We stopped in again the other night. We had a reservation, which we got through Open Table. I highly suggest this option. Its easy and convenient. So, if you read my last review, you can see everything we ordered and a good description of it. I'll try to do the same and highlight differences even within the same dishes. Last time we got Bruschetta Three Ways - Land, Sea, Soil - It has Turkey, Salmon, & a Mushroom/Zucchini spread. This time when we ordered this same dish we got a curry chicken, salmon, and a fennel red pepper combination. I'm not a big fan of curry, and the fennel red pepper spread was not as good as the mushroom/zucchini. spread. We're splitting hairs here, but I enjoyed the bruschetta more the last time we visited. Its still worth trying, absolutely. Our meals were a strip steak for me and my wife ordered Nantucket Scallops. I think I would have preferred her dish over mine. My steak was good, not great. I should have been smarter and ordered something other than a steak. The sauce that accompanied the dish was excellent, as were the small potatoes that came with. Man they were good. Oh well, my meal was still a strong 4.5 star. My wife's scallops were seriously amazing. They were presented over a mushroom stir fry, which was also phenomenal. I would order these if we went back tomorrow. For dessert, we ordered the same thing as last time, because wow that slice of Chocolate Decadence was amazing. Well, bummer this time. We found out after ordering it that it does not come as a slice anymore, but instead a small round cake, like say the size of a cupcake. It was much less presentable, and there seemed to be less of it. Thumbs down. It was not what we expected, nor received last time. I highly suggest going back to the slices!!! It was an amazing dessert last time, but this time... it was average. I felt like it was nothing special. Slight disappointment. Last visit our waiter was a bit awkward. This time, we had a different guy, and he was stellar. The service here is absolutely incredible. 5-stars all around. I still think this place is amazing, but food overall was not as good as last time.
(5)
karen s.
I just finished the best omelette I've ever eaten - Crab-avocado-hollandaise. Plus the Bloody Mary had perfect spice and garnish. Seated fast, served fast. Worth the drive from Golden.
(5)
Linda D.
Spending several weeks in the area gave us several chances to enjoy Willow Creek -- for lunch and dinner. Great menu, excellent wines, good value, good service -- and, of course, there's the amazing view to Evergreen Lake!
(4)
Fair W.
Vegetarian risotto with Scallops and an excellent Merlot plus Lemon Tart and coffee for lunch -- overlooking a lake and spectacular conifers. Plus our server was cheery and I got to see my first hummingbirds of the summer going crazy with the red sugar water.
(5)
Bonnie C.
We went to the Willow Creek twice in the last month. Once for dinner with family- I had the beet salad and of course the gnocchi I keep writing about. I love the ambiance here and the food is superb. I was happy to just order the salad and the appetizer gnocchi. It was the perfect size for a meal- and save a piece of bread to dip in that amazing sauce. It's changed a little since last year but still very tasty. Yummy!!! One nice day last week my husband met me for lunch and we sat on the deck overlooking the Evergreen lake. It was such a nice day and fun to play hooky for a few hours and be in the sunshine. I again ordered the gnocchi for lunch and shared with my husband. We also ordered the burger with bacon- it was delicious with the soft buttered bun- I try not to eat the bread sometimes but couldn't pass it up - delicious. Glad we shared the burger I don't want to know the calories of eating the whole plate with fries. Two more excellent dining experiences in 2014 at Willow Creek. The outdoor deck you can't beat on a nice summer day.
(4)
Ben R.
Call to make a reservation for weekends. They were very accommodating. Told us it would be about 30 minutes. Then called us 10 minutes later saying a table just opened. We arrived and were greeted promptly. Looking at the restaurant when we walked in our jaws dropped. The place is beautiful. Poinsettias and xmas lights everywhere. Stunning. But the servers are wearing jeans so it doesn't mean you must me dressed to impress. Casual clothes Id say. We ordered pan seared salmon cooked medium and rabbit pasta. The salmon was perfect. The rabbit was awesome. Interesting( in a good way) flavor. Soaked in wine for some 24 hours then roasted. Yummmm. We had wine and a mixed drink to compliment our meals. Great selection of wine. We i usher our meal off with a banana split drink. I've never had one before but it was on point. We will be visiting here again!!!
(5)
Chuck A.
Steak was well prepared and the fish special was outstanding. Will definitively be returning!
(5)
Kristen B.
Amazing!!! From the view to the food, this place is on point!! Great price point too!! Every dish was soooo good! The trout was probably the best... Oh, and the Brussel sprouts!
(5)
Jarrod P.
My wife and I dined here yesterday evening to celebrate our first anniversary. This restaurant has a wonderful view of Evergreen Lake. More importantly, it has a wonderful view of the bridge over Evergreen Lake where I proposed to my wife! The staff was all around friendly and welcoming. I ordered the New York Strip, and my wife ordered the salmon, both were excellent. We're thinking that dining at this restaurant may become a tradition! We'll absolutely be back!
(5)
Cori K.
We went there for my Husband's Father's Day Brunch and sat on the patio. The food was delicious, our server was nice, and the view was lovely. The drawback-their hostess had a really bad attitude. She was unfriendly, not helpful, and left my husband and feeling that there was more to be desired from their staff. Otherwise, everything was fabulous and we will be returning.
(4)
P P.
Had a great time!! I just don't give out 5 stars. Coffee rubbed buffalo ribeye. Fantastic!! Service was great! What a view. So much on the menu I wanted to try. Got the special b/c probably wouldn't be there next time. Desserts made in house. We tried 3 diff ones and they were all good of course.
(4)
Rick M.
We've always had a great experience (we're regulars) and totally understand that sometimes thing go bad BUT tonight our meal was bad plus the umbrella flew out of the holder dropping back down on our table spilling drinks and soaking a couple of us. Ok...things happen right... What sucks is the manager didn't acknowledge the accident (thinking he actually saw it), check to see if anyone was injured or apologize in anyway. Posting hoping the owner wants to know who they have representing their business.
(1)
Tom M.
Blechhh. Weird visit. Menu boring after coming a couple times. Ordered the pulled pork and it was seasoned with typical Mexican spices but not very good. I wouldn't ever come here for that as Tin Star a few blocks away has much better pulled pork. I had more bad meals than good here after 6 visits here. The patio is great but the food is greasy and really not very good. Probably good for drinks only.. Surprisingly, I liked it on my first visit a year ago...but probably only for the view of Evergreen Lake. I recall the food on the first visit as underwhelming. ADVICE: Pull your head out and change the frikkin menu occasionally...jeez.
(2)
Lou S.
A pleasant surprise as I've been to Evergreen so many times and never noticed this restaurant was across from the lake. Took a chance & came in for dinner with two other friends and we all loved it - all of it! Can't say much about dessert because we were stuffed, but the wines by the glass were awesome. Can't wait to return!
(5)
Shelly M.
Willow Creek just gets better and better! Willow Creek offers an amazing, one of a kind dinning experience in Evergreen. The knowledgeable staff, expertly crafted food and million dollar views, make this a restaurant you will want to go back to every time you're in Evergreen. I have eaten here more times than I can count and will continue to go as often as I can! The hours and days of operation tend to vary slightly due to the season (normal for Colorado). Just call ahead if you are unsure.
(5)
Bill B.
We were greeted warmly & shown quickly to our table (even though we were 20 min early). The space is very cozy allows you to relax & enjoy. Our waitress was Megan & she was amazing, she took great care of us without being pushy. We started with the cheese plate which was ample & journey of different tastes. My wife had the fish special haddock with lobster sauce & she really enjoyed it. I also had the special a buffalo bribery it was cooked perfectly & very tender. We finished with creme brulee & a chocolate peanut butter....both were luscious. We enjoyed our time here never felt rushed the food was wonderful, we will be back!
Just too many delicious choices on the menu... I had the muscles for brunch and had to make sure not to slurp the delicious white wine sauce. The hand cut fries are a great side to the dish. My husband had the gnocchi appetizer. It comes more as a soup/stew - a little too onion-y for our taste, but very good. My niece had the bacon cheddar burger, which didn't disappoint. As far as desserts go... Yum, yum... We had an apple/cranberry cobbler which was almost like a bread pudding, and plate licking good. We also had an delicious caramel, shaved chocolate ice cream with incredible flavour! The food, ambiance, and service at Willow Creek is always top notch - a fave of ours indeed.
(5)
Jan H.
WIllow Creek can be anything you want it to be - casual brunch on a weekend; a romantic dinner in the evening, lunch with the kids on the deck watching the boats on Evergreen Lake. It really is an all-around favorite. The menu is a little upscale for some, but the friends we've introduced to this place have never been disappointed. We really enjoy brunch here in the warmer months. The menu includes a wide variety of options and drinks to accompany those choices. The mimosas somehow taste better up here than in Denver! The wine list is good, and the food quality is consistent. The staff is friendly and attentive. And the view....no matter the season or the time of day - sitting on the deck overlooking the lake is pure joy.
I have eaten here twice before and had a lovely time. My boyfriend and I went there Saturday December 6 and had terrible service from the wait staff. We sat in the bar first as we waited for our reservation. The bartender was great, very friendly and attentive. The drinks were excellent. We were showed to our table by the hostess and seriously waited 10 minutes with 5 different waiters walking by and making eye contact but no one asked us if we needed anything. We finally stopped someone and asked who our waiter was. He went and got Woody, who apologized for the wait, seemed there was confusion who was suppose to take our table. We figured okay no big deal he will really try to offer good service. Wrong! We did get our drinks and then sat there another 10 minutes with no one stopping by. Finally, we asked another waiter if we could get bread. Someone stopped by and dropped off bread with 3 small pieces of bread. Our waiter finally came and took our orders and was obviously uncomfortable and we pointed out how long we had to wait to get our bread and had to request it. Cut to the chase, the food was very good but the service was very poor especially at those prices. I would go again for a drink, but would not spend the money to eat there and be ignored.
(1)
Mira Y.
First time here Ordered: Chicken quinoa salad about $13. This was a large portion and with tons of dark chicken pieces. The salad had squash, zucchini chopped, along with quinoa throughout. I felt like it was an average salad. The dressing was light in flavor but you could sense the oil that it was mixed with. Rabbit paparadelle about $20+. The rabbit pasta dish was very rich and tasty. According to the waiter the restaurant has received recognition and national exposure because of this dish. It is very soupy. The pasta is made fresh, wish there were more paparadelle in the dish because it was that delicious. Omelet: with bacon, cheese and wild mushrooms and crispy potatoes. This was a great omelette ($13/$15) Kind of pricey but still so tasty. The server brings out a tasty tiny lemon scone. It was like a nice sweet dessert.
(4)
T S.
Really special place: great views, cozy/romantic vibe, excellent service, really delicious and well prepared food. Can't say enough good things about it.
(4)
Aaron W.
Wonderful food, wonderful staff. The beet salad, the gnocchi, and the rabbit pasta were all standout dishes. We'll be back often to dive deeper into the menu.
(5)
Anne H.
The atmosphere and the service are excellent. The food is very good, too, but I'm giving it only 3 stars for the following reasons. We're from Colorado and we eat healthy. All four of us at the table are athletes and we prefer beautiful, fresh, nutritious food. Healthy food can be fabulous, too! Three of the 4 at our table are vegetarians. The only vegetarian choice was risotto which is usually high in fat. We all ended up eating fish which we would prefer not to eat whenever possible. The entrees were quite small and there were very few veggies. We spent plenty but went home hungry - for more calories and more nutrition. If you love beautifully prepared, creative, but not particularly healthy food, you'll love this place.
(3)
Ryan S.
Was in the area and came based on reviews. I got the bruschetta which had duck, moose, and trout. I enjoyed the variety. I also ordered the burger which was good. The view was wonderful. My only knock is I thought they were a little pushy on the sale of something other than water.
(4)
Barbara S.
This place would get five stars for sure -- the food is consistently fresh, superbly prepared and delicious. We eat here often and love it. Service is usually excellent, friendly and upbeat. I have to give it four stars because at brunch today the hostess (younger gal in flowered jeans) was rude, sour and just plain difficult. She did not smile at anyone, looked annoyed, and acted like the customers were a total inconvenience. She rolled her eyes at a customer who asked a question. So...get rid of the immature hostess without the mostess and this turns into a five star review.
(5)
Judy M.
Made our first visit to Willow Creek for my birthday last night and were not disappointed. Our reservations were for six at 5:15 and requested an outside table. We were seated promptly and greeted by Sierra who took our drink orders and since we had not been here before, explained some of their most popular dishes and the specials. She was so sweet, helpful and attentive. The martini I ordered was one of the best I have ever had (and I am very critical), my son in law loved his old fashioned, and my husband and daughter were very impressed with the wine list and beer selections. On to dinner-ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer-delish! My vegetarian daughter ordered a salad and gnocchi (hold the pancetta), my husband the rainbow trout, my s-i-l the rabbit, and I shared a NY strip with my grandson. There is no children's menu, but they are very accommodating to make kid-friendly pasta dishes or sliders. I had a birthday cake waiting at home so we passed on dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and cannot wait to revisit. We especially enjoyed the view and humming birds on the deck. I guess my only criticism would be that the hostess was not very cheerful and warm, but perhaps that is just her personality. Sierra more than made up for it with her impeccable service! Kudos to Kristopher the owner whom we just met last week and told us to come up and try her restaurant. Your place is fabulous! Reservations a must by the way for weekends especially.
(5)
Meli C.
We had great time and the food was great! Will come back next time we are in Evergreen! The Brussel Sprouts were amazing!! Highly recommend!!
(5)
Michael J.
I haven't written a review in quite a long time----Don't get it twisted, I've eaten plenty since then, but nothing to write home about. Until now! We took a short trip up I-70 into the mountains yesterday and stumbled upon one of the best places I've eaten in a long time. Neither of us were starving, so we skipped appetizers, but the people around us got some, and everything looked ridiculously good. The Food: We both settled on strip loin with 1/2 salads....mine Ceasar, hers a spring salad with corn and bacon...mmm. Yes, I just said mmm. It was that good. But lets get past that....and on to what really matters: The Steak. Even before I cut into it I could tell it was going to be amazing. The presentation on all of the food---ours and those around us, was spot on. The steak was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Every bit as good as the best steakhouse you've ever been to. It was served on top of homemade au gratin potatoes with a side of some sort of tomato salad, along with all you can eat complimentary bread+butter. And the best part---they serve Moscow mules here in the copper cups to wash it all down. By far the best meal I've eaten in a while, and definitely worth the drive from Denver. Unfortunately, we had no room left for dessert, but we caught a glimpse of a few, and we'll definitely be going back again soon to try them. Ambience: The town of Evergreen is a quaint, little, mountain town already. Throw in a locally owned restaurant on a lake and you have yourself a great place to have a romantic date, or just grab a bite to eat. I didn't see a tv or anything, but if you can't survive in the mountains without a tv for a little bit then maybe living in Colorado just isn't for you. Price: Expect appetizers and desserts to be between $10-15. Main courses run between $20-$35 dollars tops. There is a decent wine, drink list. Overall an excellent dinner, especially for the price. We made it out in under $100, including a hefty tip for impeccable service.
