Coal Creek Grill
129 Elk St, Crested Butte, CO, 81224
Coal Creek Grill Menu
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Address :
129 Elk St
Crested Butte, CO, 81224 - Phone (970) 349-6645
- Website https://www.coalcreekgrill.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kari P.
The hours posted say they are open until 10 pm. I walked in at 9 and asked if I could still get something to eat. The girl behind the bar wasn't sure so she asked someone who appeared to be a manager. He seemed a little stressed out by the fact that there was a customer wanting to order food in a restaurant. Told me the kitchen was already closed. Asked what I wanted with a look on his face that said "we don't want to make you anything." I told him never mind and I would go someplace else. His response was "good idea." WOW!!! Now that is some fantastic customer service that goes above and beyond unbelievable. Granted, I was hungry enough to eat a small child, but if you close the kitchen at 9, then change your hours to 9 and when you're in the service industry, learn some polite people skills.
(1)Todd P.
Awesome! Great local menu with healthy options. Had lamb meatloaf, rainbow trout, and the burgers are great! I got a side of Habanero lime sauce and it was super hot with my burger..
(5)Heather F.
AMAZING bison burger with crispy bacon! Yummy salad dressings made in house. Very friendly and welcoming wait staff! Also we went in the winter and the ambiance was perfect with snow outside and twinkling lights on nearby trees.
(5)Smorga M.
I am a newbie to Crested Butte and have only eaten at a few places but for me this place was fantastic! Servers were top notch and very helpful with menu choices. They obviously have a great chef in the kitchen as the food choices are not the boring run of the mill dishes.
(5)Morgan F.
I can only speak for the happy hour. I stopped in after a day running trails, since I'd seen other reviewers speak of the happy hour. I really enjoyed the dog-freindly patio right next to the river. Even with other diners/drinkers around me, the river was high/loud enough that it was the predominate sound, and very relaxing. The Grill's taps were having some issues, so I was only able to choose from three of the microbrew options on the menu. It wasn't a huge deal, only slightly disappointing, and I still got a great beer. I do want to point out some changes to the happy hour from what I've seen on other reviews. Happy Hour only goes until 5pm (not 6) and microbrews are $3. Not a huge deal, just wanted to point that out lest someone think they still have time and get here too late! I didn't take a look at the dinner menu, but the pre-dinner (before 5pm) options look good and are a great snack to hold one over until dinner. Servers were friendly and one even walked with me all the way from where I had my dog tied to show me the back way to the patio! Unfortunately, I can't say how the food is, but if you're looking for a nice late-afternoon sit with a brew, this is definitely a great place to go.
(4)Ray G.
One of the best steaks anywhere with the buffalo ribeye. Comes with a laid back helping of mountain town vibe.
(5)Kim S.
We were hiking and stopped here for lunch afterwards. The bartender had to yell for the hostess to come inside and seat us, and our waitress was poorly trained. We waited about 45 minutes for our food. My fish and chips were terrible. Very heavily coated and fried and I don't think that it was actually fish under all that breading - more like a creamy white stuffing. The fries were overdone and my husband's burger was average. Overall, not a pleasant experience.
(1)Jim S.
Best food and best service. Everything was prepared perfectly. The Texas smoked wings were the best ever. The lamb meatloaf was amazing. Friendliest service in Crested Butte.
(5)Cindy K.
Coal Creek was not even on our radar. After moving on from our first choice due to the wait, we were walking by when the door opened and "Dave" invited us in, promising us not to be disappointed. He was right. Dinner was delicious. Elk ribeye, venison tenderloin, crab cakes and more. Lots of food, delicious. Service was excellent and the lone guitar player a great add to the ambiance. My only critique was that the crab cakes, although delicious, were only warm. I will definitely recommend and return.
(4)Donna B.
Coal creek is confused. We were seated outside. We liked the idea of being out be the water. There are heaters outside on a cool night, so we knew we would be comfortable. Some messages of confusion were; Servers wearing washed out t-shirts and $40+ menu items. Actually, whoever seated us, server or hostess, took me by surprise because i was looking at the menu in the window and did nit expect the casual server atttire based on the prices. Again seemingly upscale menu, and they sat us with a carafe of water, and 4 handled mason jars. Our server and he hostess dropped the carafe and mugs off, and we poured. Confusion. Pizza and casual restaurants can do is. Upscale restaurants should fill my water glass. Oh, and the carafe only filled 2 and 1/3 glasses , so we had to ask for more. Serve full water glasses! Then refill with a carafe. We ordered a spicy crab cake and some queso dip with nachos. They delivered our appetizers, and, duh, you guys need silverware and "share" plates. In even the most casual restaurants, you are expected to eat, so silverware should be there before food. In an upscale restaurant, silverware that corresponds to you menu selection should be placed in font of the customers. We ordered the special, wild boar with cheddar mashed potatoes and braised red. Cabbage; seared salmon salad, crusted trout with asparagus and cheddar mashed potatoes. I made it difficult by ordering the flank steak on the southwest salad. The flank steak salad is served on an iceberg disk and I am not a fan of iceberg. While I was thankful for the accomodation, the steak was not seared and it was brown inside whole medium rare. Old meat? It should have been pink! And it should have been seared! Everyone else at my table was happy with their entrees. The server never refilled our water and the server and assistants passed good and drink across the table. Again, I feel as though the menu and make me think of a higher level of service. Go ahead and try the food but don't expect much on the service side.
(2)Jeff K.
