One of the best Mac & Cheese with Jalopenos and Spicy fries I have ever had. In our recent trip to Aspen we tried Red Onion. We loved the food so much that we had to go there again. The ambience is alright but the bartenders were great. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Paul T.
Two things that are hard to find in Aspen are authenticity and value for money. The Red Onion has both. I have been pleasantly surprised at how " local " this place feels and how good the food is despite the gregarious bar scene. Its become my favorite spot for a casual dinner out .The service is pleasant without being over-bearing. PT
(5)
Shaun S.
I tried to get a table (many open tables) last Sunday. The restaurant was far from full. We stood outside by the hostess for 15 minutes. She never came up to us. We went inside to try to get seated and a waiter told us that the hostess was outside. They all avoided eye contact. After 25 minutes we left, as an angry couple could not find a waiter to pay their tab. Come on, it was downtown Aspen 4th of July Weekend, probably the biggest weekend of the Summer. If you do not want my business, fine, I now go to BB's Kitchen across the street. So should you. yelp.com/biz/bbs-kitchen…
(1)
H C.
The food here is average. The service is average. I've had a few of the menu items. The turkey sandwich was not very good - the turkey looked and tasted like packaged lunch meat from the grocery store. The wings are average. Even though it's an old restaurant, I feel it lacks character and the staff doesn't seem to be thrilled to work there. I think it's a good place to grab a beer before going out to dinner, or a good late night stop if you're looking for a casual atmosphere.
(2)
Casey P.
We were looking for something cheap and simple and this place fit the bill. The food was good. The service was good - very friendly and quick to bring it out and take it away (when we were done of course). I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for something out of the ordinary but the menu offers many different food options. Their soups were delicious, the salads were hearty, and the cheese steak was good enough to order again. I highly recommend the banana cream pie! Great adult atmosphere
(5)
Richard C.
For Aspen's oldest restaurant I was a tad disappointed in the staff and atmosphere. First as mentioned in other reviews it is hard to tell the staff from the customers. Both are very laid back and very casual. The day I was there I ended up with three different servers - all pleasant but seemed more inconvenienced that they had to work as opposed to enjoying a great afternoon in Aspen. Then there was nearly a fight between a customer and a passerby - after the passerby untangles the customers pit bull that had got tangled in some bike racking. The customer stormed over and threatened the helpful gentleman, then brought the dog into the seating area shouting "its a service dog" then proceeded to glare at other customers. Very uncomfortable. Management did nothing. As to the food. It was fair. Had a hamburger. Cooked the way I requested and was reasonably tasty.
(3)
Big S.
great bar! we went here on a weekend night, and had a nice time. the apps were tasty and the burger was awesome. nice to be able to order pitchers as well. we were happy with everything we had here. and its nice they are open until 2 as well. i would go back!
(4)
Emily G.
The red onion seems like a really cool hang out spot where the locals chill on a weekend night right before they start the heavy partying. With the X-games going on, I definitely expected a packed crowd of both locals and xgame visitors getting their drink on or just dining out for the night. Sadly, it as really hard to appreciate the atmosphere or the people at the Red Onion because their service and staff was so terrible that we really did not care to spend an extra second longer. Upon arrival, the bouncer denied us entry because they were already at capacity (understandable). Once we told him we were there to sit for dinner (and not just drink), the let us through. We had a party of 11 people, so clearly this was going to be a challenge. When I reached the hostess desk, I told the manager our party size and he nodded. Then he disappeared for 20mins without saying anything - at all. The other servers wouldn't help us and more patrons came in asking for the host, to which I just stared at them blankly saying "I don't know, he just kinda left". Eventually, our party was seated and we got our server. We ordered our beers and food right after 10- I remember this because I asked her when HH specials would kick in and confirmed with her that they had started (and that the specials applied). I ordered a PBR and to my surprise found out that she got me the pint (they come in 3 sizes, she didn't ask me what size) and that she charged me for the regular, non HH price. When I asked her about the prize of my drink she said "yeah its like $3 or 4 or 5 or something, I don't remember exactly". I really didn't feel like starting a fight over a couple bucks, but I didn't love it, and I really didn't love her attitude. Then we had the pleasure of dealing with the manager again. He informed us that at 10.30 or 11, they turn the dining area into a dance floor and set up a DJ booth. Great, but our food just arrived and we are eating. He kept hurrying us to eat and removed all the tables around us as other diners finished up their food and drinks. They even started hyping up the volume next to us, so we couldn't really hear our own thoughts anymore. We tried to close out our checks as soon as possible - not particularly easy when you have 11 people and 1 giant check for everyone. When we tried to get our server to come around, she would take forever or suddenly disappear. How convenient. Food wise? Meh. I ordered their house salad which was just lettuce and croutons. Kinda dumb that they don't put red onions in their house salad (really, its in your name). Their sweet potato fries were OK, regular fries were too damn salty. The other menu items were decent but nothing particularly great at their prices (higher end for bar food). At that point, it would have taken amazing food for us to not hate the place. So, I hope you guys have a better experience here because I really DO see the potential for this place to be a great hang out spot... Just wish their managers and servers got their shit together. Soon..
(2)
Saul M.
Shotskis! A bunch of shots mounted on a ski. You gotta do them with your friends. The bar has a 10-Midnight happy hour at least during low season on Thursdays. It was one of the few reasonably affordable bars I encountered in A$pen. I went with a big group for karaoke night and had a great time without breaking the bank. The beer selection includes the hipster favorite PBR... On tap. Cocktail were also reasonable.
(4)
Wen-fai F.
Pulled pork mac & cheese sandwich.... need I say more??? OK in the spirit of Yelp I will say a bit more. The sandwich was $11 which is a little on the pricy side for any sandwich but given the fact that you're in Aspen, I'd say it's not so bad. And knocking a few days off my life by eating that carby-fatty deliciousness was totally worth it. The beer selection is also good and the place is quiet at lunch-time. Great comfort food for a day spent off the slopes.
(4)
Mike H.
First off...understand, folks, what the Red Onion is. It is *not* a fancy dining establishment that serves you cucumber water, white table cloths and expensive wine. It is not a place you'd take your grandmother (unless your grannie is friggin' awesome). It is not your usual 'aspen cuisine' raised pinkie type food. What it is...is a bar that caters to regulars, servers booze for cheap and surprisingly good food. It's a dive bar by Hollywood standards. Alcohol is priced very fairly, the crowd is friggin' hilarious and the bartenders are awesome. Don't come here expecting a fancy restaurant. Don't come here if you don't know how to work a blue collar bar if you're not willing to learn. If you're blue collar...if you love dive bars...if you don't mind loud drunks...this place friggin' rocks. Seriously. Check this place out. It ****ing rocks. Edit: I total forgot to complain about something. If the owner is reading this... Your steak salad is an awesome concept. However, there's a major flaw. Blue cheese is *only* good with steak. If you put a bunch of blue cheese with a normal cut of skirt steak, it doesn't really work. In my obviously NOT humble opinion, that salad is excellent without the blue cheese and just okay with the blue cheese. I would have preferred that salad, minus the blue cheese, with a side of Caesar. Just my .02 cents. It was actually a really, really good dish. Seriously, folks. It was a damn good salad. I'll hold the blue cheese next time, but it was otherwise really, really good.
(5)
Allison S.
Since it was my first (and likely only) time in Aspen, I figured that I should probably eat at one of Aspen's oldest restaurants. That turned out to be a good decision. The Red Onion is in the heart of downtown Aspen, right by all the shops. It's on a pedestrian-only road, so there's no parking, but it's easy to walk to. The place is actually pretty big - there's a pretty big bar and pub style tables in the front and then the restaurant in the back. I sat at the very front of the joint at a pub table - and right next to the window. The view was gorgeous! You could see the mountains right over the shops sitting across the street. The mountain came in and out of view while we were sitting there because of the snow that was moving around the area. Their beer menu was pretty big and the food was good too - typical pub food that you'd expect to get at a place like this. I had the jalapeno corn chowder (soup of the day) and a Philly cheese steak with spicy sweet potato fries, and it was worth it. The service was a little bit slow, but that was OK since I wasn't in a hurry (I was on vacation).
(4)
Jamie A.
Just stopped by for lunch and really hit the spot. Great atmosphere and great service. Had the pulled pork and cheddar, and a Black and Tan. Well done! Best prices in Aspen.
(5)
Monica C.
Great place to watch a football game. Cozy, friendly people, good service, great burgers and fries, and lots of big TV's! The veggie black bean burger was delicious!
(4)
Todd W.
Nice western style bar. Had lunch. Service was efficient. A noticeable bad smell in the back, so we moved tables. Food was good bar food. Not worth a wait in line, but nice burgers and a couple of salad options. My blue cheese steak salad was not compelling enough for a second visit.
(3)
Adam J.
Aspen has a reputation for being a little hoity toity, which is kiiind of reinforced by the fact that every second restaurant we walked by was a steakhouse, a French bistro, or an upscale Italian restaurant. Since I left my tophat and monocle at home, we scoured the town for a restaurant that looked like it might have decent, affordable food, and we ended up here. I'm glad we did. We had a bowl of the Red Onion Soup, which I'm pretty sure is just French Onion Soup, not actually made with red onions. It was good, but really soup with half an inch of melted cheese on top is hard to screw up. The main event was a deer burger for me, and it was darned tasty. Not gamey, cooked to a nice pink medium. I added bacon and mushrooms, and she didn't charge me for it (maybe because it was $17 to start with, thus illustrating the danger of ordering the special without asking the cost). The spicy fries were somewhat misnamed because they were not spicy, but they did have spices on them and were crunchy and delicious. Tanya had the Sedona Chicken Sandwich, which was also very good. Juicy chicken with tasty guac and red peppers that all blended nicely together. She splurged and went for the sweet potato tots, which were fan-freakin-tastic and came with tasty ranch to dip in. The atmosphere was nice, it looks like a place that's been around since the turn of the last century. Tia, our waitress, was great as well, though she did kind of get flustered as people came in. She really seemed genuinely happy to work here, which is always pleasant. The worst part of the visit was the other customers. My god, people in Aspen are rude. I'm not surprised that people on Yelp complain about the service, because despite Tia's best efforts, the people sitting next to us were nothing but snooty, arrogant jerks to her. Folks, let's keep in mind that our servers are people too, and maybe if you treat them as such, even in Aspen, they'll try a little harder for you. For dinner, three (strong) drinks, and the soup, we were at about $50 before tip. That's not really any worse than a restaurant in a less affluent area. I'd go back for sure.
