is a classical musician, Anyway, we were strolling through Aspen's streets and we wanted to find a nice place to eat an elegant dinner. We used YELP! to find Pinon just around the corner from our location. What a pleasant surprise after the local Japanese Sushi place turned us down without a reservation. Pinon's staff was friendly, seated us at a nice big table, and we proceeded to be feted with great food and excellent wine. I had the Lamb and I am a lamb freak and it was awesome. It's pricey, but hey, this is Aspen, dude!
(5)Dominique W.
the lobster ravioli appetizer was the star if this meal.
(5)