Had lunch here. Nice setting. We sat outside by the creek. It was very pleasant. We each ordered a salad and they were good. Although my wife's salmon was over cooked. I didn't see anything amazing on the lunch menu and it had the sort of sanitized feel of a chain restaurant menu. That was my initial impression anyway. Not sure what the dinner menu looked like. But there are a lot of funky and creative restaurants in CB so I doubt I'd bother with these guys again unless their dinner menu was significantly different or I'd been in CB so long I'd burned though all the cooler places.
(3)Neb P.
been there twice, yet to have a nice time. creek side dining is perhaps the only redeeming quality of the place. ordered an IPA, recieved a belgium style (God, I do know three difference). the waiter and bartender both argued with me, so I ordered the Belgium tap they had and behold it was the ipa! ordered the "belgum" for the remainder. food mediocre at best. last visit waited over 15 minutes for a beer and there were only 2 other tables occupied in the restaurant. bad service, bad food, no clue about beer.
(1)K C.
Went with a group for brunch and it was fantastic! The service was warm and friendly. It was crazy busy on a Sunday morning but we were seated within 10 minutes. The food was phenomenal! I had the venison biscuits and gravy and it was incredible! Best biscuit I've ever had! I also kept seeing the breakfast burrito which was huge and beautiful. We all had bloody mary's and it was one of the best I've had. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(5)Caitlin H.
When we sat down, it started out pleasant. But when our waiter came he immediately tried to upsell us on appetizers, drinks, you name it. After we politely declined, he actually got an attitude with us, becoming short and a bit rude. I ordered a 6 oz sirloin ($18.00) medium rare, and my boyfriend ordered a 12 oz ($26) medium. The food came out in about 45 minutes. Only, we received 2 6 ounce steaks, rather than the 6 and the 12 ounce. Plus, both steaks were so well-done I could barely cut through mine. (I actually bent the fork). Also very salty. My boyfriend did say he liked his (but he doesn't mind well-done steaks). The asparagus and mashed potatoes were pretty good, however. When the waiter asked about the food, I told him they were over cooked, and he got another attitude. He walked away without offering to re-cook it. Also, the bathroom was public-restroom gross and had no soap (I had to go to the men's restroom to get some.) After we finished our food, he kept looking over at us and our empty plates, but only came over when I actually raised my voice to ask for him to bring our check. Food is important at a restaurant to me, but service is too. And between both the over-cooked food and extremely rude server, I would definitely recommend skipping this place. Try the Secret Stash pizza joint instead. Yum.
(1)James S.
Please do yourself a favor and come here. By far the best mountain restaurant I have been to in my 33 yrs in Colorado. Amazing service, homemade everything, great drinks and the best part of all amazing service!
(5)A L.
What a great dinner! They have done a great job with the menu and the bar. We went through the menu... Starter, salad, and entree, and we will be back. Loved everything! Go for Happy Hour and then stay for dinner. Great to meet the owner... So glad to see this place in town!
(5)Nate D.
The owner seems to have a lot of disdain for tourists (which is likely understandable), but he should be thanking his lucky stars for tourists because there is no way this place would make it in any place but a tourist trap. I travel a lot for a living (110+ nights per year) and I eat at a lot of different places. This place was hands down the most poorly managed place I have been to in a very long time. I felt like I was trapped in one of those stupid restaurant reality shows. I went for Sunday brunch and waited at least 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged me. The entire floor plan was just poorly utilized and that it was managed by chaos. You could tell that there was just no structure or organizational management. The receptionist had no station to stand at and was literally just running around with the owner screaming at her (while offering no help). I just sat at the bar, and waited 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. Finally I got a plate for the buffet. The omelette that I had made was good, but you could tell the rest of the food out wasn't much better what you find at a cheap cafeteria. I ordered a glass of water and a cup of coffee that took at least 5 minutes to receive. I sat next to a local who said that he stopped coming here about a year ago but decided to give it another shot. He told me that nothing had changed and that he felt stupid for even coming. When he rang me up he asked if I was a local. Then somehow a $13 brunch turned into a $16 bill. Classy! The bottom line is that if you are staying at a resort you are far more likely to get a better breakfast for less money. Locals I'm sure already know what I'm talking about. However, if you ever wanted to insert yourself into a reality show then this is the place for you.
(2)Simmie G.
We had a great meal on the patio listening to cowboy Doug singing western favorites. I had an elk burger and my husband had trout. Our little dog was welcomed and everyone was so friendly it felt like a party.
(5)Alyssa P.
Came here for breakfast this weekend and our server, James, was great! Bottomless mimosas were never bottom and the buffet had many different delicious selections. I loved the granola crusted French toast! I recommend to anyone for sure.
(5)Andrew L.
I've been living here for almost 10 years now, and Coal Creek has been a welcome addition to Elk Avenue. In its second season, this has become one of our favorite bars to drink at, but better yet, the food is top notch. It's not cheap, but for what you get, it's not outrageously expensive either...well worth it. I highly recommend the Tomahawk Steak, and the Venison Tenderloin is off the hook, as well. And I have to mention happy hour. It's gotta be the best in town - $2 local drafts, and 2-for-1 specialty cocktails, along with a myriad of appetizer options. I used to do the Ginger Cafe happy hour, and I've since migrated over here. Ok....this has become an essay..but I can't say enough about this place - from the food and the cocktails, to the servers to the owner, it's got a great vibe. Check it out
(5)Bo D.
Stopped in for the $11 all you can eat breakfast. Cheap enough for breakfast. The French toast was good and the venison gravy smothered all over biscuits and home fries was very tasty. Sat next to the creek, that was nice. Probably need to step up the coffee game however. Hot water with a coffee bean. Service was good. Friendly folks.
(3)Elisa P.