(4)
NJ P.
Outstanding patio on a summer Aspen day. Extensive beer menu with reasonable prices...and the thai lettuce wraps blew us away.
(5)
Laci K.
Definitely more of a sports bar atmosphere than I had expected, but they do offer some tables in he back that would be better for casual dining. I got the sesame chicken salad. More than likely will not get it again if we decide to return. I can't really explain it, but it tasted a little strange ... Burned or something. The clam chowder soup was runny but it had good flavor. I haven't tried anything else on the menu so I can't speak for much. The wait staff is very nice :)
(4)
Julia L.
The red onion provided a lovely home for our laughs this weekend. Great food. Great drinks. Great laughs.
(4)
Rob T.
This is a drinks and apps only review. We did not stay for dinner. The Wings (Thai Chili and Buffalo) and the Bacon Mac N Cheese were all fantastic. Wings were meaty and cooked correctly, and Bacon Mac N Cheese....well how can that be bad. They have an OK beer selection and a nice patio, which one of the days we were there had live music. I liked the bar area as well. It was a nice place to sit back with a drink. I would come back, sit on the patio and people watch with a nice Micro Brew.
(4)
Alvarez W.
Local spot. Inexpensive drinks. Open mic night is generally entertaining. In the heart of downtown Aspen. Convenient location...and affordable prices.
(3)
Eric J.
Good for sports, fairly standard menu, great patio
(3)
Manny R.
Really fresh food and our bartender, Johnny, was super friendly. I was in there for lunch on a Tuesday and had the excellent beef green chili (trust me, order the bowl as you'll want more!) and their cobb salad with a chipotle lime dressing. They also have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on draught...HOORAY! I'll surely go back when I am in Aspen again.
(3)
Kenneth W.
The was an excellent restaurant. Not pretentious and excellent food. Staff was friendly and attentive. It was so good our kids asked to go back again and we did. Everything we ordered both times was excellent. Would highly recommend to anyone.
(5)
Heath P.
For Aspen's prices and this location, it might be the best meal in town. Packed the entire time I was there after walking by several empty restaurants. Apparently, the locals know a good meal for their dollar. I said locals, not the zeitgeist richie riches in furs roaming the streets. I didn't even think that was still legal. Colorado, cowboy up, who the hell is PeTa and where is my ketchup?
(4)
Patrick O.
I had the pulled pork sandwich and the portion was very generous. The meat was tender and juicy and the bun wasn't all soggy from juices. I had the "spicy" fries also. Not very spicy for being advertised as such. They were phenomenal none the less. The prices were reasonable for being in downtown Aspen and the drink list was extensive. I am giving them four stars because other guests in my group were not satisfied with their meals (the chicken sandwich had more bread than meat and the Cobb salad was overloaded with toppings and not enough lettuce). Overall I would go back and try out other menu options.
(4)
Anthony M.
Avoid this place at all costs. I've been here a total of five times this summer, both for lunch and dinner, but never again. The service is hit or miss, but mostly just bad. With the fantastic exception of "Angie", the wait staff are out to lunch and make no effort to be in any way attentive; they're far better at socialising with their friends than providing good, responsive service to their customers. But tonight's visit was by far the worst. Three of us arrived at 9:40pm and were told that all they had available were appetizers and drinks, despite the fact that their kitchen is supposed to be open until 10. I guess someone wanted to get home early! My guests were annoyed, but I talked them into staying and ordering off the "small bites" menu. I ordered a cheeseburger slider and mac n' cheese with bacon, my friends ordered a large plate of nachos to share. The service was predictably slow and incomplete. My cheeseburger slider came minus cheese, for which it was sent back in order to be dressed with cheese. Several minutes later I finish the slider and then flag down our chatty waiter to ask if the mac n' cheese was on its way out. He said yes, "in just a few minutes". Well, a few minutes later another (clearly better) waitress comes out to apologise for the fact that apparently, despite me ordering it, the mac n' cheese was never cooked and that now the kitchen was closed, meaning I wasn't getting any food. To her credit, however, she did offer to comp my friends' nachos and to bring me the only thing they had available, chips and salsa. Needles to say I was more than annoyed but also still very hungry. A guy in a visor and apron (who later turned out to be the manager... supposedly) eventually brought out a basket of chips to placate me. A short while later we were joined by two other friends who didn't realise the kitchen had closed. They ordered a beer and asked for chips and salsa for themselves only to be told my Mr. Manager that he'd have to charge them for it. Quite without thinking and in a fit of absolute annoyance I blurted out, "Oh, I don't think after the service we've received tonight we'll be paying for chips and salsa." My tone was so sharp I actually surprised myself. Anyhow, manager guy walked off and later the extra chips were produced. The bill was finally presented and, true to their word, the nachos were comped and the chips/salsa were gratis. I was still so annoyed, however, that I demanded to have my arts festival discount applied to the $2.75 cheeseburger slider. That's when this supposed manager said, in as condescending and rude a tone I have ever heard, "Sir, we made an $8 mistake with your order and have comped your nachos." As if to say "what more do you want?" I replied that his "$8 mistake" meant that I never got to have my dinner and would now have to go home hungry! I was outraged that a manager of all people would be so fucking arrogant, dismissive, and flippant. The Red Onion does not deserve to have customers as they clearly have no concept of customer service. The so-called manager on that night was an absolute cock, and I will NOT be going back there at any point in the future. It isn't worth the aggravation!
(1)
David S.
Reasonably priced restaurants in Aspen are far and few between, but the Red Onion is an exception. It is in a great area of town and has a small, but wonderful outdoor patio. The food is on the higher end of pub food for the most part, but all of our meals were great, and the prices were good value for what we got. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Rachel S.
Wish they had better wine here, but other than that we enjoyed the live music, beers and mixed drinks. Plenty of TVs. Good service. Classic Aspen place to visit. Nothing too fancy.
(4)
Chris M.
An Aspen local recommended this as a nice spot to sit and have a glass of wine, sit outside and enjoy the Aspen mall ambiance. They were so right. This was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. The restaurant decor is wonderful and unique and outdoors they have a community table. What's a community table you ask? It's a large table with about 8 seats that folks can join if the other tables are full or if they'd just like to make a new friend. We ended up striking up a conversation with another couple who were there for the weekend and had a wonderful time. We ordered appetizers that were large and tasty and it was happy hour so the wine per glass was a great value. After having such an awful time at the Ute City Grill.. this was a wonderful save for our afternoon.
(4)
Buck B.
Wow. My wife and I agree this was the worst meal we have had in recent memory. Service was also weak, but we are not grading on the service as it was a packed weekend lunch. The cheese steak had a foul odor and was almost inedible because of all the gristle. Salads and dressings were awful. Kids grilled cheese and fries were good. Got ill later in the day and believe it was due to dining at Red Onion. Would have given it 1 star regardless of getting sick. Looks like it would be a fun sports bar, but don't dine there. (summer 2011; late post)
(1)
mixxxx z.
Fun and delicious meal. Staff dresses like customers so that is a bit confusing, but the service is solid (a little more follow up would be nice), still great ambiance. Definitely the best onion soup.
(4)
Jamie W.
The main thing going for this place is it's location. It has your basic comfort bar food prepared in an average fashion. The service is average. It does have good TV's in the bar area for watching sports.
(2)
Chris C.
Visited Aspen for the first time and happened to walk right by this "hole in the wall", glad we did. Excellent food and great place for a drink while checking out the town.
(3)
Michael B.
Wow, I think the best thing about our meal is that I never have to go back again. The Red Onion always had a reputation for bad food. I guess another positive thing is that nothing's changed. It started with a "ten minute" wait for a table -- which took thirty. Then they messed up about half the orders. My girlfriend's "Elk burger rare with spicy fries" showed up as a well done normal burger with sweet potato fries. Mine, which was also supposed to be rare, was well-done and had about as much flavor as a flame-seared hockey puck. And not too much of a better texture. The service was slow and inattentive. It took almost ten minutes after our food came to flag someone down for ketchup. And no, there wasn't a "can I get you something else"; they just put the wrong thing down and left. The beer was fine, but it's the same selection you can find anywhere else in Aspen. And seriously, go anywhere else. You'll find a better burger at McDonald's. Ugh. Hopefully I'll wake up feeling less disgusting.
(1)
Andrew M.
We were out for Vetts on the Rockies this past summer and made the journey out to Aspen just for the Red Onion which had just re-opened that May. Wow - $16 bucks for 3 White Castle style sliders and the worst meatball sandwich I have ever seen or ate - I mean how in the world do you screw up a meatball sandwich. The service was horrid - two tables near us outside left aftwe waiting more then 30 minutes just for water. The brunett host was the worst service orientated staff I have ever encountered. In fact she stormed out of the place the minute her shift had expired. If you have kids - trust me... Go to McDonalds. I understand that you can go to McDonalds anywhere but trust me - you'll want to avoid spending $32.00 on sliders that they won't even eat because they are that bad! Too bad really... Red Onion was one of the last places to have fun and get a good meal after they shut down Skiers Chalet. In my opinion - they'd be off closing their doors for good before they tarnish the former Red Onion which was far better. We'll be back in Aspen in March - won't be coming back here however. Update 3/10/2011: Took my family and mother out to Aspen for one last party. I tried explaining to my mother - who lived and worked in Aspen for years that the town was dead - nothing left for "normal" people. None the less she wanted to go have a drink at the Red Onion - so she did with my kids uncle along for the ride. No problem right? Wrong! I showed up with my 5 year old - walked up to the two of them sitting at the bar when the manager walks up and asks "Are you eating lunch here?" I responded no and then he went on to inform me that we had to sit at a table with my little one. Gee I wonder why in July both my 5 year old and my 11 year old sat at the bar for more then an hour drinking kitty-cocktails and there was no problem them. Let me guess - because we weren't ordering lunch? In anycase it was proof in the pudding for my mother that this town is in fact dead. The only people who come into this bar are up-scale boutique shoppers who think they are getting a peice of history here when all they are getting is over-priced garbage.
(1)
Sara Z.
Good food. We had the jalapeno shrimp poppers and they were very tasty. Also, I had the pork tacos that were ever so yummy. The location was convienent and the price was right. HUGE TVs were nice to watch the hockey game.
(4)
Jessie S.