(5)
Jolanta A.
This restaurant is a perfect stop on the way to the mountains. We stopped there twice!! (Lunch and dinner) on the way to and back from Steamboat. Excellent service, fresh food and cozy atmosphere. Can't wait to visit them again!
(5)
Becky F.
Went there for lunch after a morning of hiking. Linda, our server, was the sweetest lady. She gave recommendations and made small talk about our day. The food was amazing. Everything is made in house. I had the fish and chips, which had an awesome beer batter and excellent tartar sauce (made in house, of course). For dessert we had the apple cranberry cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Seriously amazing. I will definitely be back.
(5)
XY Z.
We have been to Willow Creek twice, both for special occasions. We went both times during the summer months so we were able to sit on the patio overlooking Evergreen Lake. On both occasions the service was exceptional, the ambiance great (especially when hummingbirds come by the deck!), and the food creative, fresh, and delicious! This place is quintessential Colorado; the food is mostly local and fresh and although the menu and wine list are upscale, it is completely fine to show up in jeans or nice shorts! Definitely worth going out of the way for if you are nearby and not to be missed if you happen to be in Evergreen.
(5)
Cathryn C.
Great setting, wonderful service and delicious food and drinks.
(5)
L J.
BEST RESTAURANT EVER. Pricey, but phenomenal food and excellent service. Pretty much amazing!
(5)
Bob M.
I bring friends, family and clients here all the time because it has a very classy atmosphere, great wine list and overlooks the lake. It also has outdoor seating which is very nice in the summer. The fireplace adds to the ambiance and here's a hot tip: If you are prone to be chilly take a seat by the fireplace in the winter time. The windows in the restaurant are single pain and drafty! The food is always good and the staff very friendly.
(5)
Alfredo V.
Great spot for a quiet dinner. Made reservations and they accommodated us the moment we arrived. Views of Evergreen Lake are fantastic and the service was very good! Ordered the chicken - which was very good, and the pork, which was a thick cut. Both very, very good. Decent selection of wine which made our dinner even more enjoyable. We'll be back soon!
(5)
Kirstin B.
OK, so another visit a year later - the visit was exceptional. Waitstaff was awesome, and food tremendous. We had the bruschetta (3 types) - very yummy. Mac and cheese for my daughter was actually poached by everyone at our table (some of the best I've had), I had the chicken/kale (?) salad (can't see it on online menu so maybe I'm getting it wrong) - but ZOWIE was it yummy. We had just finished ice skating, so a bloody mary was in order - very tasty too. It was such a beautiful day people were able to sit out on the deck overlooking the lake (and it was actually warm). Will definitely put this on our to visit list when we are back in town again.
(5)
Lissa C.
We just visited the Willow Creek Restaurant for the first time last night to celebrate my birthday, though we live in the area. The food is absolutely outstanding - surprisingly so! The ambience is lovely both outdoors on the deck overlooking Evergreen Lake and indoors with the beautiful, dim lighting and cozy decor. With all these raves, why just three stars? The service. We began our night sitting at the bar and planned to eat dinner there. Our bartender was a very young woman and obviously new to the job - she was painfully slow and it took 15 minutes to get our Pellegrino and a cocktail. We don't mind newbies - you have to learn somewhere - but we are unaccustomed to that kind of service at a place with those kinds of prices, and no apologies or acknowledgment of the fact. More troublesome was that we watched a drama unfold where this bartender had obviously made a mistake, left the bar and was crying near the kitchen... all while we waited to order, and nobody stepped in to help us. To increase our chances of eating, we asked the hostess to move to the deck with our cocktails and glasses of Pellegrino. A busser came by and asked us if we also wanted still water with our dinner. We said yes. A minute later, our server strode up to the table, picked up the still water glasses and, without saying anything, tossed their contents over the side of the deck, saying, "If you're drinking Pellegrino, why would you want that stuff? Am I right?" Well...he has a point, but maybe ask us first? It began to rain before we were served our dinner (not the restaurant's fault, obviously) so we were moved inside. As we moved to an inside table, we saw a group that had walked in at the same time we did, and they were already paying their check. This was frustrating for us. We like a relaxing evening but we also had a babysitter waiting for us at home. Last, though we told our server it we were celebrating a birthday, there was no happy birthday wished, no dessert offered, no acknowledgment of the experience. We don't need a handout but that was different from any other restaurant we've ever been to for a birthday...especially when we'd been sitting there for over 2 hours. Like I said: the food was incredible, and we will probably go back to Willow Creek because of this. The staff could just really use some polish.
(3)
John R.
ate there 3 times in the last 18 months .. all with the same experience ...at least one of the dishes on each of our plates was cold ...great ambionce .. great service ...great wine list ... and food taste was great .... but for a pricy restruarant like this i expect the all the food on the plate to be warm .. and i can't tolerate piping hot food ... so when i feel some of the items on the plate were cold its at most 2 stars ..
(2)
Nancy O.
Ok wait was long and food was ok . View of the lake ---wonderful ! We ordered off the weekend brunch menu. Food took forever to be served
(3)
Steve S.
Worst food in Evergreen PERIOD. Inconsistent now even at lunch! Worst curried quinoa chicken salad ever...first came out, no curry and no chicken. Sent that back and what came out looked and tasted terrible. Hardly any curry and the chicken looked like some rat back there had chewed it up first then put what they didn't want in the salad...which wasn't much...probably thank God. Now stomach hurts... Will never, ever go back even for free!
(1)
Kristin M.
The vegetable risotto was out of this world - and I like to consider myself a connoisseur of risotto! Adorned with carrots, crimini mushrooms, oven roasted San Marzano tomatoes with a spinach puree sauce. The flavor was intense yet soothing to the taste buds. My fiance had the king salmon, which was also very good. The fennel and fennel pollen added a nice kick to the dish. The desserts were also amazing. Even though I do not care for chocolate or peanut butter desserts, we ordered the trio which came with peanut butter and ganache cups - I could not stop eating these!! The mascarpone gelato with the black pepper cookie was also very well done, although peppered cookies have no warmed up to me yet. The creme brulee was perfectly delectable, as well! I definitely recommend others stop in here for an elegant, taste bud tantalizing dinner!
(5)
Rob S.
Food was good. View was awesome. Fairly friendly staff. We were out of towners and it felt that way. Still would go back
(4)
Len M.
Not only did they charge me $35 for risotto and scallops, but when I asked for some parmagian cheese to put on it, they brought it to me and charged me a dollar. Obviously, that kind of behavior comes from the top, as no waiter would ever think about charging someone for some grated cheese on their dish. Way overpriced for what it is. Yes, its a great atmosphere, but its not worth the price. Just my two cents.
(1)
The Wandering J.
We visited the Willow Creek restaurant today with our five month old granddaughter. We researched the best place to go on Yelp. We walked around the lake after which we requested a table on the porch overlooking the lake. The very nice young lady at the entrance asked us ti wait a few short minutes while she organized a suitable table. We may have waited three or four minutes. We were seated promptly and they even made space for our granddaughter's stroller adjacent to the table. Our waitress Barbara could not have been more helpful or more friendly. She arranged hot water for our baby's milk bottle, she advised in starters and complimented our choice of entree. Barbara ceratinly made our visit more enjoyable. Teh food was delicious. On Barbara's advice, we ordered a mozzarella cheese, tomato and arugula starter to share. Perfect! We both ordered fish and chips. The fish was soft, but not mushy; freshly cooked. The fries were very nice as well. Add all this to our view over the lake, made for a very pleasant enjoyable lunch in Evergreen.
(5)
Chip W.
Yum...great setting, we went there last night. The lake was starting to thaw, but the barrel was still there. Everything we had was good, but the pomegranate salad and the chicken were outstanding! Especially the chicken...best dish I've had in months...as Woody the waiter promised, it was the juiciest chicken I'd ever eaten. Great sauce that went perfectly with the chicken, brussel sprouts and the crispy polenta...
(5)
Kimberly M.
Yes please! This restaurant is outstanding. My husband and I sampled delicious wines, and we enjoyed a hearty antipasto platter by the river. The waitstaff was friendly, and the owner really took good care of us. I will absolutely be headed back!
(5)
Patt F.
What a gem! I've lived in the area for 35 years and can't believe I've never been to Willow Creek. The atmosphere and ambience is warm, cozy and absolutely delightful. The view of Evergreen Lake divine! The staff is inviting, friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. (Ask for Peter....he's AMAZING!) The wine list is outstanding, and the food even better. Started with smoked salmon and caviar app, moved on to a couple bowls of NE Clam Chowder (some of the best around) and both the winter salad and beet salad (both mouthwatering!). Entrees included the Rabbit Papardelle Pasta, Lemongrass Brick Chicken, Georges Bank Scallops and Duet of Colorado Lamb. Each one was a winner! Desserts included the Apple/Cranberry Cobbler with homemade cinnamon ice cream and the Bourbon Caramel Swirl cheesecake. Add in a few cocktails and a few glasses of wine....and call it a Foodgasm Extraordinaire!
(5)
Caroline W.
Do you want to have dinner, lunch or brunch without getting fat? This is the place to go to: European type size portions( not so huge) and top quality food, excellent service, great wine list and unbeatable view of the lake! I love the salmon on a bed of corn and other vegetables.What else do you need? Also check it out on a sunny day and enjoy their beautiful terrace. Finest dining in town!
(5)
Fred S.
Went here for a special occasion lunch. Both had the Risotto and added scallops. Still would have added scallops but it would have been nice to know they were an additional $15 per plate. The antipasti was excellent. Home made chorizo, and cheeses were all good. A little pricey but food and service were excellent.
(5)
Dore H.
Excellent view, excellent food, service is awesome and consistent. We've dined there at least 20 times, it's a favorite of ours and our friends! I would recommend for a special dining experience.
(5)
Linda M.
The views and the food are always spectacular! We ladies seem to gravitate to happy hour. Sangria fresh, anti pasta sampler appetizer was delicious and of course you can never go wrong with steak! Though if you are just ordering drinks and appetizers, you might feel a little rushed.
(4)
Megan D.
This place was pretty amazing. The service was fantastic and we never had to ask for anything. I got the sausage and pasta and my date got the trout. Both were excellent but it was recommended that we get the cheese plate as an appetizer that with all of the bread that we got we didn't need dinner. The portions were large even for the price - which is good but we didn't even need main courses after the fantastic bread and cheese!
(4)
Lisa S.
Great restaurant! Really good food, and fabulous atmosphere! We had the bruschetta appetizer which was delicious, and I had the crab BLT pasta for dinner which was also great. The white sangria was my favorite I've ever had. It's so beautiful here, it overlooks the lake. We will definitely return.
(5)
Jay V.
Our friends took us for lunch. Beautiful setting and food was quite tasty. I don't recall what we had, but it was good. Just go to Willow Creek, and look at the pond across the street. Fantastic!
(5)
Jeremiah Y.
WOW... Is all I can Say! I took my Wife there for lunch on May 26th for her Birthday. It was very Crowded due to A Graduation Party. So on to the disaster of a meal this was!!! First it took our waiter over 5 minutes just to recognize we were there. Then our drinks came out before the free pastries you get when you sit down. So we placed our order I ordered the "SPECIAL" Soft Shell Crab Sandwich... My Wife ordered the Pesto Pasta. So when our food does finally come out. The "Special" SOFT SHELL CRAB SANDWICH WAS OPEN FACED. FOR $17.95 And it does not state open faced... Who eats there soft shell crab sandwiches open faced??? My wifes pasta was pretty good though. So then our beer glasses sat empty for 10 minutes. I Finally went up to the bar myself and ordered. The waiter was no where to be found... So as the meal is ending another waiter came to clear some plates off of our table. My wife said she wanted another bite or so. This is when the waiter proceded to grab a spoon and seperate my wife's food into sections for her on her plate and said well try to eat this section first and then move on to this one... "WHO IN THE HELL DOES THAT" I normally would have said something immediatly but I have never in 35yrs seen a server touch a guests food like this!!! ABSOUTLY OBSURD!!!! My has worked in the EVERGREEN community for over 12yrs now. She called the Restaurant to talk to a Manager but instead got the Owner. "Christopher" who is a woman. To complain about the service but mostly about the waiter touching her food. Here is the OWNERS response. He is a new waiter and kinda quirky. I will talk to him about it. She as a owner clearly does not have a single once of customer service in her. We will never eat here again. I suggest so many other restaurants in Evergreen that will treat you better and not cost an arm and a leg. So BYE BYE "WILLOW CREEK"
(1)
James B.
great vibe on the deck. great coffee. great food. overall exceeded expectations by 1000%^
(4)
Nichole T.
Love the food and service at Willow Creek. Only had one time out of many that we were "forgotten" about but not worth bumping down a star. The bartender is super sweet and very personable. The owner isn't quite as friendly as I think she could be, but she's obviously doing something right! The atmosphere with lake view is a bonus!
(5)
Kimber S.
Really, this place just never lets me down. I brought my 25 year old niece here last Friday night because she likes to play all grown-up and eat in fancy restaurants with her Auntie (yes, she's still just a baby to me). She loved it! What can I say? Girl's got excellent taste! We had an awesome dinner, from the potato gnocchi appetizer (which is now made with a heartier fall-type broth and seasonal veggies), to the veggie risotto and the most succulent scallops to ever scale the Rockies! Can't wait for my next meal here!
(5)
Laura B.