Outdoor seating right by the running water which was beautiful. We both had the salmon spinach salad. More like salmon on a bed of spinach. Needed a lot more spinach to make it a salad. My blackened salmon was cooked perfectly. Part of my husbands was raw but such a big piece he was full. We pointed out to server at end of meal and she just said "oh". Kids meals were fantastic. Love when restaurants serve kids real food. The fish nuggets were actually big pieces of fish from fish and chips. My 5 year old loved it but it wasn't a nugget so if your kid is pickier you might want to ask. Chicken was not frozen strips which made us happy.
(4)Sinjin E.
Staff was fairly uninterested that I was there and the food was bland and pretty uninspired. Pretty disappointing.
(2)Martin S.
Well this place has a great happy hour during the week, $2 Colorado craft beers from 2pm to 6pm. Other than appetizer s the only thing I have had is the Venison biscuits and gravy. I have had it half a dozen times, and it always leaves me wanting more. Also they have a killer Tito ' s bloody Mary that is a meal in itself. That being said I think i'll have another.
(4)Jin L.
Probably the best happy hour in CB. $2 micobrew pints from 4-6! Also the people next to us had nachos and they looked delicious (confirmed by the people next to us).
(5)David R.
Food was good but pricy for what you got $16 for a burger. However service is very confused we had three different servers come around taking drink orders menu orders and all seemed unsure what table they were assigned to. But they got overwhelmed with a half full dining room. Took over an hour for food to arrive but when it did it was good. Owner came out and apologized for delay and was real nice guy. Only thing I'm unsure of was the grass fed buffalo burger was a square patty of meat it was good but not sure if it was buffalo or a frozen hamburger patty.
(3)Carolyn C.
So, we waited for 1 hour and 40 minutes from the time we ordered to the time our mediocre meal was served. The wait staff was completely uninterested in serving our meal. We ordered steak salad, salmon salad, buffalo burger and steak. The steak was very tough (probably because it must have sat in the kitchen for an hour before being served). What was more disturbing was the overall attitude- "well, what did you expect, you ordered a lot of food." (An actual quote). The restaurant was not full. Also, you would think that since they locked the door because it closed, this would speed up the getting the check process. However, that added another 20 minutes to our fine dining experience. They have a fancy iPad ordering system, but maybe they should have invested in an additional cook instead.
(1)Jessica T.
Great happy hour! Every day from 2-6 pm!! $2 microbrew drafts, though it is a small selection, and 2 for 1 cocktails with appetizer purchase. We ordered their queso fundido with chorizo and it was delicious! Definitely wanted more. The waitress was attentive and nice, but it was kind of quiet at 3 pm on a Sunday. I spied venison biscuits and gravy on their menu for breakfast, so I will definitely be back for that! Cool old building, right next to the creek, though it being winter all we saw was snow. All in all, a great local spot.
(4)Laurian U.
Both the service and the food were a huge disappointment at this restaurant. Buffalo chili was basically tomato soup-- no beans and 3 tiny pieces of meat in the bowl size order. Salad arrived with a piece of cling wrap waste on top. My friends trout was just ok. Service extremely slow and in an empty restaurant they gave us the worst table by a busy door. Not a repeater.
(1)Katherine W.
The best happy hour and drink specials! Food is super tasty and the staff makes everyone feel welcomed. I love sitting outside by the creek, so peaceful on a sunny Colorado day! Drink specials for ladies on Sunday is a great deal and fun time, lots of cool patrons. I would recommend this local joint to anyone!
(5)Kevin K.
This is probably my new favorite spot. I've been for Happy Hour (2-5 everyday) for their $2 dollar Colorado microbrews and awesome appetizers. Probably the best HH in town for beer lovers and there are always 10 BOTTLES of wine for under 20 bucks. Good ones too!! And I think liquor is on the way! Before last night, we only had the apps but they are pretty awesome. So far we've tried the jalapeno poppers, the queso fundido, spicy southwest hummus plate, chicken wings and crab cakes-we have been a few times. Poppers: best ones I've ever had. Fresh jalapeño, bacon. Cheese. In a delicious tempura-like batter and fried. The key is not having that frozen crap and making them in-house! Bad ass Spicy hummus has a nice kick to it and the pita chips are awesome! Chicken wings are great. I think they are smoked and/or grilled (not sure exactly) in a nice spicy BBQ flavor sauce Crab cakes are awesome. Nice and meaty unlike some other places where it's all bread. But the queso.... Awesome. No fake cheese here. Awesome melted goodness with delicious chorizo at the bottom and green chile and tomatoes on top, served with chips made in house (like everything else). So those are the apps. But the dinner menu is ridiculous. We had a table of nine and we all got something and shared it. The prices at first glance look the same as other steakhouses in CB but the portions are HUGE!! The star of the menu is the Buffalo Tomahawk steak that is smoked for 12 hours!!! I stopped eating red meat a few years ago after eating steaks in Texas my whole life and I can honestly say that this was the best steak I've ever had! I have not had many "melt in your mouth moments" but it totally happened.. Seriously. Served with an awesome potato cake and vegetable of the day. I ordered the trout. Awesome. Our friends got the lamb. It was huge too! And delicious. Some one got a massive pork chop. There was some chili that looked great too. And the espresso pork belly.... Wow. Seriously, wow. This place is in the Forest Queen hotel and is brand new. I really believe this place has the potential to be up for "Best Steak in Town" within a few weeks. If you want nice Colorado Cuisine, THIS is the spot. And they have breakfast!!!! Haven't tried it yet, but its on the to-do list.
(5)Linda P.
Excellent food and service. Had the Texas Hash & Royal Gorge Migas... DELICIOUS!! They smoke their own brisket for the Texas Hash. Definitely need to try these two dishes should you have the pleasure of eating here.