Walked down to here while we were walking around. The patio is nice and the service was great. Our server was very attentive and super nice. He even put up with me wanting a blt over their bacon, avocado, turkey sandwich. :). The food was good, easy comfort food. Only thing I didn't like was the obnoxious group of loud guys behind me. But can't really hold the restaurant responsible for them. :)
(4)
Ben R.
We very much enjoyed the Red Onion. Complete with a wonderful historic ambiance, we received great service, very good food all reasonably priced. Looking forward to going back for the Mac n Cheese.
(4)
Katie P.
Awesome lunch, very friendly servers, quick and yummy!!!
(5)
Ezra B.
Probably the best place in Aspen for cheap tasty treats and good times. Cheap beers and good beers, and the nachos were awesome! I highly suggest it!
(4)
Hannah G.
BEST sweet pot tots ;) Me and my husband always split the red onion burger and sweet pot tots!! AMAZING food and service.
(5)
Roman K.
I had to sign up for Yelp just because I felt the need to review this place. My buddies and I were looking for a place to eat around aspen, but didn't want to spend a fortune. Red Onion had a 3 star review here, but we decided to risk it anyway. Holy crap! Not sure why this is only a 3 star. This place had the best wings I've ever had in my life. They were big, juicy, and the sauces were delicious. Fries and burgers were also great. We are definitely coming back here.
(5)
Matt C.
laidback vibe, decent food, and one of the best bloody marys i've ever had. we stopped into the red onion for lunch while aimlessly walking around during a recent trip to aspen. our server was very friendly and steered us to the bloody mary as one of the best around. she was right on the money - it was delicious. after a couple of us ordered one and started raving about it, everyone in our group eventually had one in their hands during the course of the meal. the food is typical, decent pub fare, though they did have elk & buffalo burgers featured as lunch specials. our group tried a bit of everything; highest recommendation, oddly enough, was the mac & cheese. my cheesesteak was not my favorite of all time, as it was served on some type of gourmet-style bread instead of a hoagie. prices were probably the lowest we've ever encountered in aspen, so big props for that!
(3)
Sarah R.
Was I on candid camera?! My family and I have been coming there for years and usually have good service and great food. Today's visit was a serious departure from the usual and after a series of unfortunate events I could only think, "is this a joke?!" Let me list all of the ridiculous things that occurred: 1. Walked into an empty restaurant. We were told, by our soon to be waiter that it would be 2-3 minutes to set up a table. 15 minutes later we were still standing there as though we were invisible. The bar tender had to seat us- he apologized. 2. Served drinking water that tasted like dish water. 3. Dirty glass (with lipstick marks!!!) and a dirty plate....no apology for either. Only a NON-funny remark about how we should keep our lips off of the glass. 4. Didn't write down the order and then had to scream across the restaurant for us to repeat it. 5. Walked off to refill a diet coke and never returned with it. 6. Ordered chicken fingers off the bar menu- menu said it came with 3 and was served only 2. When we asked if this was correct, got a rude response. He finally brought out an additional chicken finger with a scowl on his face, but reiterated that it only comes with 2. 7. The worst part of this experience was definitely Marcus, who was snotty, condescending and arrogant. Almost all of our problems arose out of his behavior towards us. If this guy is a manager...this place doesn't have a prayer of staying open.
(1)
Yaha O.
I went for lunch and is not noisy and don't have stairs so was good to go with my daughter in the stroller. The food was good, and the baked potato soup so good! Prices very reasonable.
(4)
Bryan V.
Loved the nachos and the guacamole was to die for! Great place to sit outside with a beer and enjoy an afternoon of people watching. Which there was a joint like this within walking distance of me.
(4)
Jaclyn O.
Dinner was ok. BUT came back to watch a game on Saturday and had some really great nachos. Ask for extra roasted jalapeños!
(3)
Dennis W.
The oldest bar in Aspen closed then reopened a year and half ago, The old bar was removed, refinished and expanded. This is not a fancy place and looks like an old cowboy bar which makes it all the more attractive. This iconic bar once had the best hamburger in Aspen. The new owners served frozen patties, but recently went back to house made Angus patties. We asked around town and the reputatiion is that the service is not good. We went in on a Friday on our last ski day. The place was nearly deserted. Our bartender-waitress, April was very helpful with recommendations and drawing the brew. We tried the hamburger, ordered it Medium. It was an 8 Oz burger, and was very good, exept the centers on two of the burgers were not cooked as well. One had a rare center, the other a medium rare center. Fries were perfectly fried and plentiful. Service was good. We ate at the bar, and walked out very satisfied on a mid December afternoon, wishing there was more snow.
(4)
Scott L.
I'm starting to think that all restaurants should be approached a bit like Shopsins... dont act like an asshole, and Holy Shit! You get great service and great food. This place was slammed during dinner, but the main waiter guy got us going in no time, all the while training a dude who barely spoke english, and it was just the two of them for the dinner rush on Sunday. I had the Chicken Enchiladas, they were very tasty with fresh guac. Also chips and salsa, got the job done. The wife had a spinach salad with candied pecans, it was also fresh and savory. Drinks were filled promptly. The kid had Chicken fingers, two huge ones, which came with some of the best fries I've had in years. This all took place out on the patio at sunset, which was mostly awesome... except all the while some wanna be investment banker next to us yapped into his cell phone about the impending martial law coming down. I'm gonna take his advice, pull my money out of the banks which are "totally in bed with the government" and invest on more french fries! Oh Aspen, I love you.
(5)
C Rad R.
Service is spotty, but food is nice and somewhat reasonable. SWEET POTATOE TOTS, WOW....
(3)
r h.
Good pricing for the area. This restaurant has nice outdoor seating on pedestrian street. We came during happy hour ($1 off apps and drinks). The giant plate of nachos were good, but it was an extra $5 extra for meat and then they didn't put much meat on it. When we asked for guacamole on our nachos, they didn't tell us that it would be a separate order and cost an additional $5. That said, the guacamole was very good and it was a large serving. It's a nice spot to hang out and people watch in the summer.
(4)
Barry R.
Sweet potato tots taste sweeter than the fries. The chicken is scarce in the BBQ chicken quesadilla if you want to order it as a meal.
(3)
alyssa m.
Really bad & slow service (one couple sat down and left after not being helped, another couple ordered their dessert through a manager because their waitress was nowhere to be found, and another lady had to ask to be waited on), average diner food (frozen patty hamburger), overpriced, will avoid it next time in Aspen.
(2)
Scott W.
Nice casual restaraunt with great food in the heart of Aspen, really liked the onion rings and diablo steak.
(4)
J. Michael F.
My wife, I and two friends recently had lunch at the Red Onion. Three of us ordered the wonderful French onion soup. The food was tasty and we asked for some bread with our meals. The waiter not only didn't tell us there would be a charge for the bread, she delivered the bill with an added $1.50 charge for the bread. This was not only insulting, it's not considered normal in any American restaurant we have ever patronized. They should be embarrassed and future patrons need to be forewarned. Also, the bread wasn't even anything special. If this restaurant can't afford to include bread with meals, they need to reconsider whether they should stay in business. We all left with a poor impression of their legendary quality food and fair priced reputation as they tried to sneak an unreasonable and unexpected "nickel & dime" charge onto our bill. As a result, we will not return and would encourage others to avoid this surprise and unwarranted billing practice.
(1)
Brian T.
Great place on a nice corridor in Aspen. It was our first visit to town. The owner was incredibly welcoming. Good place for dinner, or beers afterwards!
(5)
Garnett W.
We chose the place for its lovely outdoor eating area and simple but interesting menu. It is a lovely day, so we waited for a free table. The young man who greeted us and sat us was charming. His counterpart, who ended up being our server, was NOT! She came up as we were being seated and said that we hadn't been waiting as long as another group. We had - the young man knew it. We simply had chosen not to hover over the tables waiting for their occupants to leave. We placed our order and waited 20 minutes. Eventually reminded her to please bring my glass of wine. When she brought the glass she slammed it on the table! What did I do? Eventually (our water and wine glasses nearly empty) our lunch was delivered by the nice young man. My order was completely wrong. When we got the correct food it was delicious and we enjoyed this it. I had the turkey bacon cheddar sandwich any my husband had the buffalo burger. Both were great! As we were eating the young woman served the table next to us and literally "DROPPED" our bill at our table. (Very near a slam) I'd recommend this place highly if they got rid of the girl with the attitude!!!! Are all people in Aspen this RUDE? Apparently not, unless the young man is a transplant.
(2)
Tabitha C.
I heard singing from the street and was lured into this place like a sailor who was enchanted by the voice of sirens. Everything sounded great... the singing, the laughter, even the description of the pulled pork and cheddar sandwich on the menu. If only my sandwich tasted as good as it sounded, however the grayish colored pork looked very suspicious to me. How could this possibly be the most popular item? I swallowed it, even though it had NO barbecue sauce on it, and tasted like it had been reheated for the 3rd day in a row. This was a mistake, and I would later regret this as I spent a good deal of the night in the bathroom. I had to pay for my mistake of eating here over and over, and then, I also had to pay for the meal of the people sitting next to me because the waitress put THEIR MEAL on our credit card as well as ours!
(1)
Marie B.
More and more I see the value of Yelp. I too found this place to be "ok" ...nothing amazing or special and the service is just s tad lax. Had the Cobb Salad ...it was fine. Neither fab no "ick". Just straight forward. If I had limited time here, I would try someplace with more pizzazz.
(3)
Misty S.
Completely Overpriced. Bland food. Pretentious bartender that had the personality of a wet mop. Slow as molasses server who got the order wrong. Drink was ok, but the food was pretty "nothing" for what they charge. And yes, I realize we are in Aspen, but who seriously cares.
(2)
Denny S.
Back to Aspen again this summer. Lame food. Went Sunday and tonight. Your bartender is about as warm as a refrigerator. Clearly, going through the motions. Anyway, got a burger again, no flavor. Food was lame. Anyone can serve beer. Never be back.
(1)
Cullen E.
Went there for lunch today and was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the food and attentiveness of the staff. I ordered the pulled pork and cheddar sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. The wife had the pork chop schnitzel and loved it. I would absolutely recommend anyone looking for a good meal to check this place out. They also have a decent selection of craft beer on tap!