Another new gem! What a great location over the lake in Evergreen! I cannot wait to try out the deck in the summer! We went last Sunday evening during restaurant week. We started at the bar with a delish dirty martini and housemade pate. YUM! We were then seated at our table, almost all tables have an awesome view of the lake. I started with a beet salad with goat cheese which was awesome. I was dining with 3 others. How unique is this for restaurant week?: you get to choose three small plates per couple to try. Since there were 4 us, they just made a huge platter so we could try it all! Some of the apps included duck spring rolls, smoked seabass roulletes, unique bruchettas (lamb, salmon, veggie), etc. On to the main course...I had the braised beef lasaganette. I was the WINNER at the table. House made lasagna noodles, topped with delish sauce and perfectly braised beef, and then topped with some cold fresh ricotta. MMMMM. Some others had the cobia which was also good, a unique fish. One had the chicken which was good, but it is chicken. Dessert was also ridic: flourless chocolate cake topped with ganache. Our server even brought us over some limoncello to taste! I really do love this place and wish I had discovered it before. The menu looks awesome, many homemade pastas I cannot wait to try! They are open for brunch and lunch too. Happy hour seems like a great deal with half priced apps and Mondays has a special menu for entrees around $15. There are also many wine dinners. I just signed up for the Gundlach Bundchu one...so excited! One of the best restaurant week experiences I have had.....get there!!!!
(5)
Nathan B.
Beautiful setting overlooking Evergreen Lake. We (wife and 2 young children) went for lunch after a short hike. Other reviewers have talked about how great breakfast/brunch is. We had a very different experience at lunch. Note that this is not a place for families. They don't have a kids menu and also didn't have booster seats. If you've got small kids in-tow, you'll likely be better off someplace else. I can't comment too much on the food quality, as we left after having only an app. I'll limit my comments to the overall experience. Based on the extensive wine list, the lack of facilities for children, the placement of the maitre'd stand, and the attitude & attire of the staff, I would guess that the restaurant sees itself as rather upscale. On the other hand, the setting near the lake & trails, the casually attired guests just coming in from hiking or biking, and the extremely limited lunch menu (featuring fewer than 10 entrees, mostly burgers) made the place seem very casual. We ordered an appetizer and the food presentation was also very casual, yet presented by the waiter rather formally. The app (we ordered the cheese & salami tray) wasn't too great either. Maybe lunch just isn't their thing. Despite the schizophrenic feel, the location can't be beat. I could definitely see enjoying a beer or glass of wine (the wine list is great) here after a ride, or just to watch the sunset. I would not dine with my children here again though.
(2)
Sandra P.
This is a fantastic restaurant. But be warned that restaurant.com certificates are not honored there. They told me that restaurant.com has posted them without their consent and the restaurant doesn't get any money off the certificates. However, the restaurant will still get our business. Worth every penny.
(5)
Karen M.
Really excellent food and service. Nice open air seating. View is pleasant but not "spectacular" as others have said. Very enjoyable overall. If we are ever in the area again we will definitely return.
(5)
Judy S.
We had heard great things about this place and we were excited to try it. The location was fantastic overlooking Evergreen Lake. Although our dinner was on a cold rainy night I can imagine how great the patio would be on a summer evening. We were seated promptly and our waiter had a good understanding of the wine menu which was impressive. Unfortunately the wines by the glass selection were not as robust but their cocktail selection was fun. All the menu items sounded promising and we ended up with the potato gnocchi and pear salad as appetizers. Both were good, not amazing. Our entrees were the coffee rubbed beef and rabbit pasta. The beef seemed like it had been sitting for several minutes; it was barely warm. The rabbit was a big disappointment. It was very overdone and dry and chewy. The sauce was almost like a soup and had the same flavors as the gnocchi we had. Our coffee was lukewarm and the dessert we ordered was the same spice layer cake as the table next to us but they got ice cream with it and we didn't. Overall, the meal was not worth the price which was expensive.
(2)
Howard B.
Recently visited Willow Creek and overall we had a very nice time but a few things are worth pointing out. Lets start from the beginning. We started with a round of sangrias. They were delicious; both the red and white...yum. Great way to settle in and enjoy the beautiful view and the cool charm of the restaurant. Moving on to wine. The waiter praised their wonderful and deep wine list, and commented how they recently held a tasting event and he had tasted many great wines to recommend. We were in the mood for a malbec and asked for his favorite...that was easy, the most expensive one on the list...but of course. Silly of me to ask. But seriously, how about another? Well he was not familiar with any other but was sure they were all quite fine...so awkardly i randomly picked one based on the tasting notes. Another waiter delivered the wine and assured that it was a good selection. It was a good wine but the whole delivery seemed like a pass off. Strike one. Moving on to the food. To start, we ordered a spring salad to share; strongly attracted to the humboldt fog goat cheese. In short order two tiny plates of lettuce were brought to us by a third server. No goat cheese, no anything really. We quickly got the attention of waiter #1 who asked waiter #2 if she could get us some cheese. Several long minutes passed and as I slowly nibbled away my last bit of lettuce, waiter #2 arrived with a two small bits of cheese. Noticing that my lettuce was gone, waiter #2 asked if she could get me a few more leaves of lettuce. I declined; slightly irritated by the offer but content with my wonderful company, the view, and knowing that goat cheese and malbec would match up nicely. Strike two i suppose. Entrees arrived shortly after by waiter #3. Beautiful plating, great looking food and absolutely delicious! Waiter #1 dropped by as we were eating, made a comment about the wine, checked that the cheese came, and asked, confirmingly, if everything was perfect. Wonderful we said. So, overall impression...cool location, view and vibe. Great food but the delivery and service was shaky at times. They were pretty busy though so I would definitely give the place a pass on that and would go back to try again. It's a bit of a stretch to give 4 stars but three would not do the place justice, so 4 stars it is!
(4)
David R.
After a drive up Mount Evans, we stopped in for an early dinner at Willow Creek. We had called to make a reservation earlier but were told they were "really busy" so we just took our chances, easily half empty. Salad was good, entree which was billed as "dungeness crab with caviar" was mostly noodles. Not too good. Asked for more iced tea. Got tea but no ice. Server took the used silverware from salads and then didn't bring more for the entrees. No salt or pepper (don't want to insult the chef, I guess). Server asked why we didn't like our food and then she decided we probably wouldn't want dessert so just dropped off our check. We paid and left, never to return. Nice view of lake but can easily be seen without entering this establishment.
(1)
Momma M.
This restaurant has consistently good food but unfortunately just as consistent bad service. Ive been there about 4-5 times as I am local but am disappointed each and every time with the long wait once seated, the bad attitudes, and seemingly overworked and frustrated staff. At least that's what it looks like when I feel guilty about asking for my food after a half hour or more. I do love the food though, so, if you've got lots of time and aren't really hungry then its a nice spot.
(2)
Heather A.
Stopped in for lunch with my daughter and my husband. We thought it looked like a nice place to eat on the patio overlooking the lake. It was getting a little cloudy out and we were told that if we chose to eat on the patio and it started raining, they could not guarantee we would get a table inside. They had quite an extensive wine menu but the food menu was sadly limited. We ordered the Beet Salad and told that it was one of the smaller salads because of the beets. I had just eaten a beet salad at Rolling Hills Country Club last week and it had fabulous multi-colored beets in it. The beets in this salad were your regular purple pickled beets.....Nothing special. My husband got the antipasti plate that was different italian cheeses and meats with pickles. ???? Yuck! No pickles, very pricey, yuck! 2 salads and an appetizer.....$50! And it was not yummy...at all! Won't go back....ever! Very disappointed!
(1)
charles b.
We had dinner there tonight, it was amazing. We were there for the 52.80 special. The food was really good I have the pork tenderloin and my girlfriend had the beef brisket. They were both cooked perfectly. We had our 1 year old daughter with us and they were more than accommodating, they brought her out chicken fingers she really enjoyed them. Our waiter was Todd he gave a very good descriptions of the food and could not have been more attentive. As far a as ambiance, the view from the restaurant was overlooking Evergreen Lake with the sun setting in the background could not have been more perfect.
(5)
Dave M.
The food was VERY good - a bit pricey though. Beautiful view through large windows. The service was excellent.
(4)
Brian H.
Frozen Champagne Mignonette slush on six beautiful Rip-tide Oysters with a Jalepeno Martini and great conversation overlooking Evergreen Lake at 9 in the evening? Perfect! Why dont they keep the bar open later? I could see it as a real hot spot for late dining
(4)
bob h.
I think this place just opened I ate there last night and it was great. I live up the road and I'm so glad that they finally got re-opened. My wife and I ordered two courses and we loved both. The salads were light and fresh and very good. I loved the trout with Agnolotti and wife ordered the Rabbit pasta, sooooooo many veggies!!!!!! The staff was very nice and attentive I think they have a few bugs to work out but they are still sooooo new. This is just what the area needs!!!
(5)
Bonnie R.
Beautiful setting, inattentive service, inconsistent and pricey food. Hit or miss- we missed. The only thing lofty about this place is its self-esteem.
(1)
Phyllis A.
Our family have been constant companions to Willow Creek since they opened. They have unique dishes that equal the interesting stuff you can find in Denver but with a 270 degree view that never gets old. We can't get enough of the home made rabbit pappardelle the potato gnocchi and the truffle fries, not to mention the super home-made peanut butter cup. They also do a great job with affordable wines that work well with the dishes and the staff is terrifically attentive - not to hovering but not forgotten.
(5)
LESLIE P.
Appetizer and beers-- good but pricey. Found it be a bit snobby as they told us we had to sit in a special bar area if we are not ordering full dinner. (despite about 10+ open tables...) had it not been for that wouldve rated higher.
(2)
Riki C.
I have been in for brunch and dinner. We got great service both times, an the food was great. We are in evergreen a couple of times a year to visit family, and this is definitely the most reliable food option.
(5)
Mary S.
My husband and I live in Evergreen and were planning to go down to Denver last night for our 5 year anniversary dinner. We got started a bit late and realized that heading down to Denver for dinner would not work, so we crossed our fingers and decided to give Willow Creek a try (we had been to previous restaurants in this location before with mediocre satisfaction). The evening was exactly what we were looking for. We started out on the patio under some aspens overlooking Evergreen Lake but decided to head indoors due to rain. Decor inside is nice and our server Odis was awesome! Dinner started off with the New Zealand Cockles in a delicious garlic, wine, herb butter sauce. I had the Roasted Trout served with Olathe Corn Agnolotti and my husband had the Colorado Lamb. The trout was cooked to perfection and the lamb was unique and quite tasty. Sidenote: the chef purchases a whole lamb and incorporates different cuts into the dish. Our experience at Willow Creek was perfect end to a wonderful day celebrating our 5 year anniversary. Evergreen has needed some fine dining like Willow Creek for a long time, we will definitely be back to try lunch and head there for a special dinner again.
(5)
Tony H.
While staying in Denver for a week,we made two trips to Willow Creek.Once was not enough! The location is spectacular,the menu diverse and perfectly executed , the staff absolutely delightful.They could not have been any more knowlegable or attentive. Between the two visits,our foursome "covered" almost all of the menu and found everything extremely well prepared .It should also not go unnoticed that The Wine Spectator has recognized the restaurant for it's diverse and very well priced wine list. Willow Creek has a vibrancy and "buzz" but is not noisy. It will certainly be our first call on the next visit .
(5)
Graham K.
I was really expecting better from this place with all the 5 star reviews. Great location. Decent Antipasti. Burger ordered medium was served rare and barely cooked. The bacon on top of it was also under cooked. I'm not sure how they got the cheese to melt. I ate it anyway because I hate sending food back, but it was close. Unfortunately, the rare meat revealed the mediocre quality of the ground beef. The salad it came with was all leaves, no tomato, cucumber, anything? My wife had the salmon sandwich which was served open faced. She said is was OK. Not a resounding review from her. Service was very good. Really nice location on the outside deck. I did notice that at 2:00 in the afternoon we were the only table not having an adult beverage - maybe that's how they get away with the mediocre food and get such high ratings on yelp - nothing like a wine buzz at 2:00 ;-) Looks like a great spot for dinner and friends have recommended it, so we may try it again. But.....
Perfect place for a relaxing dinner. Came up here for a business meeting and was pleasantly surprised by the location, quality of food, service and friendly atmosphere. Go for the Salmon with fresh fava beans that are in season now. Highly recommended.
(5)
Sarah G.
Ate on the patio overlooking Evergreen Lake, so nice. Good food too. Got to watch a Bull Elk walk by.
(5)
Shari S.
I must start this out by saying that I'm surprised Yelp hasn't filtered out some of the negative reviews. It sounds like a dissatisfied large party is trying to bring down the Yelp rating due to a poor experience. Having said that, our experience was absolutely wonderful. I would say we were more of a 4.5, but I'm rounding up to a 5 simply in the hopes of blocking out some of those one stars. And the service was definitely 5 stars all the way. When we arrived, we did not have a reservation, as it was a last minute decision, but we were quickly accommodated. We were seated on the lovely balcony overlooking the beautiful mountains and lake. Once our server (oh, how I wish I remembered her name!) found out that I'd been ill during the entire trip, she immediately went out of her way to make me as comfortable as possible. While the rest of our party enjoyed the appetizers, she ensured that I had plain bread to nibble on, and she also went to the kitchen to plan out a bland meal for me to enjoy. Even without seasoning, the chargrilled chicken breast that was prepared was extremely tender, and the slight smoky flavor more than made up for the lack of seasoning. Of course, the rest of our party thoroughly enjoyed their meals, even snagging dessert at the end. And it's the little things, really. When our server noticed that I was chilly, she immediately went to retrieve a blanket for me, even arranging it around my shoulders. All in all, the kind steps taken and the attention to detail went such a long way in helping us feel that we were able to salvage a bit of our trip before we left the next morning. Needless to say, when we return to Denver, we will definitely be paying Willow Creek another visit!
(5)
Jacquelin S.
My sister had her rehearsal dinner here this weekend, willow creek is easily one of the most beautiful venues for such an event and the view and table setup were breathtaking. Unfortunately due to the service we received, mainly from Katherine it takes away every bit of the beautiful environment. Our dinner for 30 was approximately 2 hours long and the staff were pushing us to hurry and leave even though they had several tables open and the entire patio. After dinner someone sprayed mace inside the building causing everyone in the restaurant to start choking. After my father brought it up to Katherine her response was "all the more reason for you and your party to leave." So after paying our $5000 bill we left and were quite unhappy that a rude waitress attempted to ruin such a beautiful event for my sister. Will ensure no one I know visits this restaurant again. This is also after calling the bride the day of the rehearsal dinner and telling her that they were not going to be able to accommodate her if there was bad weather. And they overcharged us for the dining room and didn't take the $700 we prepayed off the final bill. Updated my review to 2 stars as Kathryn is no longer with Willow Creek
(2)
Paul B.