(4)Dana P.
Hands down the best steaks in Crested Butte! The food was fresh and fabulous, the service friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere cool and relaxed. We were here for a week and ate here 3 times! Try the Elk Tenderloin! And if you're really hungry, go for the Buffalo Steak. You won't regret it! Can't wait to come back next time we are in town!
(5)Marcus S.
Wow this place is amazing the atmosphere is great the food is fantastic if you like me are just passing by don't hesitate to stop
(5)Kristin H.
Great views & even greater service! Thank you to the wonderful staff of Coal Creek Grill for making Whatever, USA still have that CB charm this weekend! Even in the midst of chaos I had friendly, prompt service. Can't wait to go back & taste more of their vast menu offerings.
(5)Katie B.
This has to be the worst place to eat in CB. All you have to do is sit down and look and see how DIRTY this restuarant keeps itself. Where is Gordan Ramsey ??? Do they ever sweep the floor or just around thigs cause it shows Take your white napkin and wipe where your sitting and you will see for yourself. And did I mention that the disorganized ,unattentive waiter was also the owner... What a train wreck... All he suggested was the most expensive things on the menu- drinks and food. Let me tell ya the drinks are better at the Eldo and the food was OK.... extremely over priced from an owner in a printed T-shirt... AVOID this Restuarant And the dirt just doesn't stop at the Restuarant. Take a look upstairs and the rooms. The "shared" bathroom is DISGUSTING and covered in MOLD. Its on the cieling, walls and the shower. You might want to bring booties that you would wear at the shore house. Just stay at the hostel it's cheaper and cleaner
(1)Susan D.
Best happy hour in Crested Butte! $2 Colorado microbrews from 2-5pm. They also have a great variety of wines. The bar menu has a great variety of items. Fresh jalapeño popper that are unique and delicious. The queso fundido con chorizo is a must! The pumpkin ravioli is so rich and decadent. The buffalo tomahawk steak is probably the best steak I've ever had. Melt in your mouth tenderness with a perfect pairing of sides. It's a great place to have drinks with friends and a delicious meal. All with a great atmosphere in the historic Forest Queen Hotel on Elk Ave. in downtown Crested Butte. We'll be back!
(5)Peanut B.
Best crab cake I have EVER eaten, really! Also, very interesting and hearty mountain food. Buffalo, steak, duck, and trout all cooked to perfection. (I didn't eat all of those myself). We shared and tasted many of the entrees, all fantastic. The owner, Dave, was our server. It was fun to hear his story and to get so much info about the source of the food. Highly recommend!
(5)Dawn P.
W went back over the week we stayed several times. Happy hour hummus was amazingly tasty. The outside deck is such a fun place to sit. Creek and humming birds and people watching. Breakfast was tasty lots of it and my over medium eggs were perfect. Next day lunch on the patio, salmon salad was yummy, shared fries were hand cut and cooked perfect. Went back one more time, buffalo burger was way under cooked, recooked and taken off bill. Great service.
(4)Greg B.
I went to Coal Creek Grill for breakfast. It was really quite excellent. Perhaps that was the first time I have eaten poached egg on cornbread with Mexican sausage and hash browns. It was quite excellent. I didn't even add the ketchup. The sweetness of the cornbread meshed with the spiciness of the dish. It lingered in my mouth well after I had consumed all of the dish. Of course I did not eat all of it because I was full. Parking is an issue and the prices are fairly cheap. It is the only breakfast place in town with a bottomless pitcher of coffee. This is important due to it's early opening hours. If one wanders Crested Butte early in the morning with all the other eating places closed until 10:00 hours, then this place is an excellent alternative, and a safe bet if one is quite hungry.
(5)Clif B.
In a ski town known for great restaurants, any newcomer has his work cut out for him. David Coleman must have known that when he decided to bring his restaurant expertise and a new chef to Crested Butte, open a restaurant in the old Forest Queen Hotel on Elk Avenue, and put his menu up against the competition. As one who is always willing to give the new kid on the block a shot, I made my first foray into Coal Creek Grill for breakfast, knowing this was only one of four menus for this place. Unlike your typical eatery, focusing on breakfast/lunch or lunch/dinner, Dave has put together three separate meal menus plus an après ski late-afternoon short menu with a focus on app's and special drinks. I had the Texas hash, which was a refreshing departure from the typical corned beef version, using brisket, special spices and hash browns, topped in my case with two poached eggs and slices of jalapeno. My partner chose a plate comprised of obviously homemade cornbread mixed with chorizo. The eggs on this dish were topped with a hollandaise blended with jalapeno. Now, to be clear, if you are not in the mood for such spicy fare in the morning, consider the trout and eggs or venison sausage gravy and biscuits. For the health conscious, there's house made granola or one of the other lighter options. Without belaboring this review, samplings of the lunch menu include such interesting choices as chipotle beer battered fish, Colorado Cottage Pie, a black bean falafel or a bison burger. The bar menu runs from 2 pm to closing and includes such bar fare as queso fundido, smoked chicken wings, and lamb sliders to name a few. The evening fare boasts such options as sautéed shrimp and chorizo, apple brined pork chops and cilantro pesto tofu just to name a few. In summary, this is a great addition to what is already recognized as Crested Butte's exceptional restaurant offerings. Consider this a hearty endorsement of the latest addition to this town's food options.
(5)Tom G.
Stopped in for dinner on vacation because of all the 5 star reviews. Maybe their happy hour beer specials are good, but I can confidently say the dinner I ate was not. My steak was chewy and overcooked, it was cold inside (it is a ski resort town, but you should at least be able to take your coat off), and the decor was dumpy. All that would have been fine if we didn't pay $34 an entree. Won't be going back over the next 4 days of the trip.