Red Onion... Ridiculously small salad and annoying hovering wait staff. Four of us went for dinner, they had GF bread that was not mentioned in menu (a plus). I had beet goat cheese salad that was 13.50, what a joke, it was the size of a small side salad, totally lame for a dinner. Waitress and serving staff way too "attentive", refilling waters, taking plates the instant the last bite eaten, it simply made me feel rushed and WATCHED. Everyone else's meal was good, not exceptional. Good enough because but finding an dinner option in $15 and under range in Aspen equals pizza/sandwiches/salads. Good music and around 8:30 bar patrons started getting loud. Would not recommend for vegetarians, although they had a bean burger.
(3)
Jessie W.
Let it be known, this is a SOLID 5 star review. I recently visited Colorado for a one week vacation and so naturally we ate out quite a bit. In Aspen, we were looking for a lunch option that was not ridiculously overpriced, but still had delicious, high quality food - The Red Onion was by far my favorite restaurant and if we lived in the area, we would definitely be regulars! First, the service was prompt and friendly. They seated our group of 6 easily and immediately took our drink orders. The appetizers came quickly as well, hot and fresh and I could not get over how delicious the corn chowder was! Please do yourself a favor in these chilly fall and winter days and order yourself a cup/bowl! I ordered the pulled pork with cheesy mashed potatoes. The bun was crispy on the underside and soft inside and the BBQ pulled pork was hot, juicy and seasoned to perfection. I'm salivating just thinking about it! My one small negative was that the cheesy mashed potatoes tasted like good ol' mashed potatoes san cheese, but they were good nonetheless. Others ordered the buffalo burger and a lime chicken sandwich and were equally impressed (both the spiced fries and sweet potato fries were a hit). Good service, good value, good food... even coming from NY, I say this place does it right!
(5)
James L.
Great spot! Always good entertainment. Tasty food and cool atmosphere. Can't go wrong when ur looking for a laid back spot
(4)
Michael C.
The pulled pork sandwich is fantastic, so is the pork ravioli. There is also lovely service and a great patio.
(4)
Doreen B.
I like that this place has its own story, its own piece of history. We had to come here before our trip was over. After learning that it was one of the original buildings in the creation of Aspen, and that it has kept its name and its location through the 1800s'. The bar is still the original bar. DRINKS/FOOD: Hubbs ordered some type of brown ale accompanied with what look like some real good tasting red onion soup. I ordered the Walsh's cider; I was concerned that it would be too sweet with the splash of maple syrup, however the drink was perfect. I did not order anything else off the food menu, because at the time nothing beckoned me. Nothing jumped out and said "Doreen you really want to eat me". The drink was sufficient and our server was cordial. She was patient as I took a while to order my drink, because there is an abundance of drinks on the menu. I almost went for the 420, which is the numeral address of the Red Onion too! Thank you Walsh's Run Cider, because of you I am now part of history too! I liked that we sat at the picture window; this window was tall and wide from the ceiling to the floor. It was a heavenly scene watching the snow fall and being able to look into my lover's eyes. It was absolutely perfect staring of a date night. It was a good time @ the Red Onion Saloon. Now on to Justice's Snow on Hyman Ave.
(5)
Sean B.
This is a good place to bring a large group after skiing. Their staff is courteous and quick. The food was decent and the drink selection made everyone happy. Our table's most popular selection was the PBR pitcher. It made us feel right at home and was priced at maybe $8 each - making it the best deal in Aspen.
(4)
Katie M.
This is one of the oldest spots in Aspen. I was told the mantle that holds the liquor is the original, from when the building was built. Maybe it's not true but I like to think so. :) The bar area is small so expect it to be packed on lively nights. I like their food selection. Very vegetarian friendly.
(4)
Michael G.
Red Onion has been here for years and keeps on truckin. Good grub in a casual atmosphere. Nice beer selection. The server was in training, so we cut her some slack, but her training was working. We powered down on apps and beer and left happy.
(3)
Gordon L.
Food is not that good. Overpriced mediocre guacamole. 10.50 for some stale chips and not ver good guacamole. The menu is very limited and we had 3 items none of which was very good. Cheese quesadillas were also disappointing. Lettuce wraps were the best but also needed some peanut sauce.
(2)
Erin E.
Everything here is very....average - from the service to the food to the atmosphere. Nothing too exciting but not bad either. The drink prices are great for Aspen prices, and the food prices aren't terribly bad either. We came down last Saturday to Aspen for a little food and a few beers before heading over to the brewery. They had live music going on near the front, so we were surprised when the hostess sat us in the very back of the restaurant. Like the very back- hidden from view, right by the kitchen away from any other patrons. We asked if we could be moved so we could at least see the music and the server didn't have a problem with it. Their chopped salad was again, average. Might not order it again. The wings were pretty good, and at $6 for 6 wings they were huge portions and a good deal. We also got an order of the special that night- Italian wedding soup, which was tiny but good. Atmosphere is "dive-y" by Aspen standards. Service was pleasant.
(3)
Jay P.
Not a bad place to grab a beer after a show at the Belly Up or something like that. Don't stay too long it gets pretty "bro"ey.
(3)
Airy Adriana P.
Hamburgers of the kids menu taste good, but they are too big, like adults size... And my kid didn't want to eat it...
(4)
Ralph G.
I ordered the Pulled Pork and Cheese Sandwich, If only it tasted as good as it sounded. Server was not that great. Not satisfied.
(2)
Sidhant B.
Great food, better drinks! Try the Last Dollar and the F.I.S.sss Trail. The mahi mahi is to die for!
(5)
Sri M.
Been here 2 days back. Crispy Thick onion rings - they were crispy and thick, but the oil used to fry them was bad. We all fell sick afterwards portbello sub - the worst portbello sub. it had some sause on it, we asked them 'what is this sauce'? ANSWER - 'Some sauce'. We were shocked and told them that we dont want this. They still charged for this too.
Live music happy hours ands scrumptious food. A stunning afternoon on the patio turns into a fabulous dinner
(5)
Paul V.
Honestly? My expectations weren't through the roof when I first came into The Red Onion, pinning it as more of a bar than restaurant. Boy was I wrong. The Red Onion turned out to be my favorite meal in Aspen. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? The bar was loud, but the service was excellent. Our server was brilliant, and gave my party a nice history of Aspen. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Look at this burger. Seriously... look at it: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Grilled onions, jalapeños, spicy fries, pepper jack cheese. The list goes on. Unfortunately, I paid $14.50 pre-tax and tip for that burger, which is waaaaayyy too much. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? While I was a bit disappointed with the price, this was seriously an amazing burger. Every ingredient tasted fresh, and the whole experience was wonderful. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Yes, yes I would. Loads of televisions yet a great dining area, a great menu, and great food. Star Granted.
(4)
Sheena C.
My family and I were referred by a local that we would enjoy this place for drinks and dinner with a little 1 running around, every employee I encountered were so nice and attentive! Oh and it just so happens I came in on a day the wine store up the road had a free wine tasting event going on there. Who knew!
(5)
Mary Lee M.
I usually come to Aspen almost every ski season. We've been fans of Jimmy's for local flavor/fun in the past. We just added the Red Onion to our rotation list! Great casual ambience, attentive service at the bar and terrific food. The bartender mentioned that there is a new chef for the past few months. We were originally going to go somewhere else but decided to order appetizers here. Nice move on our end. One of my friends ordered mac and cheese. Best ever! Fusilli pasta and it had bacon and tomatoes. Cheese was not overbearing and gooey. My other friend had steak tacos and I had the crab hushpuppies. Also very good. After eating at Matsuhisa the night before, Red Onion's price point was very welcome. Hope to get back there soon!
Great service. The tomato soup was awesome. It's a nice spot for lunch or dinner. We were there during the summer and would recommend
(5)
Stsjfsd S.
Ate here for lunch and was pretty good. Had the the Buffalo burger and fries and pulled pork sandwich. 1/2 lb buffalo patty seasoned well and cooked perfect. Not crowded but over half full. Service was very good. Got the food out quick and checked on us a couple of times. A little expensive, but not bad for Aspen. We will come back again.
(4)
Joseph D.
Yay! I'm a fan. Is correct. I always like to go to local bars and hang out with local people when ever I travel. But Aspen is fickle and the weather creates down seasons so the bars I thought I was going to go to where closed. What?! I said. Silly. Especially when they announced they would reopen May 10th. Luckily the hostess at the St Mortiz Hotel I stayed at recommend The Red Onion. she said this establishment was the original bar for the miners back in the hey day and recently reopened. Cool I thought, as I stood freezing in my shorts and a Tee under a sudden and unexpected snow drop, trying to snap pictures of was I felt was the precursor for the popular 80's meat market restaurant/bar from my old stomping grounds in So Cal. Needless to say I dropped in a enjoyed good drinks, vodka with vodka, cold beer and some more vodka. A cool and casual atmosphere preeminent of the good old days long before me. Some sports on the surrounding flat screens and lots of laughter. I thank the St Mortiz for the recommendation and the nice, inexpensive, room and The Red Onion for helping me pass the time. If y'all thinking of heading to Aspen anytime. I recommend you check it out. The maybe go to the art shop nearby and take out a 2nd mortgage to buy a painting of the mountains.
(4)
Joe F.
Nice place ! Some local flavor in a tourist town. Good beer menu and VERY good bar food . I'd give a higher rating if I ate a meal here but didn't have the opportunity . Friendly staff. Great place to spend a snowy afternoon when you'd rather be skiing.
(4)
Craig H.
The hamburger was very Delish! Cheese grits with green chilis on the side yes please! Also enjoyed the happy hour that starts at 10pm. This place is a must visit when in Aspen
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
A M.
One of the best Mac & Cheese with Jalopenos and Spicy fries I have ever had. In our recent trip to Aspen we tried Red Onion. We loved the food so much that we had to go there again. The ambience is alright but the bartenders were great. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Paul T.
Two things that are hard to find in Aspen are authenticity and value for money. The Red Onion has both. I have been pleasantly surprised at how " local " this place feels and how good the food is despite the gregarious bar scene. Its become my favorite spot for a casual dinner out .The service is pleasant without being over-bearing. PT
(5)Shaun S.
I tried to get a table (many open tables) last Sunday. The restaurant was far from full. We stood outside by the hostess for 15 minutes. She never came up to us. We went inside to try to get seated and a waiter told us that the hostess was outside. They all avoided eye contact. After 25 minutes we left, as an angry couple could not find a waiter to pay their tab. Come on, it was downtown Aspen 4th of July Weekend, probably the biggest weekend of the Summer. If you do not want my business, fine, I now go to BB's Kitchen across the street. So should you. yelp.com/biz/bbs-kitchen…
(1)H C.