Had the BLT pasta which definitely came very high on my list of pastas. Perfect portion for a lunch and very light. Service was good and will be going there again for sure.
(5)
Ashley H.
Had a great anniversary here. Trout was outstanding! Our waiter was odd, and not very polite when we asked for my i.d and my boyfriends i.d. but I won't let that get in the way of how great this restaurant is. Thank you guys for a great night!
(5)
Gina K.
Absolutely gorgeous restaurant in a beautiful setting. Outdoor seating overlooks the lake - an unbeatable view. Best risotto I've ever had, and the gnocchi is to die for. Portion sizes are great for the price. All of our food was delicious! Only downsides - entrees were definitely slow coming out (although worth the wait) and I found our server to be a tad pompous. I ordered one (1!) glass of red wine with my meal and he scrutinized my ID and quizzed me on my age (I'm 25 and was getting dinner with my parents). I understand that Colorado is strict on alcohol but I found the attitude to be a bit over the top. Overall though, a pleasurable dining experience and l will definitely be back again.
(4)
Shea W.
The view from this patio is beautiful! You get to watch people playing on the water! Paddleboarding, kayaking etc. There are also hummingbird feeders above the tables and we saw some elk grazing on the hill in the front of the restaurant. This place is straight up out of Snow White. They don't start serving a full menu for dinner until 5pm. We were there around 330PM so we got small bites and drinks. LOTS of small bites. I got a Limoncello strawberry drink that was too syrupy sweet. Would not recommend. However, the small bites we all delicious! Particularly the Bruschetta plate. It came with 3 types of Bruschetta including scallop and pepper. The Desserts! The Desserts! I'm not typically a sweets person but the Italian white cake with mascarpone cheese frosting with a hint of coconut? I could die. Overall, lovely place to spend some time in Evergreen. Probably on the expensive side but I didn't see the bill :) Woot woot Father's day weekend!
(4)
Joe R.
We are residents of Evergreen and have been to Willow Creek many times. Over time, partially the last 3 times the service and quality of food has decreased be on belief. The last time waiters and hostess were beyond rude and arrogant. Not what you expect in Evergreen. As long as they have the current management will we not frequent or take guests to Willow Creek. There are too many other places in Evergreen that deserve your patronage.
(1)
R B.
Driving home with my pants undone because the food was so delicious! Gorgeous view. Attentive staff. The peanut butter cup dessert is NOT to be missed. Nice wine list. We will be back. Tip: the patio is chilly. They will provide you with a blanket but bring a jacket. Our August night was cold!!!
(5)
N. P.
Unbelievable. My husband and I went there on a Sunday at 7:45pm with no reservations saying we were fine to sit at the bar or wait for a table. The hostess told us they were closed. Mind you the place was crowded and their hours posted say they are open 5pm-12am. We were told by the hostess they are only open until 8pm and depending on how smoothly the night is going. Can you believe that??? Not a way to run a business.
Yet another amazing dinner at Willow Creek. I tried the cold melon soup for the first time and it was amazing! Light and refreshing, it was the perfect starter to my meal. I then enjoyed the palisade peach salad which was nothing far from amazing! Willow creek always amazes with their high quality of food and service. I am shocked to read that anyone would give this place less then 5 stars, as they are a must eat at restaurant in Evergreen. Well done!
(5)
Tara D.
A lovely, lovely spot! I had wine and appetizers here. I sat at the bar and was so happy with the environment presented, the service and the yummy, yummy food! The staff was so concerned about my happiness, I think I was asked by everyone working that night! After the patio cleared, I asked to sit outside and I was walked with care to the new table! WONDERFUL staff!
(5)
Eric W.
My wife and I went here for a date night and it was amazing. The service was spot on the food was exactly what we wanted and a good alcohol selection was nice to enjoy as well.
(5)
Scott S.
Great food, great view and great service!! The burger was over cooked, but still delicious which says a lot!! They did remake the burger though I told them it was just fine, and even better! Btw, their bruschetta and strawberry chilled soup is ridiculously great!!!
(4)
Rachel C.
PROS: My mom and I have come here a few times for Christmas Eve dinner. The setting and view are spectacular, and the service is exemplary. I always get the Brussels sprouts because they are innovative in the way they season them. I've tried to recreate it at home and just never can. Really can't sing enough praise in the direction of the chefs and the staff. I don't even want to give you menu recommendations because they change so frequently and really, everything is delicious. CONS: This is really more for you, reviewer, than for Willow Creek. If you have a child under the age of, say 2, and it begins to scream in a public place such as a restaurant or movie theater but especially a restaurant that isn't meant for babies and is on a holiday, be kind to those around you. Certainly don't let it scream and make high-pitched noises for a full 5 minutes before you even look at it. Take that child outside or to the bathroom or shorten your meal because you made a choice to have that child. I did not. I make a conscious choice everyday not to have a child, and I'm sure many of the other patrons do the same or hire babysitters. And listen, I get that babysitters on Christmas Eve are probably hard to come by. Sucks. It's not fair. But it's not fair to other patrons, either.
Innovative fresh fish entrees. New Year's Eve menu was amazing!! Love the ambience and views. Our hometown gastronomique tour. Pam and Kurt
(5)
Katie O.
Seriously fantastic. I would go back in a heartbeat. This was by far the best meal we had when visiting Denver! For starters our waiter, Hunter, was so friendly and fun. He provided excellent service in a comfortable atmosphere. He also made great recommendations and clearly knew the menu (which changes often) quite well. For appetizers we had the gnocchi with a side of grilled bread. Awesome! So flavorful. The bread was perfect for dipping in the extra sauce around the gnocchi. We also had the house-made mozzarella with kale & butternut squash. Mozzarella was very good, but not the best we've had - it seemed a bit chewy and not as creamy as others. The squash & kale toppings were very good though. For the main course I had the rabbit pappardelle. So amazing. Huge chunks of rabbit in an unbelievable wine butter herb sauce, perfectly reduced and so flavorful. The pappardelle was nicely cooked and fresh. Veggies were delicious. Literally I've been dreaming of this rabbit dish since I got back to Rochester. The menu might more accurately describe it as a rabbit stew. Please use your spoon and any remaining bread on your table to suck up every last bite of the amazing sauce. So so delicious! My husband, mom, and I all got this rabbit dish and were all super pleased. We didn't want to share! My sister got the steak and was thrilled. I had some also and found it fantastic. Perfectly cooked, so tender and flavorful. Delicious. My dad got the rigatoni and loved it. I tried some of that as well and would have gotten it had we gone back for another trip. =) The pastry chef at this place is also very creative and makes good desserts. We tried an apple cobbler, spicy brownie with avocado ice cream, and mango trifle. My fav was the brownie with the super unique ice cream, I think, although they were all good. Brownie may have been a bit too spicy for some. The cake in the mango trifle was supposedly quite unique - made with rosemary or something. Unfortunately it was too doused in the mango sauce to taste it! Wish I could have had that alone. We shared a bottle of Malbec from France, and liked it, although we have had better bottles at home. Their wine list looked extensive, so I'm sure you can find something you'll like. Hunter made the evening fun and special. We would all love to go back!
(5)
Bill H.
Outstanding. Patio view fantastic. Brunch was great. Taste French toast. The eggs Benedict with trout was superb. Bloody Mary's nice and spicy! Must try dinner.
(5)
Nicole F.
This is my goto restaurant in Evergreen. I have never had a bad experience here or a poor meal. I feel like this is the best restaurant in Evergreen. The service is always impeccable and the food is excellent. I think the menu could change more often but what is on there is very good. I always take my out of town guests here and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Chef S.
We ate here twice last week and really wanted to like it at first. Food & ambiance are OK, but the service & the people at the front door are lacking hospitality. If you want to feel like you are being waited on by snobby servers who obviously have tables all over the restaurant & have a hard time engaging the guests because of that, then go ahead & give it a try, but we won't be going back. We tried it twice & the first time we didn't even know who our server was, because he greeted us once & then it was different people for the rest of our dinning experience. The second time, the server, Todd, had such a snarky attitude & made us feel like it should have been an honor to be waited on by him, that we won't be going back. What's up with the attitude at Willow Creek? We are frequent diners to some of the best restaurants this country has to offer & was hoping for more than a view. Both times the servers were never around when the food was dropped off, to see if we needed anything else. Our entrees were brought over by a stranger, who just dropped our plates & ran away too. We couldn't order more drinks when we wanted too or get the condiments we needed, when we needed them, etc, etc. I thought servers were supposed to serve you the food & ask if you needed something else? We also just made it in time to even get food, because we overheard the hostess say the kitchen was closing early to a walk in party at the door, because they had a rough day!?! WOW, never heard or seen that one before. They just close whenever they feel like it, despite the posted hours of operation. The servers & hostesses have such bad attitudes that it brought down the whole experience, sorry to say. They need to hire somebody NICE, who knows how to talk to the public & give proper service, otherwise it's only a matter of time before the bad reviews catch up to them.
(2)
Kergan E.
Friendly staff, excellent food and the perfect setting on the lake make Willow Creek a perennial family favorite!
(5)
Terry F.
The service in this place is terrible and the manager/server is rude. I do not recommend bringing a large party here.
(1)
Gabriella T.
Poor custumer service and the owner has been asking people to take off their yelp reviews. What kind of owner tries to cover up their poor service rather than resolve their issues? If you have a larger party than 2 then do not come here because they are incompetent and incapable of handling parties any larger than that.
(1)
O K.
Pasta with sausage was incredible. I would order this all the time. Loved this place on our trip to Evergreen.
(4)
Roady O.
been here about 5 -7 years ago by accident and i had awesome fish here, im glad i found this place again and the food dident chance at all, the place in self is so nice causy the staff friendly and cute , the food is excellent and high quality this time we had moussels home made mozeralla rabit stew and fish and every singel dish was just yumy with out any words more to say. im comming back hope earlier this time ;) ( if my job wants so)
(4)
John C.
Was hopeful some of the 5-star reviews would reflect my opinion also. Nope, didn't happen. It was a beautiful Saturday night on 8/1/15. The porch was open and the view was great. That is the best part of this restaurant. This was our 3rd trip over the years. Our Genesee friends insisted we come up there. The restaurant had been pretty good in the past, as I remember, but don't think we want to go again. Our waiter, Todd, was a little to cool for the room, and left the clear impression we were lucky to be there and be served by him. We weren't. My seafood special was served just warm. Todd didn't check back, nor did he seem to care very much. It was a generous serving of fish, but just not that well prepared or seasoned. Just because it is plated in an attractive manner doesn't make it great. Trout was OK, but to me it was not as good as other reviewers would indicate. As they cleared the table, we were told it would be OK to stay longer since they didn't plan on reseating it. What were they thinking? If it were earlier, were they going to ask us to leave? There is a bit of an attitude from a staff that is a bit full of itself. it is also pretty expensive, and hardly worth it unless you care more about the views than everything else.
(3)
Sarah J.
I feel compelled to update my review primarily on the owner's comment upon my first review wherein the owner completely failed to take any responsibility for this establishments lack of service, respect, as well as, not providing accurate information in regards to our parties' time table. Frankly, the details of planning are completely irrelevant. This review is about staff interaction with customers so to try and place blame elsewhere is just "silly". I encourage Willow Creek to take responsibility. It is rare that I rate a business poorly and when I do owners ALWAYS approach the review with a remedy and a solution. Most certainly not with hostility. Willow Creek clearly has approached these reviews with intentions of escalating which is in poor taste. Of course this is what we have come to know from Willow Creek so we would not expect anything better or more appropriate. Attempting to place blame of the resignation of your staff is just despicable.
(1)
Shane S.
The food was good. But my Best Friend had her rehearsal dinner here and they rushed the dinner, were unbelievably rude to the guests and someone sprayed mace after dinner to get us to leave. After 30 people had dinner the fact they wanted to rush us out to turn the tables was unacceptable.
(1)
Sayreko K.
By far the best restaurant in Evergreen. We have been living in Evergreen for about 2 years now and this is only one of two restaurants worth going out for. Friendly service, yummy (diverse menu), and great view. Great bar where you can hang out with friends for a few drinks or seat down dinner... You cannot go wrong with this place.
(5)
Randy B.
Love this place. Our friend Susanne said it best: The food is gourmet quality, and is wonderful. The people are very very nice, and the view of Evergreen Lake is great. The menu changes every day , and it is varied and excellent. Today it rained lightly while we were eating on the patio, the hawks flew overhead , the birds flew around , and we talked, safely under the umbrella while enjoying this near perfect Colorado day. A great place to eat, relax and enjoy the view.
(5)
Laurel M.
TAKE all negative reviews seriously people! I took my parents to Willow Creek to celebrate my Dad's birthday on the patio. It was a special night. It started out great, nice night, wonderful view of the lake - but things went in a very odd direction. First we waited for about 30 minutes to have our order to be taken which is frustrating, had to ask for our glasses to be refilled and so on. We were finished with dinner and were just relaxing over some good conversation when the manager or some front-of-house-guy came over and asked us to LEAVE - that we were taking too long! The absolute gall of this guy to say basically our "time was up" - after making US WAIT on ordering and dealing with less than great service--lack-luster attitudes all over! NEVER in my life have I had this experience, never at a small scrappy diner, never at a Michelin-rated restaurant. Any good restaurant knows this is in BAD TASTE. And on such a special evening. And, it wasn't like we were there for hours past our dinner--just the normal amount of dining time. It was down-right embarrassing. My parents were so gracious about it, but I was steaming! I WILL NEVER GO BACK, AND I WILL BE SURE OTHERS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. Really too bad they didn't just let us finish our experience and stay happy patrons--what a bad decision to lose a paying customer and potentially many more. WILLOW CREEK SHOULD BE READING THEIR REVIEWS -- This seems to be a common theme of rudeness, poor service and shuffling people out. They should not be rewarded with patron business. So frustrating that they are not better stewards of the beautiful location they happen to be in.
(1)
Vickie S.