(2)Martin S.
Well this place has a great happy hour during the week, $2 Colorado craft beers from 2pm to 6pm. Other than appetizer s the only thing I have had is the Venison biscuits and gravy. I have had it half a dozen times, and it always leaves me wanting more. Also they have a killer Tito ' s bloody Mary that is a meal in itself. That being said I think i'll have another.
(4)Jin L.
Probably the best happy hour in CB. $2 micobrew pints from 4-6! Also the people next to us had nachos and they looked delicious (confirmed by the people next to us).
(5)Greg B.
I went to Coal Creek Grill for breakfast. It was really quite excellent. Perhaps that was the first time I have eaten poached egg on cornbread with Mexican sausage and hash browns. It was quite excellent. I didn't even add the ketchup. The sweetness of the cornbread meshed with the spiciness of the dish. It lingered in my mouth well after I had consumed all of the dish. Of course I did not eat all of it because I was full. Parking is an issue and the prices are fairly cheap. It is the only breakfast place in town with a bottomless pitcher of coffee. This is important due to it's early opening hours. If one wanders Crested Butte early in the morning with all the other eating places closed until 10:00 hours, then this place is an excellent alternative, and a safe bet if one is quite hungry.
(5)Clif B.
In a ski town known for great restaurants, any newcomer has his work cut out for him. David Coleman must have known that when he decided to bring his restaurant expertise and a new chef to Crested Butte, open a restaurant in the old Forest Queen Hotel on Elk Avenue, and put his menu up against the competition. As one who is always willing to give the new kid on the block a shot, I made my first foray into Coal Creek Grill for breakfast, knowing this was only one of four menus for this place. Unlike your typical eatery, focusing on breakfast/lunch or lunch/dinner, Dave has put together three separate meal menus plus an après ski late-afternoon short menu with a focus on app's and special drinks. I had the Texas hash, which was a refreshing departure from the typical corned beef version, using brisket, special spices and hash browns, topped in my case with two poached eggs and slices of jalapeno. My partner chose a plate comprised of obviously homemade cornbread mixed with chorizo. The eggs on this dish were topped with a hollandaise blended with jalapeno. Now, to be clear, if you are not in the mood for such spicy fare in the morning, consider the trout and eggs or venison sausage gravy and biscuits. For the health conscious, there's house made granola or one of the other lighter options. Without belaboring this review, samplings of the lunch menu include such interesting choices as chipotle beer battered fish, Colorado Cottage Pie, a black bean falafel or a bison burger. The bar menu runs from 2 pm to closing and includes such bar fare as queso fundido, smoked chicken wings, and lamb sliders to name a few. The evening fare boasts such options as sautéed shrimp and chorizo, apple brined pork chops and cilantro pesto tofu just to name a few. In summary, this is a great addition to what is already recognized as Crested Butte's exceptional restaurant offerings. Consider this a hearty endorsement of the latest addition to this town's food options.
(5)Kevin K.
This is probably my new favorite spot. I've been for Happy Hour (2-5 everyday) for their $2 dollar Colorado microbrews and awesome appetizers. Probably the best HH in town for beer lovers and there are always 10 BOTTLES of wine for under 20 bucks. Good ones too!! And I think liquor is on the way! Before last night, we only had the apps but they are pretty awesome. So far we've tried the jalapeno poppers, the queso fundido, spicy southwest hummus plate, chicken wings and crab cakes-we have been a few times. Poppers: best ones I've ever had. Fresh jalapeño, bacon. Cheese. In a delicious tempura-like batter and fried. The key is not having that frozen crap and making them in-house! Bad ass Spicy hummus has a nice kick to it and the pita chips are awesome! Chicken wings are great. I think they are smoked and/or grilled (not sure exactly) in a nice spicy BBQ flavor sauce Crab cakes are awesome. Nice and meaty unlike some other places where it's all bread. But the queso.... Awesome. No fake cheese here. Awesome melted goodness with delicious chorizo at the bottom and green chile and tomatoes on top, served with chips made in house (like everything else). So those are the apps. But the dinner menu is ridiculous. We had a table of nine and we all got something and shared it. The prices at first glance look the same as other steakhouses in CB but the portions are HUGE!! The star of the menu is the Buffalo Tomahawk steak that is smoked for 12 hours!!! I stopped eating red meat a few years ago after eating steaks in Texas my whole life and I can honestly say that this was the best steak I've ever had! I have not had many "melt in your mouth moments" but it totally happened.. Seriously. Served with an awesome potato cake and vegetable of the day. I ordered the trout. Awesome. Our friends got the lamb. It was huge too! And delicious. Some one got a massive pork chop. There was some chili that looked great too. And the espresso pork belly.... Wow. Seriously, wow. This place is in the Forest Queen hotel and is brand new. I really believe this place has the potential to be up for "Best Steak in Town" within a few weeks. If you want nice Colorado Cuisine, THIS is the spot. And they have breakfast!!!! Haven't tried it yet, but its on the to-do list.
(5)Linda P.
Excellent food and service. Had the Texas Hash & Royal Gorge Migas... DELICIOUS!! They smoke their own brisket for the Texas Hash. Definitely need to try these two dishes should you have the pleasure of eating here.
(4)Dana P.
Hands down the best steaks in Crested Butte! The food was fresh and fabulous, the service friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere cool and relaxed. We were here for a week and ate here 3 times! Try the Elk Tenderloin! And if you're really hungry, go for the Buffalo Steak. You won't regret it! Can't wait to come back next time we are in town!
(5)Marcus S.