The food here is average. The service is average. I've had a few of the menu items. The turkey sandwich was not very good - the turkey looked and tasted like packaged lunch meat from the grocery store. The wings are average. Even though it's an old restaurant, I feel it lacks character and the staff doesn't seem to be thrilled to work there. I think it's a good place to grab a beer before going out to dinner, or a good late night stop if you're looking for a casual atmosphere.
(2)Casey P.
We were looking for something cheap and simple and this place fit the bill. The food was good. The service was good - very friendly and quick to bring it out and take it away (when we were done of course). I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for something out of the ordinary but the menu offers many different food options. Their soups were delicious, the salads were hearty, and the cheese steak was good enough to order again. I highly recommend the banana cream pie! Great adult atmosphere
(5)Richard C.
For Aspen's oldest restaurant I was a tad disappointed in the staff and atmosphere. First as mentioned in other reviews it is hard to tell the staff from the customers. Both are very laid back and very casual. The day I was there I ended up with three different servers - all pleasant but seemed more inconvenienced that they had to work as opposed to enjoying a great afternoon in Aspen. Then there was nearly a fight between a customer and a passerby - after the passerby untangles the customers pit bull that had got tangled in some bike racking. The customer stormed over and threatened the helpful gentleman, then brought the dog into the seating area shouting "its a service dog" then proceeded to glare at other customers. Very uncomfortable. Management did nothing. As to the food. It was fair. Had a hamburger. Cooked the way I requested and was reasonably tasty.
(3)Big S.
great bar! we went here on a weekend night, and had a nice time. the apps were tasty and the burger was awesome. nice to be able to order pitchers as well. we were happy with everything we had here. and its nice they are open until 2 as well. i would go back!
(4)Emily G.
The red onion seems like a really cool hang out spot where the locals chill on a weekend night right before they start the heavy partying. With the X-games going on, I definitely expected a packed crowd of both locals and xgame visitors getting their drink on or just dining out for the night. Sadly, it as really hard to appreciate the atmosphere or the people at the Red Onion because their service and staff was so terrible that we really did not care to spend an extra second longer. Upon arrival, the bouncer denied us entry because they were already at capacity (understandable). Once we told him we were there to sit for dinner (and not just drink), the let us through. We had a party of 11 people, so clearly this was going to be a challenge. When I reached the hostess desk, I told the manager our party size and he nodded. Then he disappeared for 20mins without saying anything - at all. The other servers wouldn't help us and more patrons came in asking for the host, to which I just stared at them blankly saying "I don't know, he just kinda left". Eventually, our party was seated and we got our server. We ordered our beers and food right after 10- I remember this because I asked her when HH specials would kick in and confirmed with her that they had started (and that the specials applied). I ordered a PBR and to my surprise found out that she got me the pint (they come in 3 sizes, she didn't ask me what size) and that she charged me for the regular, non HH price. When I asked her about the prize of my drink she said "yeah its like $3 or 4 or 5 or something, I don't remember exactly". I really didn't feel like starting a fight over a couple bucks, but I didn't love it, and I really didn't love her attitude. Then we had the pleasure of dealing with the manager again. He informed us that at 10.30 or 11, they turn the dining area into a dance floor and set up a DJ booth. Great, but our food just arrived and we are eating. He kept hurrying us to eat and removed all the tables around us as other diners finished up their food and drinks. They even started hyping up the volume next to us, so we couldn't really hear our own thoughts anymore. We tried to close out our checks as soon as possible - not particularly easy when you have 11 people and 1 giant check for everyone. When we tried to get our server to come around, she would take forever or suddenly disappear. How convenient. Food wise? Meh. I ordered their house salad which was just lettuce and croutons. Kinda dumb that they don't put red onions in their house salad (really, its in your name). Their sweet potato fries were OK, regular fries were too damn salty. The other menu items were decent but nothing particularly great at their prices (higher end for bar food). At that point, it would have taken amazing food for us to not hate the place. So, I hope you guys have a better experience here because I really DO see the potential for this place to be a great hang out spot... Just wish their managers and servers got their shit together. Soon..
(2)Saul M.
Shotskis! A bunch of shots mounted on a ski. You gotta do them with your friends. The bar has a 10-Midnight happy hour at least during low season on Thursdays. It was one of the few reasonably affordable bars I encountered in A$pen. I went with a big group for karaoke night and had a great time without breaking the bank. The beer selection includes the hipster favorite PBR... On tap. Cocktail were also reasonable.
(4)Wen-fai F.
Pulled pork mac & cheese sandwich.... need I say more??? OK in the spirit of Yelp I will say a bit more. The sandwich was $11 which is a little on the pricy side for any sandwich but given the fact that you're in Aspen, I'd say it's not so bad. And knocking a few days off my life by eating that carby-fatty deliciousness was totally worth it. The beer selection is also good and the place is quiet at lunch-time. Great comfort food for a day spent off the slopes.
(4)Mike H.
First off...understand, folks, what the Red Onion is. It is *not* a fancy dining establishment that serves you cucumber water, white table cloths and expensive wine. It is not a place you'd take your grandmother (unless your grannie is friggin' awesome). It is not your usual 'aspen cuisine' raised pinkie type food. What it is...is a bar that caters to regulars, servers booze for cheap and surprisingly good food. It's a dive bar by Hollywood standards. Alcohol is priced very fairly, the crowd is friggin' hilarious and the bartenders are awesome. Don't come here expecting a fancy restaurant. Don't come here if you don't know how to work a blue collar bar if you're not willing to learn. If you're blue collar...if you love dive bars...if you don't mind loud drunks...this place friggin' rocks. Seriously. Check this place out. It ****ing rocks. Edit: I total forgot to complain about something. If the owner is reading this... Your steak salad is an awesome concept. However, there's a major flaw. Blue cheese is *only* good with steak. If you put a bunch of blue cheese with a normal cut of skirt steak, it doesn't really work. In my obviously NOT humble opinion, that salad is excellent without the blue cheese and just okay with the blue cheese. I would have preferred that salad, minus the blue cheese, with a side of Caesar. Just my .02 cents. It was actually a really, really good dish. Seriously, folks. It was a damn good salad. I'll hold the blue cheese next time, but it was otherwise really, really good.
(5)Allison S.
Since it was my first (and likely only) time in Aspen, I figured that I should probably eat at one of Aspen's oldest restaurants. That turned out to be a good decision. The Red Onion is in the heart of downtown Aspen, right by all the shops. It's on a pedestrian-only road, so there's no parking, but it's easy to walk to. The place is actually pretty big - there's a pretty big bar and pub style tables in the front and then the restaurant in the back. I sat at the very front of the joint at a pub table - and right next to the window. The view was gorgeous! You could see the mountains right over the shops sitting across the street. The mountain came in and out of view while we were sitting there because of the snow that was moving around the area. Their beer menu was pretty big and the food was good too - typical pub food that you'd expect to get at a place like this. I had the jalapeno corn chowder (soup of the day) and a Philly cheese steak with spicy sweet potato fries, and it was worth it. The service was a little bit slow, but that was OK since I wasn't in a hurry (I was on vacation).
(4)Jamie A.
Just stopped by for lunch and really hit the spot. Great atmosphere and great service. Had the pulled pork and cheddar, and a Black and Tan. Well done! Best prices in Aspen.
(5)Monica C.
Great place to watch a football game. Cozy, friendly people, good service, great burgers and fries, and lots of big TV's! The veggie black bean burger was delicious!
(4)Todd W.
Nice western style bar. Had lunch. Service was efficient. A noticeable bad smell in the back, so we moved tables. Food was good bar food. Not worth a wait in line, but nice burgers and a couple of salad options. My blue cheese steak salad was not compelling enough for a second visit.
(3)Adam J.
Aspen has a reputation for being a little hoity toity, which is kiiind of reinforced by the fact that every second restaurant we walked by was a steakhouse, a French bistro, or an upscale Italian restaurant. Since I left my tophat and monocle at home, we scoured the town for a restaurant that looked like it might have decent, affordable food, and we ended up here. I'm glad we did. We had a bowl of the Red Onion Soup, which I'm pretty sure is just French Onion Soup, not actually made with red onions. It was good, but really soup with half an inch of melted cheese on top is hard to screw up. The main event was a deer burger for me, and it was darned tasty. Not gamey, cooked to a nice pink medium. I added bacon and mushrooms, and she didn't charge me for it (maybe because it was $17 to start with, thus illustrating the danger of ordering the special without asking the cost). The spicy fries were somewhat misnamed because they were not spicy, but they did have spices on them and were crunchy and delicious. Tanya had the Sedona Chicken Sandwich, which was also very good. Juicy chicken with tasty guac and red peppers that all blended nicely together. She splurged and went for the sweet potato tots, which were fan-freakin-tastic and came with tasty ranch to dip in. The atmosphere was nice, it looks like a place that's been around since the turn of the last century. Tia, our waitress, was great as well, though she did kind of get flustered as people came in. She really seemed genuinely happy to work here, which is always pleasant. The worst part of the visit was the other customers. My god, people in Aspen are rude. I'm not surprised that people on Yelp complain about the service, because despite Tia's best efforts, the people sitting next to us were nothing but snooty, arrogant jerks to her. Folks, let's keep in mind that our servers are people too, and maybe if you treat them as such, even in Aspen, they'll try a little harder for you. For dinner, three (strong) drinks, and the soup, we were at about $50 before tip. That's not really any worse than a restaurant in a less affluent area. I'd go back for sure.
(4)NJ P.
Outstanding patio on a summer Aspen day. Extensive beer menu with reasonable prices...and the thai lettuce wraps blew us away.
(5)Laci K.
Definitely more of a sports bar atmosphere than I had expected, but they do offer some tables in he back that would be better for casual dining. I got the sesame chicken salad. More than likely will not get it again if we decide to return. I can't really explain it, but it tasted a little strange ... Burned or something. The clam chowder soup was runny but it had good flavor. I haven't tried anything else on the menu so I can't speak for much. The wait staff is very nice :)
(4)Julia L.
The red onion provided a lovely home for our laughs this weekend. Great food. Great drinks. Great laughs.
(4)Rob T.
This is a drinks and apps only review. We did not stay for dinner. The Wings (Thai Chili and Buffalo) and the Bacon Mac N Cheese were all fantastic. Wings were meaty and cooked correctly, and Bacon Mac N Cheese....well how can that be bad. They have an OK beer selection and a nice patio, which one of the days we were there had live music. I liked the bar area as well. It was a nice place to sit back with a drink. I would come back, sit on the patio and people watch with a nice Micro Brew.