This is a lovely venue for an event and the food is quite good. The problem that I had, is similar to nearly all of the reviewers who rated Willow Creek poorly - service. We had a rehearsal dinner for our daughter at Willow Creek recently. The wait staff was very accommodating throughout the meal and that service was excellent. Unfortunately the hostess - Katherine was more rude than any hostess I have ever come across. As we were leaving the restaurant all of the members of our party started choking, as another guest of the restaurant had accidentally sprayed mace in the bathroom, which was wafting into the rest of the restaurant including the area we had reserved. As we were choking on the fumes, we were desperately trying to get to water glasses that were on the tables to clear our throats. Understandably, the restaurant is not responsible for accidents of this nature. But, as with any unforeseen circumstance, it is how well you handle it that counts. The hostess -Katherine - approached me and my husband, who were both choking, desperately drinking water and completely unaware of why we were all choking. She told us that we needed to "either sit down or leave". Obviously we were standing because we were trying to leave, but had to stop and try to get to our water glasses to stop from choking. My husband asked, do you know why everyone is choking? And Katherine replied "all the more reason for you to leave." Obviously this was the most inappropriate response that she could have offered. Therefore the wonderful meal and socializing that we had enjoyed up until that point was completely negated by her behavior. We all understand that accidents can happen, but we need to handle them professionally, and with grace and dignity. This behavior definitely did not meet the standards of Willow Creek. After this experience I reached out to the one of the owners of the restaurant who is determined to get to the bottom of this, and be sure nothing like this ever happens again. Because of his responsiveness we will definitely consider Willow Creek again.
(2)
Chad N.
The owners here have created a fantastic place to eat with excellent service and laid back grace. Our family of 6 was greeted warmly for our 12:30 reservation on the patio that gives the patrons a wonderful view of Evergreen Lake. Our server Todd was attentive, and kind, and seamless in serving our family. We were also greeted by all other servers on the patio with a hello, or nice to see you! We started with the antipasti plate and the brushetta trio. The seasoning was spot on, and you know it tastes great when 5 yr old twin boys ask for more! I had the salmon, my wife had the avacado crab omelet, oldest daughter had the cheeseburger, younger daughter and son had the french toast and the youngest had chicken. Everything was cooked to perfection, seasoned beautifully and every bite devoured. Our waters were consistently replenished and the italian sodas were a fun treat for our kids. We were left with a perfect day with fun memories made, when a hummingbird hovered around the patio and near our daughter. This place is surely something special, and their staff is to be commended for their professionalism, their standard of service and their attention to detail. Should you have a party of more than 4, a reservation would be a good idea. I've read a few of these other reviews on here, and sincerely wonder....could the "attitude" percieved be in reaction to over entitled and critical customers? We will be back, again and again.
(5)
Erin M.
A-ok seems just about right. Wondering if we ordered the wrong items ? Based on the fact that the pasta, cheeses and sausage are made in house and we didn't order pasta, we will go back again to see. Pros: The atmosphere is cozy and romantic. The wine list is extensive. The menu is small but balanced. The gnocchi was top notch. Cons: Other menu items (beet salad. Albacore steak and NY Strip were average. The service was average (didn't listen to dessert order properly, continually knocked my purse off my chair, etc) Based on other reviews, it seems we may have come on an off night/ordered off dishes, so we will definitely give Willow Creek another try at some point.
(3)
Bowdoin S.
I ate here with my work colleague who live in this area. I wanted to eat healthy and craved a beet salad, and this place was recommended. The beet salad was average, and didn't strike a right balance. The dressing was a bit too acidic and the arugula was a little bitter. There was a block of cheese that was too hard in texture to effectively spread it over the dish easily. I like the carrot shreds in the dish for the color and texture, but the nuts were too small to give the textural element that I prefer. They gave a decent amount of both red and golden beets, but overall the dish wasn't that special. The curried scallops were good. The curry didn't overwhelm the dish and I liked the quinoa side. Service was decent and the ambience was nice with a lodge-like feel which was appropriate given the location of the restaurant in Evergreen.
(3)
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Address :29029 Upper Bear Creek Rd,Ste 105
Evergreen, CO, 80439
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Joe J.
We stopped in again the other night. We had a reservation, which we got through Open Table. I highly suggest this option. Its easy and convenient. So, if you read my last review, you can see everything we ordered and a good description of it. I'll try to do the same and highlight differences even within the same dishes. Last time we got Bruschetta Three Ways - Land, Sea, Soil - It has Turkey, Salmon, & a Mushroom/Zucchini spread. This time when we ordered this same dish we got a curry chicken, salmon, and a fennel red pepper combination. I'm not a big fan of curry, and the fennel red pepper spread was not as good as the mushroom/zucchini. spread. We're splitting hairs here, but I enjoyed the bruschetta more the last time we visited. Its still worth trying, absolutely. Our meals were a strip steak for me and my wife ordered Nantucket Scallops. I think I would have preferred her dish over mine. My steak was good, not great. I should have been smarter and ordered something other than a steak. The sauce that accompanied the dish was excellent, as were the small potatoes that came with. Man they were good. Oh well, my meal was still a strong 4.5 star. My wife's scallops were seriously amazing. They were presented over a mushroom stir fry, which was also phenomenal. I would order these if we went back tomorrow. For dessert, we ordered the same thing as last time, because wow that slice of Chocolate Decadence was amazing. Well, bummer this time. We found out after ordering it that it does not come as a slice anymore, but instead a small round cake, like say the size of a cupcake. It was much less presentable, and there seemed to be less of it. Thumbs down. It was not what we expected, nor received last time. I highly suggest going back to the slices!!! It was an amazing dessert last time, but this time... it was average. I felt like it was nothing special. Slight disappointment. Last visit our waiter was a bit awkward. This time, we had a different guy, and he was stellar. The service here is absolutely incredible. 5-stars all around. I still think this place is amazing, but food overall was not as good as last time.
(5)karen s.
I just finished the best omelette I've ever eaten - Crab-avocado-hollandaise. Plus the Bloody Mary had perfect spice and garnish. Seated fast, served fast. Worth the drive from Golden.
(5)Linda D.
Spending several weeks in the area gave us several chances to enjoy Willow Creek -- for lunch and dinner. Great menu, excellent wines, good value, good service -- and, of course, there's the amazing view to Evergreen Lake!
(4)Fair W.
Vegetarian risotto with Scallops and an excellent Merlot plus Lemon Tart and coffee for lunch -- overlooking a lake and spectacular conifers. Plus our server was cheery and I got to see my first hummingbirds of the summer going crazy with the red sugar water.
(5)Bonnie C.
We went to the Willow Creek twice in the last month. Once for dinner with family- I had the beet salad and of course the gnocchi I keep writing about. I love the ambiance here and the food is superb. I was happy to just order the salad and the appetizer gnocchi. It was the perfect size for a meal- and save a piece of bread to dip in that amazing sauce. It's changed a little since last year but still very tasty. Yummy!!! One nice day last week my husband met me for lunch and we sat on the deck overlooking the Evergreen lake. It was such a nice day and fun to play hooky for a few hours and be in the sunshine. I again ordered the gnocchi for lunch and shared with my husband. We also ordered the burger with bacon- it was delicious with the soft buttered bun- I try not to eat the bread sometimes but couldn't pass it up - delicious. Glad we shared the burger I don't want to know the calories of eating the whole plate with fries. Two more excellent dining experiences in 2014 at Willow Creek. The outdoor deck you can't beat on a nice summer day.
(4)Ben R.
Call to make a reservation for weekends. They were very accommodating. Told us it would be about 30 minutes. Then called us 10 minutes later saying a table just opened. We arrived and were greeted promptly. Looking at the restaurant when we walked in our jaws dropped. The place is beautiful. Poinsettias and xmas lights everywhere. Stunning. But the servers are wearing jeans so it doesn't mean you must me dressed to impress. Casual clothes Id say. We ordered pan seared salmon cooked medium and rabbit pasta. The salmon was perfect. The rabbit was awesome. Interesting( in a good way) flavor. Soaked in wine for some 24 hours then roasted. Yummmm. We had wine and a mixed drink to compliment our meals. Great selection of wine. We i usher our meal off with a banana split drink. I've never had one before but it was on point. We will be visiting here again!!!
(5)Chuck A.
Steak was well prepared and the fish special was outstanding. Will definitively be returning!
(5)Kristen B.
Amazing!!! From the view to the food, this place is on point!! Great price point too!! Every dish was soooo good! The trout was probably the best... Oh, and the Brussel sprouts!
(5)Jarrod P.
My wife and I dined here yesterday evening to celebrate our first anniversary. This restaurant has a wonderful view of Evergreen Lake. More importantly, it has a wonderful view of the bridge over Evergreen Lake where I proposed to my wife! The staff was all around friendly and welcoming. I ordered the New York Strip, and my wife ordered the salmon, both were excellent. We're thinking that dining at this restaurant may become a tradition! We'll absolutely be back!
(5)Cori K.
We went there for my Husband's Father's Day Brunch and sat on the patio. The food was delicious, our server was nice, and the view was lovely. The drawback-their hostess had a really bad attitude. She was unfriendly, not helpful, and left my husband and feeling that there was more to be desired from their staff. Otherwise, everything was fabulous and we will be returning.
(4)P P.
Had a great time!! I just don't give out 5 stars. Coffee rubbed buffalo ribeye. Fantastic!! Service was great! What a view. So much on the menu I wanted to try. Got the special b/c probably wouldn't be there next time. Desserts made in house. We tried 3 diff ones and they were all good of course.
(4)Rick M.
We've always had a great experience (we're regulars) and totally understand that sometimes thing go bad BUT tonight our meal was bad plus the umbrella flew out of the holder dropping back down on our table spilling drinks and soaking a couple of us. Ok...things happen right... What sucks is the manager didn't acknowledge the accident (thinking he actually saw it), check to see if anyone was injured or apologize in anyway. Posting hoping the owner wants to know who they have representing their business.
(1)Tom M.
Blechhh. Weird visit. Menu boring after coming a couple times. Ordered the pulled pork and it was seasoned with typical Mexican spices but not very good. I wouldn't ever come here for that as Tin Star a few blocks away has much better pulled pork. I had more bad meals than good here after 6 visits here. The patio is great but the food is greasy and really not very good. Probably good for drinks only.. Surprisingly, I liked it on my first visit a year ago...but probably only for the view of Evergreen Lake. I recall the food on the first visit as underwhelming. ADVICE: Pull your head out and change the frikkin menu occasionally...jeez.
(2)Lou S.
A pleasant surprise as I've been to Evergreen so many times and never noticed this restaurant was across from the lake. Took a chance & came in for dinner with two other friends and we all loved it - all of it! Can't say much about dessert because we were stuffed, but the wines by the glass were awesome. Can't wait to return!
(5)Shelly M.
Willow Creek just gets better and better! Willow Creek offers an amazing, one of a kind dinning experience in Evergreen. The knowledgeable staff, expertly crafted food and million dollar views, make this a restaurant you will want to go back to every time you're in Evergreen. I have eaten here more times than I can count and will continue to go as often as I can! The hours and days of operation tend to vary slightly due to the season (normal for Colorado). Just call ahead if you are unsure.
(5)Bill B.
We were greeted warmly & shown quickly to our table (even though we were 20 min early). The space is very cozy allows you to relax & enjoy. Our waitress was Megan & she was amazing, she took great care of us without being pushy. We started with the cheese plate which was ample & journey of different tastes. My wife had the fish special haddock with lobster sauce & she really enjoyed it. I also had the special a buffalo bribery it was cooked perfectly & very tender. We finished with creme brulee & a chocolate peanut butter....both were luscious. We enjoyed our time here never felt rushed the food was wonderful, we will be back!
(5)Sharon B.
This is my first review on yelp. I am writing this based our amazing first time diner experience at Willowcreek. The food and service that we had last night was amazing, all the way around! My Salmon dish was outstanding and so was my brûléed peach salad. The bread they make in house was so good, incredible! I ate a weeks worth. We sat at the bar, my friend ordered the pork chop and was kind enough to share. I will go back this week just for the potatoes that came with the pork. The bartender was excellent, with an extremely busy bar she was able to tend to us perfectly, with a great smile! It was a very busy night, with a line outside the door. We were lucky to get a seat at the bar without reservations. There was a large group in the main dining room that got out of their seats and began milling around the room, which was a bit rude as they were standing right in front of tables that were trying to have dinner. We later learned it was a rehearsal dinner that did not want to vacate. The staff did a great job of trying to accommodate the other patrons waiting patiently for their tables. On a comical note, a guest accidentally sprayed mace inside the restaurant causing a fair amount of havoc. Again, we watched as the management did a great job of damage control. I recommend sitting at the bar (patio looks great too, we will return for lunch this week) as it was a spectators dream. Can't wait until I can visit Colorado again.
(5)Alicia N.
Just too many delicious choices on the menu... I had the muscles for brunch and had to make sure not to slurp the delicious white wine sauce. The hand cut fries are a great side to the dish. My husband had the gnocchi appetizer. It comes more as a soup/stew - a little too onion-y for our taste, but very good. My niece had the bacon cheddar burger, which didn't disappoint. As far as desserts go... Yum, yum... We had an apple/cranberry cobbler which was almost like a bread pudding, and plate licking good. We also had an delicious caramel, shaved chocolate ice cream with incredible flavour! The food, ambiance, and service at Willow Creek is always top notch - a fave of ours indeed.
(5)Jan H.
WIllow Creek can be anything you want it to be - casual brunch on a weekend; a romantic dinner in the evening, lunch with the kids on the deck watching the boats on Evergreen Lake. It really is an all-around favorite. The menu is a little upscale for some, but the friends we've introduced to this place have never been disappointed. We really enjoy brunch here in the warmer months. The menu includes a wide variety of options and drinks to accompany those choices. The mimosas somehow taste better up here than in Denver! The wine list is good, and the food quality is consistent. The staff is friendly and attentive. And the view....no matter the season or the time of day - sitting on the deck overlooking the lake is pure joy.
(4)Diane B.