Wow this place is amazing the atmosphere is great the food is fantastic if you like me are just passing by don't hesitate to stop
(5)Kristin H.
Great views & even greater service! Thank you to the wonderful staff of Coal Creek Grill for making Whatever, USA still have that CB charm this weekend! Even in the midst of chaos I had friendly, prompt service. Can't wait to go back & taste more of their vast menu offerings.
(5)Katie B.
This has to be the worst place to eat in CB. All you have to do is sit down and look and see how DIRTY this restuarant keeps itself. Where is Gordan Ramsey ??? Do they ever sweep the floor or just around thigs cause it shows Take your white napkin and wipe where your sitting and you will see for yourself. And did I mention that the disorganized ,unattentive waiter was also the owner... What a train wreck... All he suggested was the most expensive things on the menu- drinks and food. Let me tell ya the drinks are better at the Eldo and the food was OK.... extremely over priced from an owner in a printed T-shirt... AVOID this Restuarant And the dirt just doesn't stop at the Restuarant. Take a look upstairs and the rooms. The "shared" bathroom is DISGUSTING and covered in MOLD. Its on the cieling, walls and the shower. You might want to bring booties that you would wear at the shore house. Just stay at the hostel it's cheaper and cleaner
(1)Susan D.
Best happy hour in Crested Butte! $2 Colorado microbrews from 2-5pm. They also have a great variety of wines. The bar menu has a great variety of items. Fresh jalapeño popper that are unique and delicious. The queso fundido con chorizo is a must! The pumpkin ravioli is so rich and decadent. The buffalo tomahawk steak is probably the best steak I've ever had. Melt in your mouth tenderness with a perfect pairing of sides. It's a great place to have drinks with friends and a delicious meal. All with a great atmosphere in the historic Forest Queen Hotel on Elk Ave. in downtown Crested Butte. We'll be back!
(5)Peanut B.
Best crab cake I have EVER eaten, really! Also, very interesting and hearty mountain food. Buffalo, steak, duck, and trout all cooked to perfection. (I didn't eat all of those myself). We shared and tasted many of the entrees, all fantastic. The owner, Dave, was our server. It was fun to hear his story and to get so much info about the source of the food. Highly recommend!
(5)Dawn P.
W went back over the week we stayed several times. Happy hour hummus was amazingly tasty. The outside deck is such a fun place to sit. Creek and humming birds and people watching. Breakfast was tasty lots of it and my over medium eggs were perfect. Next day lunch on the patio, salmon salad was yummy, shared fries were hand cut and cooked perfect. Went back one more time, buffalo burger was way under cooked, recooked and taken off bill. Great service.
(4)James S.
Please do yourself a favor and come here. By far the best mountain restaurant I have been to in my 33 yrs in Colorado. Amazing service, homemade everything, great drinks and the best part of all amazing service!
(5)A L.
What a great dinner! They have done a great job with the menu and the bar. We went through the menu... Starter, salad, and entree, and we will be back. Loved everything! Go for Happy Hour and then stay for dinner. Great to meet the owner... So glad to see this place in town!
(5)Tom G.
Stopped in for dinner on vacation because of all the 5 star reviews. Maybe their happy hour beer specials are good, but I can confidently say the dinner I ate was not. My steak was chewy and overcooked, it was cold inside (it is a ski resort town, but you should at least be able to take your coat off), and the decor was dumpy. All that would have been fine if we didn't pay $34 an entree. Won't be going back over the next 4 days of the trip.
(2)Donna B.
Coal creek is confused. We were seated outside. We liked the idea of being out be the water. There are heaters outside on a cool night, so we knew we would be comfortable. Some messages of confusion were; Servers wearing washed out t-shirts and $40+ menu items. Actually, whoever seated us, server or hostess, took me by surprise because i was looking at the menu in the window and did nit expect the casual server atttire based on the prices. Again seemingly upscale menu, and they sat us with a carafe of water, and 4 handled mason jars. Our server and he hostess dropped the carafe and mugs off, and we poured. Confusion. Pizza and casual restaurants can do is. Upscale restaurants should fill my water glass. Oh, and the carafe only filled 2 and 1/3 glasses , so we had to ask for more. Serve full water glasses! Then refill with a carafe. We ordered a spicy crab cake and some queso dip with nachos. They delivered our appetizers, and, duh, you guys need silverware and "share" plates. In even the most casual restaurants, you are expected to eat, so silverware should be there before food. In an upscale restaurant, silverware that corresponds to you menu selection should be placed in font of the customers. We ordered the special, wild boar with cheddar mashed potatoes and braised red. Cabbage; seared salmon salad, crusted trout with asparagus and cheddar mashed potatoes. I made it difficult by ordering the flank steak on the southwest salad. The flank steak salad is served on an iceberg disk and I am not a fan of iceberg. While I was thankful for the accomodation, the steak was not seared and it was brown inside whole medium rare. Old meat? It should have been pink! And it should have been seared! Everyone else at my table was happy with their entrees. The server never refilled our water and the server and assistants passed good and drink across the table. Again, I feel as though the menu and make me think of a higher level of service. Go ahead and try the food but don't expect much on the service side.
(2)Jeff K.
Had lunch here. Nice setting. We sat outside by the creek. It was very pleasant. We each ordered a salad and they were good. Although my wife's salmon was over cooked. I didn't see anything amazing on the lunch menu and it had the sort of sanitized feel of a chain restaurant menu. That was my initial impression anyway. Not sure what the dinner menu looked like. But there are a lot of funky and creative restaurants in CB so I doubt I'd bother with these guys again unless their dinner menu was significantly different or I'd been in CB so long I'd burned though all the cooler places.