(4)Alvarez W.
Local spot. Inexpensive drinks. Open mic night is generally entertaining. In the heart of downtown Aspen. Convenient location...and affordable prices.
(3)Eric J.
Good for sports, fairly standard menu, great patio
(3)Manny R.
Really fresh food and our bartender, Johnny, was super friendly. I was in there for lunch on a Tuesday and had the excellent beef green chili (trust me, order the bowl as you'll want more!) and their cobb salad with a chipotle lime dressing. They also have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on draught...HOORAY! I'll surely go back when I am in Aspen again.
(3)Kenneth W.
The was an excellent restaurant. Not pretentious and excellent food. Staff was friendly and attentive. It was so good our kids asked to go back again and we did. Everything we ordered both times was excellent. Would highly recommend to anyone.
(5)Heath P.
For Aspen's prices and this location, it might be the best meal in town. Packed the entire time I was there after walking by several empty restaurants. Apparently, the locals know a good meal for their dollar. I said locals, not the zeitgeist richie riches in furs roaming the streets. I didn't even think that was still legal. Colorado, cowboy up, who the hell is PeTa and where is my ketchup?
(4)Patrick O.
I had the pulled pork sandwich and the portion was very generous. The meat was tender and juicy and the bun wasn't all soggy from juices. I had the "spicy" fries also. Not very spicy for being advertised as such. They were phenomenal none the less. The prices were reasonable for being in downtown Aspen and the drink list was extensive. I am giving them four stars because other guests in my group were not satisfied with their meals (the chicken sandwich had more bread than meat and the Cobb salad was overloaded with toppings and not enough lettuce). Overall I would go back and try out other menu options.
(4)Anthony M.
Avoid this place at all costs. I've been here a total of five times this summer, both for lunch and dinner, but never again. The service is hit or miss, but mostly just bad. With the fantastic exception of "Angie", the wait staff are out to lunch and make no effort to be in any way attentive; they're far better at socialising with their friends than providing good, responsive service to their customers. But tonight's visit was by far the worst. Three of us arrived at 9:40pm and were told that all they had available were appetizers and drinks, despite the fact that their kitchen is supposed to be open until 10. I guess someone wanted to get home early! My guests were annoyed, but I talked them into staying and ordering off the "small bites" menu. I ordered a cheeseburger slider and mac n' cheese with bacon, my friends ordered a large plate of nachos to share. The service was predictably slow and incomplete. My cheeseburger slider came minus cheese, for which it was sent back in order to be dressed with cheese. Several minutes later I finish the slider and then flag down our chatty waiter to ask if the mac n' cheese was on its way out. He said yes, "in just a few minutes". Well, a few minutes later another (clearly better) waitress comes out to apologise for the fact that apparently, despite me ordering it, the mac n' cheese was never cooked and that now the kitchen was closed, meaning I wasn't getting any food. To her credit, however, she did offer to comp my friends' nachos and to bring me the only thing they had available, chips and salsa. Needles to say I was more than annoyed but also still very hungry. A guy in a visor and apron (who later turned out to be the manager... supposedly) eventually brought out a basket of chips to placate me. A short while later we were joined by two other friends who didn't realise the kitchen had closed. They ordered a beer and asked for chips and salsa for themselves only to be told my Mr. Manager that he'd have to charge them for it. Quite without thinking and in a fit of absolute annoyance I blurted out, "Oh, I don't think after the service we've received tonight we'll be paying for chips and salsa." My tone was so sharp I actually surprised myself. Anyhow, manager guy walked off and later the extra chips were produced. The bill was finally presented and, true to their word, the nachos were comped and the chips/salsa were gratis. I was still so annoyed, however, that I demanded to have my arts festival discount applied to the $2.75 cheeseburger slider. That's when this supposed manager said, in as condescending and rude a tone I have ever heard, "Sir, we made an $8 mistake with your order and have comped your nachos." As if to say "what more do you want?" I replied that his "$8 mistake" meant that I never got to have my dinner and would now have to go home hungry! I was outraged that a manager of all people would be so fucking arrogant, dismissive, and flippant. The Red Onion does not deserve to have customers as they clearly have no concept of customer service. The so-called manager on that night was an absolute cock, and I will NOT be going back there at any point in the future. It isn't worth the aggravation!
(1)David S.
Reasonably priced restaurants in Aspen are far and few between, but the Red Onion is an exception. It is in a great area of town and has a small, but wonderful outdoor patio. The food is on the higher end of pub food for the most part, but all of our meals were great, and the prices were good value for what we got. I would definitely eat here again.
(4)Rachel S.
Wish they had better wine here, but other than that we enjoyed the live music, beers and mixed drinks. Plenty of TVs. Good service. Classic Aspen place to visit. Nothing too fancy.
(4)Chris M.
An Aspen local recommended this as a nice spot to sit and have a glass of wine, sit outside and enjoy the Aspen mall ambiance. They were so right. This was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. The restaurant decor is wonderful and unique and outdoors they have a community table. What's a community table you ask? It's a large table with about 8 seats that folks can join if the other tables are full or if they'd just like to make a new friend. We ended up striking up a conversation with another couple who were there for the weekend and had a wonderful time. We ordered appetizers that were large and tasty and it was happy hour so the wine per glass was a great value. After having such an awful time at the Ute City Grill.. this was a wonderful save for our afternoon.
(4)Buck B.
Wow. My wife and I agree this was the worst meal we have had in recent memory. Service was also weak, but we are not grading on the service as it was a packed weekend lunch. The cheese steak had a foul odor and was almost inedible because of all the gristle. Salads and dressings were awful. Kids grilled cheese and fries were good. Got ill later in the day and believe it was due to dining at Red Onion. Would have given it 1 star regardless of getting sick. Looks like it would be a fun sports bar, but don't dine there. (summer 2011; late post)
(1)mixxxx z.
Fun and delicious meal. Staff dresses like customers so that is a bit confusing, but the service is solid (a little more follow up would be nice), still great ambiance. Definitely the best onion soup.
(4)Jamie W.
The main thing going for this place is it's location. It has your basic comfort bar food prepared in an average fashion. The service is average. It does have good TV's in the bar area for watching sports.
(2)Chris C.
Visited Aspen for the first time and happened to walk right by this "hole in the wall", glad we did. Excellent food and great place for a drink while checking out the town.
(3)Michael B.
Wow, I think the best thing about our meal is that I never have to go back again. The Red Onion always had a reputation for bad food. I guess another positive thing is that nothing's changed. It started with a "ten minute" wait for a table -- which took thirty. Then they messed up about half the orders. My girlfriend's "Elk burger rare with spicy fries" showed up as a well done normal burger with sweet potato fries. Mine, which was also supposed to be rare, was well-done and had about as much flavor as a flame-seared hockey puck. And not too much of a better texture. The service was slow and inattentive. It took almost ten minutes after our food came to flag someone down for ketchup. And no, there wasn't a "can I get you something else"; they just put the wrong thing down and left. The beer was fine, but it's the same selection you can find anywhere else in Aspen. And seriously, go anywhere else. You'll find a better burger at McDonald's. Ugh. Hopefully I'll wake up feeling less disgusting.
(1)Andrew M.
We were out for Vetts on the Rockies this past summer and made the journey out to Aspen just for the Red Onion which had just re-opened that May. Wow - $16 bucks for 3 White Castle style sliders and the worst meatball sandwich I have ever seen or ate - I mean how in the world do you screw up a meatball sandwich. The service was horrid - two tables near us outside left aftwe waiting more then 30 minutes just for water. The brunett host was the worst service orientated staff I have ever encountered. In fact she stormed out of the place the minute her shift had expired. If you have kids - trust me... Go to McDonalds. I understand that you can go to McDonalds anywhere but trust me - you'll want to avoid spending $32.00 on sliders that they won't even eat because they are that bad! Too bad really... Red Onion was one of the last places to have fun and get a good meal after they shut down Skiers Chalet. In my opinion - they'd be off closing their doors for good before they tarnish the former Red Onion which was far better. We'll be back in Aspen in March - won't be coming back here however. Update 3/10/2011: Took my family and mother out to Aspen for one last party. I tried explaining to my mother - who lived and worked in Aspen for years that the town was dead - nothing left for "normal" people. None the less she wanted to go have a drink at the Red Onion - so she did with my kids uncle along for the ride. No problem right? Wrong! I showed up with my 5 year old - walked up to the two of them sitting at the bar when the manager walks up and asks "Are you eating lunch here?" I responded no and then he went on to inform me that we had to sit at a table with my little one. Gee I wonder why in July both my 5 year old and my 11 year old sat at the bar for more then an hour drinking kitty-cocktails and there was no problem them. Let me guess - because we weren't ordering lunch? In anycase it was proof in the pudding for my mother that this town is in fact dead. The only people who come into this bar are up-scale boutique shoppers who think they are getting a peice of history here when all they are getting is over-priced garbage.
(1)Sara Z.
Good food. We had the jalapeno shrimp poppers and they were very tasty. Also, I had the pork tacos that were ever so yummy. The location was convienent and the price was right. HUGE TVs were nice to watch the hockey game.
(4)Jessie S.
Walked down to here while we were walking around. The patio is nice and the service was great. Our server was very attentive and super nice. He even put up with me wanting a blt over their bacon, avocado, turkey sandwich. :). The food was good, easy comfort food. Only thing I didn't like was the obnoxious group of loud guys behind me. But can't really hold the restaurant responsible for them. :)
(4)Ben R.
We very much enjoyed the Red Onion. Complete with a wonderful historic ambiance, we received great service, very good food all reasonably priced. Looking forward to going back for the Mac n Cheese.
(4)Katie P.
Awesome lunch, very friendly servers, quick and yummy!!!
(5)Ezra B.
Probably the best place in Aspen for cheap tasty treats and good times. Cheap beers and good beers, and the nachos were awesome! I highly suggest it!
(4)Hannah G.
BEST sweet pot tots ;) Me and my husband always split the red onion burger and sweet pot tots!! AMAZING food and service.
(5)Roman K.
I had to sign up for Yelp just because I felt the need to review this place. My buddies and I were looking for a place to eat around aspen, but didn't want to spend a fortune. Red Onion had a 3 star review here, but we decided to risk it anyway. Holy crap! Not sure why this is only a 3 star. This place had the best wings I've ever had in my life. They were big, juicy, and the sauces were delicious. Fries and burgers were also great. We are definitely coming back here.