Imagine a warm, really romantic restaurant, all stone & glass & wood, adorned with whimsical, brightly colored paintings of bears and moose, sitting on the edge of a beautiful, pristine lake. Now add in extraordinary food, flawless service (thank you, Michael!), and an ambience that makes you want to never leave and you've got Willow Creek. We walked by on the Monday before Christmas expecting them to be closed, but to our delight they were open. We got the last table, by a window, overlooking the lake, for (the ungodly early dinner time of) 5:00. We started with a Winter Salad that was just exploding with flavors! Baby greens, herbed chèvre, crispy carrots, pomegranate seeds, really we'll toasted pepitas, and an Apple Cider Vinaigrette that tasted more like tarragon to me. Yum! We next shared a bowl of, what was unquestionably, the best soup I've had in years - Potato Leek with Kale & Ham (all gluten & dairy free!). The chicken stock base was rich and full, the potatoes fell apart a bit to thicken the soup, the ham gave the soup a rich, not salty, umami flavor and the kale was the crowning glory. Ever since my last spoonful I've been wanting more of that soup! We'd read, and heard about the Rabbit Pappardelle, so my husband ordered it. The homemade pasta was thick, cooked perfectly al dente, and the broth was to die for. Sadly the rabbit itself was slightly over cooked and a little dry. I had the Trout Almandine - something I'd usually pass on as being 'old fashioned' and bland. Not so in this case! Served over Parsnip Purée (which I'd substituted for the Potato Gnocchi which had flour), with toasted Marcona Almonds, haricots verts, and a to-die-for Brown Butter Lemon Sauce, the 3 pieces of trout were sheer bliss! Crispy skin, fab flavor - and the contrast between the tart lemon sauce and the sweet parsnip purée pushed the dish over the edge! Though the restaurant was packed the noise level was moderate and you could easily hear conversation round the table. And even though we got the last table at 5:00, there was no rush to turn our table or hurry us out when we leisurely left at 8:00. Evergreeners are lucky to have this star in their midst, but it is, without a doubt, worth a trip from anywhere to experience 5* food in a 5* setting with 5* service.
(5)Marcia R.
I have eaten here twice before and had a lovely time. My boyfriend and I went there Saturday December 6 and had terrible service from the wait staff. We sat in the bar first as we waited for our reservation. The bartender was great, very friendly and attentive. The drinks were excellent. We were showed to our table by the hostess and seriously waited 10 minutes with 5 different waiters walking by and making eye contact but no one asked us if we needed anything. We finally stopped someone and asked who our waiter was. He went and got Woody, who apologized for the wait, seemed there was confusion who was suppose to take our table. We figured okay no big deal he will really try to offer good service. Wrong! We did get our drinks and then sat there another 10 minutes with no one stopping by. Finally, we asked another waiter if we could get bread. Someone stopped by and dropped off bread with 3 small pieces of bread. Our waiter finally came and took our orders and was obviously uncomfortable and we pointed out how long we had to wait to get our bread and had to request it. Cut to the chase, the food was very good but the service was very poor especially at those prices. I would go again for a drink, but would not spend the money to eat there and be ignored.
(1)Mira Y.
First time here Ordered: Chicken quinoa salad about $13. This was a large portion and with tons of dark chicken pieces. The salad had squash, zucchini chopped, along with quinoa throughout. I felt like it was an average salad. The dressing was light in flavor but you could sense the oil that it was mixed with. Rabbit paparadelle about $20+. The rabbit pasta dish was very rich and tasty. According to the waiter the restaurant has received recognition and national exposure because of this dish. It is very soupy. The pasta is made fresh, wish there were more paparadelle in the dish because it was that delicious. Omelet: with bacon, cheese and wild mushrooms and crispy potatoes. This was a great omelette ($13/$15) Kind of pricey but still so tasty. The server brings out a tasty tiny lemon scone. It was like a nice sweet dessert.
(4)T S.
Really special place: great views, cozy/romantic vibe, excellent service, really delicious and well prepared food. Can't say enough good things about it.
(4)Aaron W.
Wonderful food, wonderful staff. The beet salad, the gnocchi, and the rabbit pasta were all standout dishes. We'll be back often to dive deeper into the menu.
(5)Anne H.
The atmosphere and the service are excellent. The food is very good, too, but I'm giving it only 3 stars for the following reasons. We're from Colorado and we eat healthy. All four of us at the table are athletes and we prefer beautiful, fresh, nutritious food. Healthy food can be fabulous, too! Three of the 4 at our table are vegetarians. The only vegetarian choice was risotto which is usually high in fat. We all ended up eating fish which we would prefer not to eat whenever possible. The entrees were quite small and there were very few veggies. We spent plenty but went home hungry - for more calories and more nutrition. If you love beautifully prepared, creative, but not particularly healthy food, you'll love this place.
(3)Ryan S.
Was in the area and came based on reviews. I got the bruschetta which had duck, moose, and trout. I enjoyed the variety. I also ordered the burger which was good. The view was wonderful. My only knock is I thought they were a little pushy on the sale of something other than water.
(4)Barbara S.
This place would get five stars for sure -- the food is consistently fresh, superbly prepared and delicious. We eat here often and love it. Service is usually excellent, friendly and upbeat. I have to give it four stars because at brunch today the hostess (younger gal in flowered jeans) was rude, sour and just plain difficult. She did not smile at anyone, looked annoyed, and acted like the customers were a total inconvenience. She rolled her eyes at a customer who asked a question. So...get rid of the immature hostess without the mostess and this turns into a five star review.
(5)Judy M.
Made our first visit to Willow Creek for my birthday last night and were not disappointed. Our reservations were for six at 5:15 and requested an outside table. We were seated promptly and greeted by Sierra who took our drink orders and since we had not been here before, explained some of their most popular dishes and the specials. She was so sweet, helpful and attentive. The martini I ordered was one of the best I have ever had (and I am very critical), my son in law loved his old fashioned, and my husband and daughter were very impressed with the wine list and beer selections. On to dinner-ordered the cheese plate for an appetizer-delish! My vegetarian daughter ordered a salad and gnocchi (hold the pancetta), my husband the rainbow trout, my s-i-l the rabbit, and I shared a NY strip with my grandson. There is no children's menu, but they are very accommodating to make kid-friendly pasta dishes or sliders. I had a birthday cake waiting at home so we passed on dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and cannot wait to revisit. We especially enjoyed the view and humming birds on the deck. I guess my only criticism would be that the hostess was not very cheerful and warm, but perhaps that is just her personality. Sierra more than made up for it with her impeccable service! Kudos to Kristopher the owner whom we just met last week and told us to come up and try her restaurant. Your place is fabulous! Reservations a must by the way for weekends especially.
(5)Meli C.
We had great time and the food was great! Will come back next time we are in Evergreen! The Brussel Sprouts were amazing!! Highly recommend!!
(5)Michael J.
I haven't written a review in quite a long time----Don't get it twisted, I've eaten plenty since then, but nothing to write home about. Until now! We took a short trip up I-70 into the mountains yesterday and stumbled upon one of the best places I've eaten in a long time. Neither of us were starving, so we skipped appetizers, but the people around us got some, and everything looked ridiculously good. The Food: We both settled on strip loin with 1/2 salads....mine Ceasar, hers a spring salad with corn and bacon...mmm. Yes, I just said mmm. It was that good. But lets get past that....and on to what really matters: The Steak. Even before I cut into it I could tell it was going to be amazing. The presentation on all of the food---ours and those around us, was spot on. The steak was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Every bit as good as the best steakhouse you've ever been to. It was served on top of homemade au gratin potatoes with a side of some sort of tomato salad, along with all you can eat complimentary bread+butter. And the best part---they serve Moscow mules here in the copper cups to wash it all down. By far the best meal I've eaten in a while, and definitely worth the drive from Denver. Unfortunately, we had no room left for dessert, but we caught a glimpse of a few, and we'll definitely be going back again soon to try them. Ambience: The town of Evergreen is a quaint, little, mountain town already. Throw in a locally owned restaurant on a lake and you have yourself a great place to have a romantic date, or just grab a bite to eat. I didn't see a tv or anything, but if you can't survive in the mountains without a tv for a little bit then maybe living in Colorado just isn't for you. Price: Expect appetizers and desserts to be between $10-15. Main courses run between $20-$35 dollars tops. There is a decent wine, drink list. Overall an excellent dinner, especially for the price. We made it out in under $100, including a hefty tip for impeccable service.
(5)Jolanta A.
This restaurant is a perfect stop on the way to the mountains. We stopped there twice!! (Lunch and dinner) on the way to and back from Steamboat. Excellent service, fresh food and cozy atmosphere. Can't wait to visit them again!
(5)Becky F.
Went there for lunch after a morning of hiking. Linda, our server, was the sweetest lady. She gave recommendations and made small talk about our day. The food was amazing. Everything is made in house. I had the fish and chips, which had an awesome beer batter and excellent tartar sauce (made in house, of course). For dessert we had the apple cranberry cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Seriously amazing. I will definitely be back.
(5)XY Z.
We have been to Willow Creek twice, both for special occasions. We went both times during the summer months so we were able to sit on the patio overlooking Evergreen Lake. On both occasions the service was exceptional, the ambiance great (especially when hummingbirds come by the deck!), and the food creative, fresh, and delicious! This place is quintessential Colorado; the food is mostly local and fresh and although the menu and wine list are upscale, it is completely fine to show up in jeans or nice shorts! Definitely worth going out of the way for if you are nearby and not to be missed if you happen to be in Evergreen.
(5)Cathryn C.
Great setting, wonderful service and delicious food and drinks.
(5)L J.
BEST RESTAURANT EVER. Pricey, but phenomenal food and excellent service. Pretty much amazing!
(5)Bob M.
I bring friends, family and clients here all the time because it has a very classy atmosphere, great wine list and overlooks the lake. It also has outdoor seating which is very nice in the summer. The fireplace adds to the ambiance and here's a hot tip: If you are prone to be chilly take a seat by the fireplace in the winter time. The windows in the restaurant are single pain and drafty! The food is always good and the staff very friendly.
(5)Alfredo V.
Great spot for a quiet dinner. Made reservations and they accommodated us the moment we arrived. Views of Evergreen Lake are fantastic and the service was very good! Ordered the chicken - which was very good, and the pork, which was a thick cut. Both very, very good. Decent selection of wine which made our dinner even more enjoyable. We'll be back soon!
(5)Kirstin B.
OK, so another visit a year later - the visit was exceptional. Waitstaff was awesome, and food tremendous. We had the bruschetta (3 types) - very yummy. Mac and cheese for my daughter was actually poached by everyone at our table (some of the best I've had), I had the chicken/kale (?) salad (can't see it on online menu so maybe I'm getting it wrong) - but ZOWIE was it yummy. We had just finished ice skating, so a bloody mary was in order - very tasty too. It was such a beautiful day people were able to sit out on the deck overlooking the lake (and it was actually warm). Will definitely put this on our to visit list when we are back in town again.
(5)Lissa C.
We just visited the Willow Creek Restaurant for the first time last night to celebrate my birthday, though we live in the area. The food is absolutely outstanding - surprisingly so! The ambience is lovely both outdoors on the deck overlooking Evergreen Lake and indoors with the beautiful, dim lighting and cozy decor. With all these raves, why just three stars? The service. We began our night sitting at the bar and planned to eat dinner there. Our bartender was a very young woman and obviously new to the job - she was painfully slow and it took 15 minutes to get our Pellegrino and a cocktail. We don't mind newbies - you have to learn somewhere - but we are unaccustomed to that kind of service at a place with those kinds of prices, and no apologies or acknowledgment of the fact. More troublesome was that we watched a drama unfold where this bartender had obviously made a mistake, left the bar and was crying near the kitchen... all while we waited to order, and nobody stepped in to help us. To increase our chances of eating, we asked the hostess to move to the deck with our cocktails and glasses of Pellegrino. A busser came by and asked us if we also wanted still water with our dinner. We said yes. A minute later, our server strode up to the table, picked up the still water glasses and, without saying anything, tossed their contents over the side of the deck, saying, "If you're drinking Pellegrino, why would you want that stuff? Am I right?" Well...he has a point, but maybe ask us first? It began to rain before we were served our dinner (not the restaurant's fault, obviously) so we were moved inside. As we moved to an inside table, we saw a group that had walked in at the same time we did, and they were already paying their check. This was frustrating for us. We like a relaxing evening but we also had a babysitter waiting for us at home. Last, though we told our server it we were celebrating a birthday, there was no happy birthday wished, no dessert offered, no acknowledgment of the experience. We don't need a handout but that was different from any other restaurant we've ever been to for a birthday...especially when we'd been sitting there for over 2 hours. Like I said: the food was incredible, and we will probably go back to Willow Creek because of this. The staff could just really use some polish.
(3)John R.
ate there 3 times in the last 18 months .. all with the same experience ...at least one of the dishes on each of our plates was cold ...great ambionce .. great service ...great wine list ... and food taste was great .... but for a pricy restruarant like this i expect the all the food on the plate to be warm .. and i can't tolerate piping hot food ... so when i feel some of the items on the plate were cold its at most 2 stars ..
(2)Nancy O.
Ok wait was long and food was ok . View of the lake ---wonderful ! We ordered off the weekend brunch menu. Food took forever to be served
(3)Steve S.
Worst food in Evergreen PERIOD. Inconsistent now even at lunch! Worst curried quinoa chicken salad ever...first came out, no curry and no chicken. Sent that back and what came out looked and tasted terrible. Hardly any curry and the chicken looked like some rat back there had chewed it up first then put what they didn't want in the salad...which wasn't much...probably thank God. Now stomach hurts... Will never, ever go back even for free!
(1)Kristin M.
The vegetable risotto was out of this world - and I like to consider myself a connoisseur of risotto! Adorned with carrots, crimini mushrooms, oven roasted San Marzano tomatoes with a spinach puree sauce. The flavor was intense yet soothing to the taste buds. My fiance had the king salmon, which was also very good. The fennel and fennel pollen added a nice kick to the dish. The desserts were also amazing. Even though I do not care for chocolate or peanut butter desserts, we ordered the trio which came with peanut butter and ganache cups - I could not stop eating these!! The mascarpone gelato with the black pepper cookie was also very well done, although peppered cookies have no warmed up to me yet. The creme brulee was perfectly delectable, as well! I definitely recommend others stop in here for an elegant, taste bud tantalizing dinner!
(5)Rob S.
Food was good. View was awesome. Fairly friendly staff. We were out of towners and it felt that way. Still would go back
(4)Len M.
Not only did they charge me $35 for risotto and scallops, but when I asked for some parmagian cheese to put on it, they brought it to me and charged me a dollar. Obviously, that kind of behavior comes from the top, as no waiter would ever think about charging someone for some grated cheese on their dish. Way overpriced for what it is. Yes, its a great atmosphere, but its not worth the price. Just my two cents.