(3)Sinjin E.
Staff was fairly uninterested that I was there and the food was bland and pretty uninspired. Pretty disappointing.
(2)Elisa P.
Outdoor seating right by the running water which was beautiful. We both had the salmon spinach salad. More like salmon on a bed of spinach. Needed a lot more spinach to make it a salad. My blackened salmon was cooked perfectly. Part of my husbands was raw but such a big piece he was full. We pointed out to server at end of meal and she just said "oh". Kids meals were fantastic. Love when restaurants serve kids real food. The fish nuggets were actually big pieces of fish from fish and chips. My 5 year old loved it but it wasn't a nugget so if your kid is pickier you might want to ask. Chicken was not frozen strips which made us happy.
(4)Simmie G.
We had a great meal on the patio listening to cowboy Doug singing western favorites. I had an elk burger and my husband had trout. Our little dog was welcomed and everyone was so friendly it felt like a party.
(5)Alyssa P.
Came here for breakfast this weekend and our server, James, was great! Bottomless mimosas were never bottom and the buffet had many different delicious selections. I loved the granola crusted French toast! I recommend to anyone for sure.
(5)Andrew L.
I've been living here for almost 10 years now, and Coal Creek has been a welcome addition to Elk Avenue. In its second season, this has become one of our favorite bars to drink at, but better yet, the food is top notch. It's not cheap, but for what you get, it's not outrageously expensive either...well worth it. I highly recommend the Tomahawk Steak, and the Venison Tenderloin is off the hook, as well. And I have to mention happy hour. It's gotta be the best in town - $2 local drafts, and 2-for-1 specialty cocktails, along with a myriad of appetizer options. I used to do the Ginger Cafe happy hour, and I've since migrated over here. Ok....this has become an essay..but I can't say enough about this place - from the food and the cocktails, to the servers to the owner, it's got a great vibe. Check it out
(5)Bo D.
Stopped in for the $11 all you can eat breakfast. Cheap enough for breakfast. The French toast was good and the venison gravy smothered all over biscuits and home fries was very tasty. Sat next to the creek, that was nice. Probably need to step up the coffee game however. Hot water with a coffee bean. Service was good. Friendly folks.
(3)David R.
Food was good but pricy for what you got $16 for a burger. However service is very confused we had three different servers come around taking drink orders menu orders and all seemed unsure what table they were assigned to. But they got overwhelmed with a half full dining room. Took over an hour for food to arrive but when it did it was good. Owner came out and apologized for delay and was real nice guy. Only thing I'm unsure of was the grass fed buffalo burger was a square patty of meat it was good but not sure if it was buffalo or a frozen hamburger patty.
(3)Laurian U.
Both the service and the food were a huge disappointment at this restaurant. Buffalo chili was basically tomato soup-- no beans and 3 tiny pieces of meat in the bowl size order. Salad arrived with a piece of cling wrap waste on top. My friends trout was just ok. Service extremely slow and in an empty restaurant they gave us the worst table by a busy door. Not a repeater.
(1)Katherine W.
The best happy hour and drink specials! Food is super tasty and the staff makes everyone feel welcomed. I love sitting outside by the creek, so peaceful on a sunny Colorado day! Drink specials for ladies on Sunday is a great deal and fun time, lots of cool patrons. I would recommend this local joint to anyone!
(5)Caitlin H.
When we sat down, it started out pleasant. But when our waiter came he immediately tried to upsell us on appetizers, drinks, you name it. After we politely declined, he actually got an attitude with us, becoming short and a bit rude. I ordered a 6 oz sirloin ($18.00) medium rare, and my boyfriend ordered a 12 oz ($26) medium. The food came out in about 45 minutes. Only, we received 2 6 ounce steaks, rather than the 6 and the 12 ounce. Plus, both steaks were so well-done I could barely cut through mine. (I actually bent the fork). Also very salty. My boyfriend did say he liked his (but he doesn't mind well-done steaks). The asparagus and mashed potatoes were pretty good, however. When the waiter asked about the food, I told him they were over cooked, and he got another attitude. He walked away without offering to re-cook it. Also, the bathroom was public-restroom gross and had no soap (I had to go to the men's restroom to get some.) After we finished our food, he kept looking over at us and our empty plates, but only came over when I actually raised my voice to ask for him to bring our check. Food is important at a restaurant to me, but service is too. And between both the over-cooked food and extremely rude server, I would definitely recommend skipping this place. Try the Secret Stash pizza joint instead. Yum.
(1)Carolyn C.
So, we waited for 1 hour and 40 minutes from the time we ordered to the time our mediocre meal was served. The wait staff was completely uninterested in serving our meal. We ordered steak salad, salmon salad, buffalo burger and steak. The steak was very tough (probably because it must have sat in the kitchen for an hour before being served). What was more disturbing was the overall attitude- "well, what did you expect, you ordered a lot of food." (An actual quote). The restaurant was not full. Also, you would think that since they locked the door because it closed, this would speed up the getting the check process. However, that added another 20 minutes to our fine dining experience. They have a fancy iPad ordering system, but maybe they should have invested in an additional cook instead.
(1)Jessica T.
Great happy hour! Every day from 2-6 pm!! $2 microbrew drafts, though it is a small selection, and 2 for 1 cocktails with appetizer purchase. We ordered their queso fundido with chorizo and it was delicious! Definitely wanted more. The waitress was attentive and nice, but it was kind of quiet at 3 pm on a Sunday. I spied venison biscuits and gravy on their menu for breakfast, so I will definitely be back for that! Cool old building, right next to the creek, though it being winter all we saw was snow. All in all, a great local spot.