(5)Matt C.
laidback vibe, decent food, and one of the best bloody marys i've ever had. we stopped into the red onion for lunch while aimlessly walking around during a recent trip to aspen. our server was very friendly and steered us to the bloody mary as one of the best around. she was right on the money - it was delicious. after a couple of us ordered one and started raving about it, everyone in our group eventually had one in their hands during the course of the meal. the food is typical, decent pub fare, though they did have elk & buffalo burgers featured as lunch specials. our group tried a bit of everything; highest recommendation, oddly enough, was the mac & cheese. my cheesesteak was not my favorite of all time, as it was served on some type of gourmet-style bread instead of a hoagie. prices were probably the lowest we've ever encountered in aspen, so big props for that!
(3)Sarah R.
Was I on candid camera?! My family and I have been coming there for years and usually have good service and great food. Today's visit was a serious departure from the usual and after a series of unfortunate events I could only think, "is this a joke?!" Let me list all of the ridiculous things that occurred: 1. Walked into an empty restaurant. We were told, by our soon to be waiter that it would be 2-3 minutes to set up a table. 15 minutes later we were still standing there as though we were invisible. The bar tender had to seat us- he apologized. 2. Served drinking water that tasted like dish water. 3. Dirty glass (with lipstick marks!!!) and a dirty plate....no apology for either. Only a NON-funny remark about how we should keep our lips off of the glass. 4. Didn't write down the order and then had to scream across the restaurant for us to repeat it. 5. Walked off to refill a diet coke and never returned with it. 6. Ordered chicken fingers off the bar menu- menu said it came with 3 and was served only 2. When we asked if this was correct, got a rude response. He finally brought out an additional chicken finger with a scowl on his face, but reiterated that it only comes with 2. 7. The worst part of this experience was definitely Marcus, who was snotty, condescending and arrogant. Almost all of our problems arose out of his behavior towards us. If this guy is a manager...this place doesn't have a prayer of staying open.
(1)Yaha O.
I went for lunch and is not noisy and don't have stairs so was good to go with my daughter in the stroller. The food was good, and the baked potato soup so good! Prices very reasonable.
(4)Bryan V.
Loved the nachos and the guacamole was to die for! Great place to sit outside with a beer and enjoy an afternoon of people watching. Which there was a joint like this within walking distance of me.
(4)Jaclyn O.
Dinner was ok. BUT came back to watch a game on Saturday and had some really great nachos. Ask for extra roasted jalapeños!
(3)Dennis W.
The oldest bar in Aspen closed then reopened a year and half ago, The old bar was removed, refinished and expanded. This is not a fancy place and looks like an old cowboy bar which makes it all the more attractive. This iconic bar once had the best hamburger in Aspen. The new owners served frozen patties, but recently went back to house made Angus patties. We asked around town and the reputatiion is that the service is not good. We went in on a Friday on our last ski day. The place was nearly deserted. Our bartender-waitress, April was very helpful with recommendations and drawing the brew. We tried the hamburger, ordered it Medium. It was an 8 Oz burger, and was very good, exept the centers on two of the burgers were not cooked as well. One had a rare center, the other a medium rare center. Fries were perfectly fried and plentiful. Service was good. We ate at the bar, and walked out very satisfied on a mid December afternoon, wishing there was more snow.
(4)Scott L.
I'm starting to think that all restaurants should be approached a bit like Shopsins... dont act like an asshole, and Holy Shit! You get great service and great food. This place was slammed during dinner, but the main waiter guy got us going in no time, all the while training a dude who barely spoke english, and it was just the two of them for the dinner rush on Sunday. I had the Chicken Enchiladas, they were very tasty with fresh guac. Also chips and salsa, got the job done. The wife had a spinach salad with candied pecans, it was also fresh and savory. Drinks were filled promptly. The kid had Chicken fingers, two huge ones, which came with some of the best fries I've had in years. This all took place out on the patio at sunset, which was mostly awesome... except all the while some wanna be investment banker next to us yapped into his cell phone about the impending martial law coming down. I'm gonna take his advice, pull my money out of the banks which are "totally in bed with the government" and invest on more french fries! Oh Aspen, I love you.
(5)C Rad R.
Service is spotty, but food is nice and somewhat reasonable. SWEET POTATOE TOTS, WOW....
(3)r h.
Good pricing for the area. This restaurant has nice outdoor seating on pedestrian street. We came during happy hour ($1 off apps and drinks). The giant plate of nachos were good, but it was an extra $5 extra for meat and then they didn't put much meat on it. When we asked for guacamole on our nachos, they didn't tell us that it would be a separate order and cost an additional $5. That said, the guacamole was very good and it was a large serving. It's a nice spot to hang out and people watch in the summer.
(4)Barry R.
Sweet potato tots taste sweeter than the fries. The chicken is scarce in the BBQ chicken quesadilla if you want to order it as a meal.
(3)alyssa m.
Really bad & slow service (one couple sat down and left after not being helped, another couple ordered their dessert through a manager because their waitress was nowhere to be found, and another lady had to ask to be waited on), average diner food (frozen patty hamburger), overpriced, will avoid it next time in Aspen.
(2)Scott W.
Nice casual restaraunt with great food in the heart of Aspen, really liked the onion rings and diablo steak.
(4)J. Michael F.
My wife, I and two friends recently had lunch at the Red Onion. Three of us ordered the wonderful French onion soup. The food was tasty and we asked for some bread with our meals. The waiter not only didn't tell us there would be a charge for the bread, she delivered the bill with an added $1.50 charge for the bread. This was not only insulting, it's not considered normal in any American restaurant we have ever patronized. They should be embarrassed and future patrons need to be forewarned. Also, the bread wasn't even anything special. If this restaurant can't afford to include bread with meals, they need to reconsider whether they should stay in business. We all left with a poor impression of their legendary quality food and fair priced reputation as they tried to sneak an unreasonable and unexpected "nickel & dime" charge onto our bill. As a result, we will not return and would encourage others to avoid this surprise and unwarranted billing practice.
(1)Brian T.
Great place on a nice corridor in Aspen. It was our first visit to town. The owner was incredibly welcoming. Good place for dinner, or beers afterwards!
(5)Garnett W.
We chose the place for its lovely outdoor eating area and simple but interesting menu. It is a lovely day, so we waited for a free table. The young man who greeted us and sat us was charming. His counterpart, who ended up being our server, was NOT! She came up as we were being seated and said that we hadn't been waiting as long as another group. We had - the young man knew it. We simply had chosen not to hover over the tables waiting for their occupants to leave. We placed our order and waited 20 minutes. Eventually reminded her to please bring my glass of wine. When she brought the glass she slammed it on the table! What did I do? Eventually (our water and wine glasses nearly empty) our lunch was delivered by the nice young man. My order was completely wrong. When we got the correct food it was delicious and we enjoyed this it. I had the turkey bacon cheddar sandwich any my husband had the buffalo burger. Both were great! As we were eating the young woman served the table next to us and literally "DROPPED" our bill at our table. (Very near a slam) I'd recommend this place highly if they got rid of the girl with the attitude!!!! Are all people in Aspen this RUDE? Apparently not, unless the young man is a transplant.
(2)Tabitha C.
I heard singing from the street and was lured into this place like a sailor who was enchanted by the voice of sirens. Everything sounded great... the singing, the laughter, even the description of the pulled pork and cheddar sandwich on the menu. If only my sandwich tasted as good as it sounded, however the grayish colored pork looked very suspicious to me. How could this possibly be the most popular item? I swallowed it, even though it had NO barbecue sauce on it, and tasted like it had been reheated for the 3rd day in a row. This was a mistake, and I would later regret this as I spent a good deal of the night in the bathroom. I had to pay for my mistake of eating here over and over, and then, I also had to pay for the meal of the people sitting next to me because the waitress put THEIR MEAL on our credit card as well as ours!
(1)Marie B.
More and more I see the value of Yelp. I too found this place to be "ok" ...nothing amazing or special and the service is just s tad lax. Had the Cobb Salad ...it was fine. Neither fab no "ick". Just straight forward. If I had limited time here, I would try someplace with more pizzazz.
(3)Misty S.
Completely Overpriced. Bland food. Pretentious bartender that had the personality of a wet mop. Slow as molasses server who got the order wrong. Drink was ok, but the food was pretty "nothing" for what they charge. And yes, I realize we are in Aspen, but who seriously cares.
(2)Denny S.
Back to Aspen again this summer. Lame food. Went Sunday and tonight. Your bartender is about as warm as a refrigerator. Clearly, going through the motions. Anyway, got a burger again, no flavor. Food was lame. Anyone can serve beer. Never be back.
(1)Cullen E.
Went there for lunch today and was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the food and attentiveness of the staff. I ordered the pulled pork and cheddar sandwich and it was absolutely delicious. The wife had the pork chop schnitzel and loved it. I would absolutely recommend anyone looking for a good meal to check this place out. They also have a decent selection of craft beer on tap!
(5)Tom J.
The Red Onion has been around just about forever, although you wouldn't know it by the décor, which is very modern. I guess this would be considered a gastropub, since it's got a pub feel, but they are trying pretty hard to put out some reasonably creative cuisine. They have a nice selection of craft beers. I liked that you could split a sandwich for $5 and get an extra side. Very smart and exactly what we like to do. Sides are $5 anyway. We forgot to order onion rings, which just seemed like a good idea, and it took forever for our waiter to come back around, so we had to finally ask the hostess. We had a grilled chicken sandwich with a side house salad. Both tasted good, but the sandwich was very light on chicken - kind of like they pounded a chicken tender flat. The onion rings were good. All in all, it was fine. Not sure we'd be back.
(3)andrea t.
Red Onion... Ridiculously small salad and annoying hovering wait staff. Four of us went for dinner, they had GF bread that was not mentioned in menu (a plus). I had beet goat cheese salad that was 13.50, what a joke, it was the size of a small side salad, totally lame for a dinner. Waitress and serving staff way too "attentive", refilling waters, taking plates the instant the last bite eaten, it simply made me feel rushed and WATCHED. Everyone else's meal was good, not exceptional. Good enough because but finding an dinner option in $15 and under range in Aspen equals pizza/sandwiches/salads. Good music and around 8:30 bar patrons started getting loud. Would not recommend for vegetarians, although they had a bean burger.