(1)The Wandering J.
We visited the Willow Creek restaurant today with our five month old granddaughter. We researched the best place to go on Yelp. We walked around the lake after which we requested a table on the porch overlooking the lake. The very nice young lady at the entrance asked us ti wait a few short minutes while she organized a suitable table. We may have waited three or four minutes. We were seated promptly and they even made space for our granddaughter's stroller adjacent to the table. Our waitress Barbara could not have been more helpful or more friendly. She arranged hot water for our baby's milk bottle, she advised in starters and complimented our choice of entree. Barbara ceratinly made our visit more enjoyable. Teh food was delicious. On Barbara's advice, we ordered a mozzarella cheese, tomato and arugula starter to share. Perfect! We both ordered fish and chips. The fish was soft, but not mushy; freshly cooked. The fries were very nice as well. Add all this to our view over the lake, made for a very pleasant enjoyable lunch in Evergreen.
(5)Chip W.
Yum...great setting, we went there last night. The lake was starting to thaw, but the barrel was still there. Everything we had was good, but the pomegranate salad and the chicken were outstanding! Especially the chicken...best dish I've had in months...as Woody the waiter promised, it was the juiciest chicken I'd ever eaten. Great sauce that went perfectly with the chicken, brussel sprouts and the crispy polenta...
(5)Kimberly M.
Yes please! This restaurant is outstanding. My husband and I sampled delicious wines, and we enjoyed a hearty antipasto platter by the river. The waitstaff was friendly, and the owner really took good care of us. I will absolutely be headed back!
(5)Patt F.
What a gem! I've lived in the area for 35 years and can't believe I've never been to Willow Creek. The atmosphere and ambience is warm, cozy and absolutely delightful. The view of Evergreen Lake divine! The staff is inviting, friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. (Ask for Peter....he's AMAZING!) The wine list is outstanding, and the food even better. Started with smoked salmon and caviar app, moved on to a couple bowls of NE Clam Chowder (some of the best around) and both the winter salad and beet salad (both mouthwatering!). Entrees included the Rabbit Papardelle Pasta, Lemongrass Brick Chicken, Georges Bank Scallops and Duet of Colorado Lamb. Each one was a winner! Desserts included the Apple/Cranberry Cobbler with homemade cinnamon ice cream and the Bourbon Caramel Swirl cheesecake. Add in a few cocktails and a few glasses of wine....and call it a Foodgasm Extraordinaire!
(5)Caroline W.
Do you want to have dinner, lunch or brunch without getting fat? This is the place to go to: European type size portions( not so huge) and top quality food, excellent service, great wine list and unbeatable view of the lake! I love the salmon on a bed of corn and other vegetables.What else do you need? Also check it out on a sunny day and enjoy their beautiful terrace. Finest dining in town!
(5)Fred S.
Went here for a special occasion lunch. Both had the Risotto and added scallops. Still would have added scallops but it would have been nice to know they were an additional $15 per plate. The antipasti was excellent. Home made chorizo, and cheeses were all good. A little pricey but food and service were excellent.
(5)Dore H.
Excellent view, excellent food, service is awesome and consistent. We've dined there at least 20 times, it's a favorite of ours and our friends! I would recommend for a special dining experience.
(5)Linda M.
The views and the food are always spectacular! We ladies seem to gravitate to happy hour. Sangria fresh, anti pasta sampler appetizer was delicious and of course you can never go wrong with steak! Though if you are just ordering drinks and appetizers, you might feel a little rushed.
(4)Megan D.
This place was pretty amazing. The service was fantastic and we never had to ask for anything. I got the sausage and pasta and my date got the trout. Both were excellent but it was recommended that we get the cheese plate as an appetizer that with all of the bread that we got we didn't need dinner. The portions were large even for the price - which is good but we didn't even need main courses after the fantastic bread and cheese!
(4)Lisa S.
Great restaurant! Really good food, and fabulous atmosphere! We had the bruschetta appetizer which was delicious, and I had the crab BLT pasta for dinner which was also great. The white sangria was my favorite I've ever had. It's so beautiful here, it overlooks the lake. We will definitely return.
(5)Jay V.
Our friends took us for lunch. Beautiful setting and food was quite tasty. I don't recall what we had, but it was good. Just go to Willow Creek, and look at the pond across the street. Fantastic!
(5)Jeremiah Y.
WOW... Is all I can Say! I took my Wife there for lunch on May 26th for her Birthday. It was very Crowded due to A Graduation Party. So on to the disaster of a meal this was!!! First it took our waiter over 5 minutes just to recognize we were there. Then our drinks came out before the free pastries you get when you sit down. So we placed our order I ordered the "SPECIAL" Soft Shell Crab Sandwich... My Wife ordered the Pesto Pasta. So when our food does finally come out. The "Special" SOFT SHELL CRAB SANDWICH WAS OPEN FACED. FOR $17.95 And it does not state open faced... Who eats there soft shell crab sandwiches open faced??? My wifes pasta was pretty good though. So then our beer glasses sat empty for 10 minutes. I Finally went up to the bar myself and ordered. The waiter was no where to be found... So as the meal is ending another waiter came to clear some plates off of our table. My wife said she wanted another bite or so. This is when the waiter proceded to grab a spoon and seperate my wife's food into sections for her on her plate and said well try to eat this section first and then move on to this one... "WHO IN THE HELL DOES THAT" I normally would have said something immediatly but I have never in 35yrs seen a server touch a guests food like this!!! ABSOUTLY OBSURD!!!! My has worked in the EVERGREEN community for over 12yrs now. She called the Restaurant to talk to a Manager but instead got the Owner. "Christopher" who is a woman. To complain about the service but mostly about the waiter touching her food. Here is the OWNERS response. He is a new waiter and kinda quirky. I will talk to him about it. She as a owner clearly does not have a single once of customer service in her. We will never eat here again. I suggest so many other restaurants in Evergreen that will treat you better and not cost an arm and a leg. So BYE BYE "WILLOW CREEK"
(1)James B.
great vibe on the deck. great coffee. great food. overall exceeded expectations by 1000%^
(4)Nichole T.
Love the food and service at Willow Creek. Only had one time out of many that we were "forgotten" about but not worth bumping down a star. The bartender is super sweet and very personable. The owner isn't quite as friendly as I think she could be, but she's obviously doing something right! The atmosphere with lake view is a bonus!
(5)Kimber S.
Really, this place just never lets me down. I brought my 25 year old niece here last Friday night because she likes to play all grown-up and eat in fancy restaurants with her Auntie (yes, she's still just a baby to me). She loved it! What can I say? Girl's got excellent taste! We had an awesome dinner, from the potato gnocchi appetizer (which is now made with a heartier fall-type broth and seasonal veggies), to the veggie risotto and the most succulent scallops to ever scale the Rockies! Can't wait for my next meal here!
(5)Laura B.
Another new gem! What a great location over the lake in Evergreen! I cannot wait to try out the deck in the summer! We went last Sunday evening during restaurant week. We started at the bar with a delish dirty martini and housemade pate. YUM! We were then seated at our table, almost all tables have an awesome view of the lake. I started with a beet salad with goat cheese which was awesome. I was dining with 3 others. How unique is this for restaurant week?: you get to choose three small plates per couple to try. Since there were 4 us, they just made a huge platter so we could try it all! Some of the apps included duck spring rolls, smoked seabass roulletes, unique bruchettas (lamb, salmon, veggie), etc. On to the main course...I had the braised beef lasaganette. I was the WINNER at the table. House made lasagna noodles, topped with delish sauce and perfectly braised beef, and then topped with some cold fresh ricotta. MMMMM. Some others had the cobia which was also good, a unique fish. One had the chicken which was good, but it is chicken. Dessert was also ridic: flourless chocolate cake topped with ganache. Our server even brought us over some limoncello to taste! I really do love this place and wish I had discovered it before. The menu looks awesome, many homemade pastas I cannot wait to try! They are open for brunch and lunch too. Happy hour seems like a great deal with half priced apps and Mondays has a special menu for entrees around $15. There are also many wine dinners. I just signed up for the Gundlach Bundchu one...so excited! One of the best restaurant week experiences I have had.....get there!!!!
(5)Nathan B.
Beautiful setting overlooking Evergreen Lake. We (wife and 2 young children) went for lunch after a short hike. Other reviewers have talked about how great breakfast/brunch is. We had a very different experience at lunch. Note that this is not a place for families. They don't have a kids menu and also didn't have booster seats. If you've got small kids in-tow, you'll likely be better off someplace else. I can't comment too much on the food quality, as we left after having only an app. I'll limit my comments to the overall experience. Based on the extensive wine list, the lack of facilities for children, the placement of the maitre'd stand, and the attitude & attire of the staff, I would guess that the restaurant sees itself as rather upscale. On the other hand, the setting near the lake & trails, the casually attired guests just coming in from hiking or biking, and the extremely limited lunch menu (featuring fewer than 10 entrees, mostly burgers) made the place seem very casual. We ordered an appetizer and the food presentation was also very casual, yet presented by the waiter rather formally. The app (we ordered the cheese & salami tray) wasn't too great either. Maybe lunch just isn't their thing. Despite the schizophrenic feel, the location can't be beat. I could definitely see enjoying a beer or glass of wine (the wine list is great) here after a ride, or just to watch the sunset. I would not dine with my children here again though.
(2)Sandra P.
This is a fantastic restaurant. But be warned that restaurant.com certificates are not honored there. They told me that restaurant.com has posted them without their consent and the restaurant doesn't get any money off the certificates. However, the restaurant will still get our business. Worth every penny.
(5)Karen M.
Really excellent food and service. Nice open air seating. View is pleasant but not "spectacular" as others have said. Very enjoyable overall. If we are ever in the area again we will definitely return.
(5)Judy S.
We had heard great things about this place and we were excited to try it. The location was fantastic overlooking Evergreen Lake. Although our dinner was on a cold rainy night I can imagine how great the patio would be on a summer evening. We were seated promptly and our waiter had a good understanding of the wine menu which was impressive. Unfortunately the wines by the glass selection were not as robust but their cocktail selection was fun. All the menu items sounded promising and we ended up with the potato gnocchi and pear salad as appetizers. Both were good, not amazing. Our entrees were the coffee rubbed beef and rabbit pasta. The beef seemed like it had been sitting for several minutes; it was barely warm. The rabbit was a big disappointment. It was very overdone and dry and chewy. The sauce was almost like a soup and had the same flavors as the gnocchi we had. Our coffee was lukewarm and the dessert we ordered was the same spice layer cake as the table next to us but they got ice cream with it and we didn't. Overall, the meal was not worth the price which was expensive.
(2)Howard B.
Recently visited Willow Creek and overall we had a very nice time but a few things are worth pointing out. Lets start from the beginning. We started with a round of sangrias. They were delicious; both the red and white...yum. Great way to settle in and enjoy the beautiful view and the cool charm of the restaurant. Moving on to wine. The waiter praised their wonderful and deep wine list, and commented how they recently held a tasting event and he had tasted many great wines to recommend. We were in the mood for a malbec and asked for his favorite...that was easy, the most expensive one on the list...but of course. Silly of me to ask. But seriously, how about another? Well he was not familiar with any other but was sure they were all quite fine...so awkardly i randomly picked one based on the tasting notes. Another waiter delivered the wine and assured that it was a good selection. It was a good wine but the whole delivery seemed like a pass off. Strike one. Moving on to the food. To start, we ordered a spring salad to share; strongly attracted to the humboldt fog goat cheese. In short order two tiny plates of lettuce were brought to us by a third server. No goat cheese, no anything really. We quickly got the attention of waiter #1 who asked waiter #2 if she could get us some cheese. Several long minutes passed and as I slowly nibbled away my last bit of lettuce, waiter #2 arrived with a two small bits of cheese. Noticing that my lettuce was gone, waiter #2 asked if she could get me a few more leaves of lettuce. I declined; slightly irritated by the offer but content with my wonderful company, the view, and knowing that goat cheese and malbec would match up nicely. Strike two i suppose. Entrees arrived shortly after by waiter #3. Beautiful plating, great looking food and absolutely delicious! Waiter #1 dropped by as we were eating, made a comment about the wine, checked that the cheese came, and asked, confirmingly, if everything was perfect. Wonderful we said. So, overall impression...cool location, view and vibe. Great food but the delivery and service was shaky at times. They were pretty busy though so I would definitely give the place a pass on that and would go back to try again. It's a bit of a stretch to give 4 stars but three would not do the place justice, so 4 stars it is!
(4)David R.
After a drive up Mount Evans, we stopped in for an early dinner at Willow Creek. We had called to make a reservation earlier but were told they were "really busy" so we just took our chances, easily half empty. Salad was good, entree which was billed as "dungeness crab with caviar" was mostly noodles. Not too good. Asked for more iced tea. Got tea but no ice. Server took the used silverware from salads and then didn't bring more for the entrees. No salt or pepper (don't want to insult the chef, I guess). Server asked why we didn't like our food and then she decided we probably wouldn't want dessert so just dropped off our check. We paid and left, never to return. Nice view of lake but can easily be seen without entering this establishment.
(1)Momma M.
This restaurant has consistently good food but unfortunately just as consistent bad service. Ive been there about 4-5 times as I am local but am disappointed each and every time with the long wait once seated, the bad attitudes, and seemingly overworked and frustrated staff. At least that's what it looks like when I feel guilty about asking for my food after a half hour or more. I do love the food though, so, if you've got lots of time and aren't really hungry then its a nice spot.
(2)Heather A.
Stopped in for lunch with my daughter and my husband. We thought it looked like a nice place to eat on the patio overlooking the lake. It was getting a little cloudy out and we were told that if we chose to eat on the patio and it started raining, they could not guarantee we would get a table inside. They had quite an extensive wine menu but the food menu was sadly limited. We ordered the Beet Salad and told that it was one of the smaller salads because of the beets. I had just eaten a beet salad at Rolling Hills Country Club last week and it had fabulous multi-colored beets in it. The beets in this salad were your regular purple pickled beets.....Nothing special. My husband got the antipasti plate that was different italian cheeses and meats with pickles. ???? Yuck! No pickles, very pricey, yuck! 2 salads and an appetizer.....$50! And it was not yummy...at all! Won't go back....ever! Very disappointed!
(1)charles b.