(4)Neb P.
been there twice, yet to have a nice time. creek side dining is perhaps the only redeeming quality of the place. ordered an IPA, recieved a belgium style (God, I do know three difference). the waiter and bartender both argued with me, so I ordered the Belgium tap they had and behold it was the ipa! ordered the "belgum" for the remainder. food mediocre at best. last visit waited over 15 minutes for a beer and there were only 2 other tables occupied in the restaurant. bad service, bad food, no clue about beer.
(1)Nate D.
The owner seems to have a lot of disdain for tourists (which is likely understandable), but he should be thanking his lucky stars for tourists because there is no way this place would make it in any place but a tourist trap. I travel a lot for a living (110+ nights per year) and I eat at a lot of different places. This place was hands down the most poorly managed place I have been to in a very long time. I felt like I was trapped in one of those stupid restaurant reality shows. I went for Sunday brunch and waited at least 5 minutes before anyone even acknowledged me. The entire floor plan was just poorly utilized and that it was managed by chaos. You could tell that there was just no structure or organizational management. The receptionist had no station to stand at and was literally just running around with the owner screaming at her (while offering no help). I just sat at the bar, and waited 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. Finally I got a plate for the buffet. The omelette that I had made was good, but you could tell the rest of the food out wasn't much better what you find at a cheap cafeteria. I ordered a glass of water and a cup of coffee that took at least 5 minutes to receive. I sat next to a local who said that he stopped coming here about a year ago but decided to give it another shot. He told me that nothing had changed and that he felt stupid for even coming. When he rang me up he asked if I was a local. Then somehow a $13 brunch turned into a $16 bill. Classy! The bottom line is that if you are staying at a resort you are far more likely to get a better breakfast for less money. Locals I'm sure already know what I'm talking about. However, if you ever wanted to insert yourself into a reality show then this is the place for you.
(2)Kari P.
The hours posted say they are open until 10 pm. I walked in at 9 and asked if I could still get something to eat. The girl behind the bar wasn't sure so she asked someone who appeared to be a manager. He seemed a little stressed out by the fact that there was a customer wanting to order food in a restaurant. Told me the kitchen was already closed. Asked what I wanted with a look on his face that said "we don't want to make you anything." I told him never mind and I would go someplace else. His response was "good idea." WOW!!! Now that is some fantastic customer service that goes above and beyond unbelievable. Granted, I was hungry enough to eat a small child, but if you close the kitchen at 9, then change your hours to 9 and when you're in the service industry, learn some polite people skills.
(1)Todd P.
Awesome! Great local menu with healthy options. Had lamb meatloaf, rainbow trout, and the burgers are great! I got a side of Habanero lime sauce and it was super hot with my burger..
(5)Morgan F.
I can only speak for the happy hour. I stopped in after a day running trails, since I'd seen other reviewers speak of the happy hour. I really enjoyed the dog-freindly patio right next to the river. Even with other diners/drinkers around me, the river was high/loud enough that it was the predominate sound, and very relaxing. The Grill's taps were having some issues, so I was only able to choose from three of the microbrew options on the menu. It wasn't a huge deal, only slightly disappointing, and I still got a great beer. I do want to point out some changes to the happy hour from what I've seen on other reviews. Happy Hour only goes until 5pm (not 6) and microbrews are $3. Not a huge deal, just wanted to point that out lest someone think they still have time and get here too late! I didn't take a look at the dinner menu, but the pre-dinner (before 5pm) options look good and are a great snack to hold one over until dinner. Servers were friendly and one even walked with me all the way from where I had my dog tied to show me the back way to the patio! Unfortunately, I can't say how the food is, but if you're looking for a nice late-afternoon sit with a brew, this is definitely a great place to go.
(4)Ray G.
One of the best steaks anywhere with the buffalo ribeye. Comes with a laid back helping of mountain town vibe.
(5)Kim S.
We were hiking and stopped here for lunch afterwards. The bartender had to yell for the hostess to come inside and seat us, and our waitress was poorly trained. We waited about 45 minutes for our food. My fish and chips were terrible. Very heavily coated and fried and I don't think that it was actually fish under all that breading - more like a creamy white stuffing. The fries were overdone and my husband's burger was average. Overall, not a pleasant experience.
(1)Jim S.
Best food and best service. Everything was prepared perfectly. The Texas smoked wings were the best ever. The lamb meatloaf was amazing. Friendliest service in Crested Butte.
(5)Cindy K.
Coal Creek was not even on our radar. After moving on from our first choice due to the wait, we were walking by when the door opened and "Dave" invited us in, promising us not to be disappointed. He was right. Dinner was delicious. Elk ribeye, venison tenderloin, crab cakes and more. Lots of food, delicious. Service was excellent and the lone guitar player a great add to the ambiance. My only critique was that the crab cakes, although delicious, were only warm. I will definitely recommend and return.
(4)K C.
Went with a group for brunch and it was fantastic! The service was warm and friendly. It was crazy busy on a Sunday morning but we were seated within 10 minutes. The food was phenomenal! I had the venison biscuits and gravy and it was incredible! Best biscuit I've ever had! I also kept seeing the breakfast burrito which was huge and beautiful. We all had bloody mary's and it was one of the best I've had. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(5)Heather F.
AMAZING bison burger with crispy bacon! Yummy salad dressings made in house. Very friendly and welcoming wait staff! Also we went in the winter and the ambiance was perfect with snow outside and twinkling lights on nearby trees.
(5)Smorga M.
I am a newbie to Crested Butte and have only eaten at a few places but for me this place was fantastic! Servers were top notch and very helpful with menu choices. They obviously have a great chef in the kitchen as the food choices are not the boring run of the mill dishes.
(5)