(3)Jessie W.
Let it be known, this is a SOLID 5 star review. I recently visited Colorado for a one week vacation and so naturally we ate out quite a bit. In Aspen, we were looking for a lunch option that was not ridiculously overpriced, but still had delicious, high quality food - The Red Onion was by far my favorite restaurant and if we lived in the area, we would definitely be regulars! First, the service was prompt and friendly. They seated our group of 6 easily and immediately took our drink orders. The appetizers came quickly as well, hot and fresh and I could not get over how delicious the corn chowder was! Please do yourself a favor in these chilly fall and winter days and order yourself a cup/bowl! I ordered the pulled pork with cheesy mashed potatoes. The bun was crispy on the underside and soft inside and the BBQ pulled pork was hot, juicy and seasoned to perfection. I'm salivating just thinking about it! My one small negative was that the cheesy mashed potatoes tasted like good ol' mashed potatoes san cheese, but they were good nonetheless. Others ordered the buffalo burger and a lime chicken sandwich and were equally impressed (both the spiced fries and sweet potato fries were a hit). Good service, good value, good food... even coming from NY, I say this place does it right!
(5)James L.
Great spot! Always good entertainment. Tasty food and cool atmosphere. Can't go wrong when ur looking for a laid back spot
(4)Michael C.
The pulled pork sandwich is fantastic, so is the pork ravioli. There is also lovely service and a great patio.
(4)Doreen B.
I like that this place has its own story, its own piece of history. We had to come here before our trip was over. After learning that it was one of the original buildings in the creation of Aspen, and that it has kept its name and its location through the 1800s'. The bar is still the original bar. DRINKS/FOOD: Hubbs ordered some type of brown ale accompanied with what look like some real good tasting red onion soup. I ordered the Walsh's cider; I was concerned that it would be too sweet with the splash of maple syrup, however the drink was perfect. I did not order anything else off the food menu, because at the time nothing beckoned me. Nothing jumped out and said "Doreen you really want to eat me". The drink was sufficient and our server was cordial. She was patient as I took a while to order my drink, because there is an abundance of drinks on the menu. I almost went for the 420, which is the numeral address of the Red Onion too! Thank you Walsh's Run Cider, because of you I am now part of history too! I liked that we sat at the picture window; this window was tall and wide from the ceiling to the floor. It was a heavenly scene watching the snow fall and being able to look into my lover's eyes. It was absolutely perfect staring of a date night. It was a good time @ the Red Onion Saloon. Now on to Justice's Snow on Hyman Ave.
(5)Sean B.
This is a good place to bring a large group after skiing. Their staff is courteous and quick. The food was decent and the drink selection made everyone happy. Our table's most popular selection was the PBR pitcher. It made us feel right at home and was priced at maybe $8 each - making it the best deal in Aspen.
(4)Katie M.
This is one of the oldest spots in Aspen. I was told the mantle that holds the liquor is the original, from when the building was built. Maybe it's not true but I like to think so. :) The bar area is small so expect it to be packed on lively nights. I like their food selection. Very vegetarian friendly.
(4)Michael G.
Red Onion has been here for years and keeps on truckin. Good grub in a casual atmosphere. Nice beer selection. The server was in training, so we cut her some slack, but her training was working. We powered down on apps and beer and left happy.
(3)Gordon L.
Food is not that good. Overpriced mediocre guacamole. 10.50 for some stale chips and not ver good guacamole. The menu is very limited and we had 3 items none of which was very good. Cheese quesadillas were also disappointing. Lettuce wraps were the best but also needed some peanut sauce.
(2)Erin E.
Everything here is very....average - from the service to the food to the atmosphere. Nothing too exciting but not bad either. The drink prices are great for Aspen prices, and the food prices aren't terribly bad either. We came down last Saturday to Aspen for a little food and a few beers before heading over to the brewery. They had live music going on near the front, so we were surprised when the hostess sat us in the very back of the restaurant. Like the very back- hidden from view, right by the kitchen away from any other patrons. We asked if we could be moved so we could at least see the music and the server didn't have a problem with it. Their chopped salad was again, average. Might not order it again. The wings were pretty good, and at $6 for 6 wings they were huge portions and a good deal. We also got an order of the special that night- Italian wedding soup, which was tiny but good. Atmosphere is "dive-y" by Aspen standards. Service was pleasant.
(3)Jay P.
Not a bad place to grab a beer after a show at the Belly Up or something like that. Don't stay too long it gets pretty "bro"ey.
(3)Airy Adriana P.
Hamburgers of the kids menu taste good, but they are too big, like adults size... And my kid didn't want to eat it...
(4)Ralph G.
I ordered the Pulled Pork and Cheese Sandwich, If only it tasted as good as it sounded. Server was not that great. Not satisfied.
(2)Sidhant B.
Great food, better drinks! Try the Last Dollar and the F.I.S.sss Trail. The mahi mahi is to die for!
(5)Sri M.
Been here 2 days back. Crispy Thick onion rings - they were crispy and thick, but the oil used to fry them was bad. We all fell sick afterwards portbello sub - the worst portbello sub. it had some sause on it, we asked them 'what is this sauce'? ANSWER - 'Some sauce'. We were shocked and told them that we dont want this. They still charged for this too.
(2)Elisabeth C.
Oh dear. Yelp, you steered me wrong. While sitting on the patio was lovely and the food was passable (my salad was fairly mediocre for the pretty standard Aspen pricing), our waiter largely ignored us. When my dining companion's entrée was not delivered after a forty minute wait (and our appetiser and my salad having arrived nearly twenty minutes prior), I asked the hostess if she could check on his food. Five minutes or so later the waiter returned telling us he'd forgotten to put his order in- we ordered an appetiser and one main, apparently? We then waited another fifteen minutes for the dish- which was brought out by another waiter. Our waiter then continued to ignore us for the rest of the meal. Our drinks were never refilled, we had to again take the hostess aside in order to request another beer and some water. We also had to ask her for the cheque. When she brought the cheque she told us they'd given us a 10% discount (amounting to $3 and some change) for our inconvenience, and we were pretty appalled- the dish which took an hour to receive should have been comped- and I was too flustered and fed up to argue. We paid our tab and left. Never again. There are far better options in Aspen with far better service.
(1)Ja S.
Live music happy hours ands scrumptious food. A stunning afternoon on the patio turns into a fabulous dinner
(5)Paul V.
Honestly? My expectations weren't through the roof when I first came into The Red Onion, pinning it as more of a bar than restaurant. Boy was I wrong. The Red Onion turned out to be my favorite meal in Aspen. Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? The bar was loud, but the service was excellent. Our server was brilliant, and gave my party a nice history of Aspen. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Look at this burger. Seriously... look at it: yelp.com/user_local_phot… Grilled onions, jalapeños, spicy fries, pepper jack cheese. The list goes on. Unfortunately, I paid $14.50 pre-tax and tip for that burger, which is waaaaayyy too much. No Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? While I was a bit disappointed with the price, this was seriously an amazing burger. Every ingredient tasted fresh, and the whole experience was wonderful. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Yes, yes I would. Loads of televisions yet a great dining area, a great menu, and great food. Star Granted.
(4)Sheena C.
My family and I were referred by a local that we would enjoy this place for drinks and dinner with a little 1 running around, every employee I encountered were so nice and attentive! Oh and it just so happens I came in on a day the wine store up the road had a free wine tasting event going on there. Who knew!
(5)Mary Lee M.
I usually come to Aspen almost every ski season. We've been fans of Jimmy's for local flavor/fun in the past. We just added the Red Onion to our rotation list! Great casual ambience, attentive service at the bar and terrific food. The bartender mentioned that there is a new chef for the past few months. We were originally going to go somewhere else but decided to order appetizers here. Nice move on our end. One of my friends ordered mac and cheese. Best ever! Fusilli pasta and it had bacon and tomatoes. Cheese was not overbearing and gooey. My other friend had steak tacos and I had the crab hushpuppies. Also very good. After eating at Matsuhisa the night before, Red Onion's price point was very welcome. Hope to get back there soon!
(4)Daniela B.
The Red Onion has a great patio that is wonderful for a sunny evening. The place is always busy but service is quick and we had a friendly server. The beer options are good with plenty of drafts and options of pints as well as 8 oz portions. We had the burger with sautéed mushrooms and the pulled pork sandwich both with spicy fries. Both dishes were very juicy and flavorful and the fries had chili powder and cumin
(4)Linda B.
Great service. The tomato soup was awesome. It's a nice spot for lunch or dinner. We were there during the summer and would recommend
(5)Stsjfsd S.
Ate here for lunch and was pretty good. Had the the Buffalo burger and fries and pulled pork sandwich. 1/2 lb buffalo patty seasoned well and cooked perfect. Not crowded but over half full. Service was very good. Got the food out quick and checked on us a couple of times. A little expensive, but not bad for Aspen. We will come back again.
(4)Joseph D.
Yay! I'm a fan. Is correct. I always like to go to local bars and hang out with local people when ever I travel. But Aspen is fickle and the weather creates down seasons so the bars I thought I was going to go to where closed. What?! I said. Silly. Especially when they announced they would reopen May 10th. Luckily the hostess at the St Mortiz Hotel I stayed at recommend The Red Onion. she said this establishment was the original bar for the miners back in the hey day and recently reopened. Cool I thought, as I stood freezing in my shorts and a Tee under a sudden and unexpected snow drop, trying to snap pictures of was I felt was the precursor for the popular 80's meat market restaurant/bar from my old stomping grounds in So Cal. Needless to say I dropped in a enjoyed good drinks, vodka with vodka, cold beer and some more vodka. A cool and casual atmosphere preeminent of the good old days long before me. Some sports on the surrounding flat screens and lots of laughter. I thank the St Mortiz for the recommendation and the nice, inexpensive, room and The Red Onion for helping me pass the time. If y'all thinking of heading to Aspen anytime. I recommend you check it out. The maybe go to the art shop nearby and take out a 2nd mortgage to buy a painting of the mountains.
(4)Joe F.
Nice place ! Some local flavor in a tourist town. Good beer menu and VERY good bar food . I'd give a higher rating if I ate a meal here but didn't have the opportunity . Friendly staff. Great place to spend a snowy afternoon when you'd rather be skiing.
(4)Craig H.
The hamburger was very Delish! Cheese grits with green chilis on the side yes please! Also enjoyed the happy hour that starts at 10pm. This place is a must visit when in Aspen
(5)