We had dinner there tonight, it was amazing. We were there for the 52.80 special. The food was really good I have the pork tenderloin and my girlfriend had the beef brisket. They were both cooked perfectly. We had our 1 year old daughter with us and they were more than accommodating, they brought her out chicken fingers she really enjoyed them. Our waiter was Todd he gave a very good descriptions of the food and could not have been more attentive. As far a as ambiance, the view from the restaurant was overlooking Evergreen Lake with the sun setting in the background could not have been more perfect.
(5)Dave M.
The food was VERY good - a bit pricey though. Beautiful view through large windows. The service was excellent.
(4)Brian H.
Frozen Champagne Mignonette slush on six beautiful Rip-tide Oysters with a Jalepeno Martini and great conversation overlooking Evergreen Lake at 9 in the evening? Perfect! Why dont they keep the bar open later? I could see it as a real hot spot for late dining
(4)bob h.
I think this place just opened I ate there last night and it was great. I live up the road and I'm so glad that they finally got re-opened. My wife and I ordered two courses and we loved both. The salads were light and fresh and very good. I loved the trout with Agnolotti and wife ordered the Rabbit pasta, sooooooo many veggies!!!!!! The staff was very nice and attentive I think they have a few bugs to work out but they are still sooooo new. This is just what the area needs!!!
(5)Bonnie R.
Beautiful setting, inattentive service, inconsistent and pricey food. Hit or miss- we missed. The only thing lofty about this place is its self-esteem.
(1)Phyllis A.
Our family have been constant companions to Willow Creek since they opened. They have unique dishes that equal the interesting stuff you can find in Denver but with a 270 degree view that never gets old. We can't get enough of the home made rabbit pappardelle the potato gnocchi and the truffle fries, not to mention the super home-made peanut butter cup. They also do a great job with affordable wines that work well with the dishes and the staff is terrifically attentive - not to hovering but not forgotten.
(5)LESLIE P.
Appetizer and beers-- good but pricey. Found it be a bit snobby as they told us we had to sit in a special bar area if we are not ordering full dinner. (despite about 10+ open tables...) had it not been for that wouldve rated higher.
(2)Riki C.
I have been in for brunch and dinner. We got great service both times, an the food was great. We are in evergreen a couple of times a year to visit family, and this is definitely the most reliable food option.
(5)Mary S.
My husband and I live in Evergreen and were planning to go down to Denver last night for our 5 year anniversary dinner. We got started a bit late and realized that heading down to Denver for dinner would not work, so we crossed our fingers and decided to give Willow Creek a try (we had been to previous restaurants in this location before with mediocre satisfaction). The evening was exactly what we were looking for. We started out on the patio under some aspens overlooking Evergreen Lake but decided to head indoors due to rain. Decor inside is nice and our server Odis was awesome! Dinner started off with the New Zealand Cockles in a delicious garlic, wine, herb butter sauce. I had the Roasted Trout served with Olathe Corn Agnolotti and my husband had the Colorado Lamb. The trout was cooked to perfection and the lamb was unique and quite tasty. Sidenote: the chef purchases a whole lamb and incorporates different cuts into the dish. Our experience at Willow Creek was perfect end to a wonderful day celebrating our 5 year anniversary. Evergreen has needed some fine dining like Willow Creek for a long time, we will definitely be back to try lunch and head there for a special dinner again.
(5)Tony H.
While staying in Denver for a week,we made two trips to Willow Creek.Once was not enough! The location is spectacular,the menu diverse and perfectly executed , the staff absolutely delightful.They could not have been any more knowlegable or attentive. Between the two visits,our foursome "covered" almost all of the menu and found everything extremely well prepared .It should also not go unnoticed that The Wine Spectator has recognized the restaurant for it's diverse and very well priced wine list. Willow Creek has a vibrancy and "buzz" but is not noisy. It will certainly be our first call on the next visit .
(5)Graham K.
I was really expecting better from this place with all the 5 star reviews. Great location. Decent Antipasti. Burger ordered medium was served rare and barely cooked. The bacon on top of it was also under cooked. I'm not sure how they got the cheese to melt. I ate it anyway because I hate sending food back, but it was close. Unfortunately, the rare meat revealed the mediocre quality of the ground beef. The salad it came with was all leaves, no tomato, cucumber, anything? My wife had the salmon sandwich which was served open faced. She said is was OK. Not a resounding review from her. Service was very good. Really nice location on the outside deck. I did notice that at 2:00 in the afternoon we were the only table not having an adult beverage - maybe that's how they get away with the mediocre food and get such high ratings on yelp - nothing like a wine buzz at 2:00 ;-) Looks like a great spot for dinner and friends have recommended it, so we may try it again. But.....
(2)Rebecka E.
My name is Rebecka Evans, Owner of athomewithrebecka.com . I'm a food junkie, restaurant reviewer, recipe creator, food competitor and food photographer. I tell you this not to boast, but to give insight to my background as a gourmand. I want to share my honest opinion and review of my recent dinning experience at Willow Creek. Last week I had the pleasure of attending my nephews wedding rehearsal dinner at Willow Creek Restaurant in Evergreen Colorado. We were 80 people strong, visiting from as near as Evergreen Colorado, and as far away as Alabama, Florida, and California; a diverse group of folks to say the least, and one set on having a great time with family and friends. I met up with Kari Allen, Event Planner and Assistant Manager for Willow Creek, to discuss venue set up with the grooms mother (my sister-in-law), about 2 hours prior to the event. Kari was not only accommodating, but kind and open to suggestions about seat placement and room layout. She even offered us a complimentry glass of champagne but we opted to wait until the party, as we still had some driving to do. From start to finish, Kari and other waitstaff were personable, pleasant and accommodating in every way. The atmosphere is warm with mountain decor, as full length glass windows invite guests to view Evergreen Lake, residing only a few hundred yards from the restaurant. Candles, and string lights add their soft glow to the room, as the hum of people conversing over shared joy of the upcoming nuptials, grows louder with their excitement. Commissioned art hangs on the walls giving off color and texture for the eye. As the sun sets, the outdoor patio is teaming with hungry hummingbirds, flitting from one feeder to the other. From my perspective, this is one of the most romantic dinning rooms I've experienced: the perfect venue for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Chef Curtis Lincoln's menu was impeccable. Braised Pork Belly with Pomegranate, Cranberry Gastrique appetizer, was my favorite Hors d'oeuvre of the night. I ate several of these little morsels throughout the cocktail hour however, I was so busy photographing the event and socializing, I can't remember any other appetizers. My bad! Dinner featured, Pesto Encrusted Salmon, Coffee Encrusted NY Strip, and a Vegan Vegetable Risotto; the portion were perfect. As we were seated for our meal, the waitstaff served a delectable, crusty, warm bread; made in-house and served with whipped butter. The yeasty, bread recipe originated in Nantucket, where it's rumored, a small 'mother sample' of yeast, was whisked away by one of the chef owners, prior to moving to Colorado. So delicious, I could have eaten my fill on just bread alone. Just then, a cup pf porcini and chanterelle mushroom soup arrived at my table; dotted with fresh roasted corn and a touch of truffle oil, the flavors were robust and satisfying. The soup could have used a pinch more sea salt for my taste, but delightful nonetheless. Other guests were served a mixed green salad with balsamic dressing. I chose the Coffee Encrusted NY Strip as my entrée selection. It was cooked a perfect medium rare, with a crusty sear to keep the red juices safe within the meat. The coffee rub was to die for, with just a hint of sweetness, and a kick of cayenne. I was told the marinade consisted of 16 different ingredients unfortunately, the recipe is a SECRET! I'm guessing the recipe included, espresso beans, cayenne, garlic salt, paprika and pepper, now I just have to recreate the dish to determine the remaining 10 ingredients. All that said, the steak was delicious!! The other entrée selections were plated beautifully and my fellow dinners assured me their dinners were just as perfectly prepared and tasty as mine! Dessert consisted of a miniature bar with an assortment of delectable sweets. I had the house-made blueberry ice cream, the perfect end to a perfect meal. Cooking for 80 people can be a daunting task especially, when creating a fine dinning experience. Willow Creek Resturant lived up to the task, leaving our group filled to the brim with the finest of dinning experiences. If you're in the market for a romantic dinner for just 2 or need to book a larger group, look no further...Willow Creek Restuarant is the place for you. Just saying!!
(5)Martin D.
Perfect place for a relaxing dinner. Came up here for a business meeting and was pleasantly surprised by the location, quality of food, service and friendly atmosphere. Go for the Salmon with fresh fava beans that are in season now. Highly recommended.
(5)Sarah G.
Ate on the patio overlooking Evergreen Lake, so nice. Good food too. Got to watch a Bull Elk walk by.
(5)Shari S.
I must start this out by saying that I'm surprised Yelp hasn't filtered out some of the negative reviews. It sounds like a dissatisfied large party is trying to bring down the Yelp rating due to a poor experience. Having said that, our experience was absolutely wonderful. I would say we were more of a 4.5, but I'm rounding up to a 5 simply in the hopes of blocking out some of those one stars. And the service was definitely 5 stars all the way. When we arrived, we did not have a reservation, as it was a last minute decision, but we were quickly accommodated. We were seated on the lovely balcony overlooking the beautiful mountains and lake. Once our server (oh, how I wish I remembered her name!) found out that I'd been ill during the entire trip, she immediately went out of her way to make me as comfortable as possible. While the rest of our party enjoyed the appetizers, she ensured that I had plain bread to nibble on, and she also went to the kitchen to plan out a bland meal for me to enjoy. Even without seasoning, the chargrilled chicken breast that was prepared was extremely tender, and the slight smoky flavor more than made up for the lack of seasoning. Of course, the rest of our party thoroughly enjoyed their meals, even snagging dessert at the end. And it's the little things, really. When our server noticed that I was chilly, she immediately went to retrieve a blanket for me, even arranging it around my shoulders. All in all, the kind steps taken and the attention to detail went such a long way in helping us feel that we were able to salvage a bit of our trip before we left the next morning. Needless to say, when we return to Denver, we will definitely be paying Willow Creek another visit!
(5)Jacquelin S.
My sister had her rehearsal dinner here this weekend, willow creek is easily one of the most beautiful venues for such an event and the view and table setup were breathtaking. Unfortunately due to the service we received, mainly from Katherine it takes away every bit of the beautiful environment. Our dinner for 30 was approximately 2 hours long and the staff were pushing us to hurry and leave even though they had several tables open and the entire patio. After dinner someone sprayed mace inside the building causing everyone in the restaurant to start choking. After my father brought it up to Katherine her response was "all the more reason for you and your party to leave." So after paying our $5000 bill we left and were quite unhappy that a rude waitress attempted to ruin such a beautiful event for my sister. Will ensure no one I know visits this restaurant again. This is also after calling the bride the day of the rehearsal dinner and telling her that they were not going to be able to accommodate her if there was bad weather. And they overcharged us for the dining room and didn't take the $700 we prepayed off the final bill. Updated my review to 2 stars as Kathryn is no longer with Willow Creek
(2)Paul B.
Had the BLT pasta which definitely came very high on my list of pastas. Perfect portion for a lunch and very light. Service was good and will be going there again for sure.
(5)Ashley H.
Had a great anniversary here. Trout was outstanding! Our waiter was odd, and not very polite when we asked for my i.d and my boyfriends i.d. but I won't let that get in the way of how great this restaurant is. Thank you guys for a great night!
(5)Gina K.
Absolutely gorgeous restaurant in a beautiful setting. Outdoor seating overlooks the lake - an unbeatable view. Best risotto I've ever had, and the gnocchi is to die for. Portion sizes are great for the price. All of our food was delicious! Only downsides - entrees were definitely slow coming out (although worth the wait) and I found our server to be a tad pompous. I ordered one (1!) glass of red wine with my meal and he scrutinized my ID and quizzed me on my age (I'm 25 and was getting dinner with my parents). I understand that Colorado is strict on alcohol but I found the attitude to be a bit over the top. Overall though, a pleasurable dining experience and l will definitely be back again.
(4)Shea W.
The view from this patio is beautiful! You get to watch people playing on the water! Paddleboarding, kayaking etc. There are also hummingbird feeders above the tables and we saw some elk grazing on the hill in the front of the restaurant. This place is straight up out of Snow White. They don't start serving a full menu for dinner until 5pm. We were there around 330PM so we got small bites and drinks. LOTS of small bites. I got a Limoncello strawberry drink that was too syrupy sweet. Would not recommend. However, the small bites we all delicious! Particularly the Bruschetta plate. It came with 3 types of Bruschetta including scallop and pepper. The Desserts! The Desserts! I'm not typically a sweets person but the Italian white cake with mascarpone cheese frosting with a hint of coconut? I could die. Overall, lovely place to spend some time in Evergreen. Probably on the expensive side but I didn't see the bill :) Woot woot Father's day weekend!
(4)Joe R.
We are residents of Evergreen and have been to Willow Creek many times. Over time, partially the last 3 times the service and quality of food has decreased be on belief. The last time waiters and hostess were beyond rude and arrogant. Not what you expect in Evergreen. As long as they have the current management will we not frequent or take guests to Willow Creek. There are too many other places in Evergreen that deserve your patronage.
(1)R B.
Driving home with my pants undone because the food was so delicious! Gorgeous view. Attentive staff. The peanut butter cup dessert is NOT to be missed. Nice wine list. We will be back. Tip: the patio is chilly. They will provide you with a blanket but bring a jacket. Our August night was cold!!!
(5)N. P.
Unbelievable. My husband and I went there on a Sunday at 7:45pm with no reservations saying we were fine to sit at the bar or wait for a table. The hostess told us they were closed. Mind you the place was crowded and their hours posted say they are open 5pm-12am. We were told by the hostess they are only open until 8pm and depending on how smoothly the night is going. Can you believe that??? Not a way to run a business.
(1)Kayla S.
Horrible service. Horrible response. Absolutely horrible service. Horrific. Can't handle large parties.
(1)Kristine S.
Yet another amazing dinner at Willow Creek. I tried the cold melon soup for the first time and it was amazing! Light and refreshing, it was the perfect starter to my meal. I then enjoyed the palisade peach salad which was nothing far from amazing! Willow creek always amazes with their high quality of food and service. I am shocked to read that anyone would give this place less then 5 stars, as they are a must eat at restaurant in Evergreen. Well done!
(5)Tara D.
A lovely, lovely spot! I had wine and appetizers here. I sat at the bar and was so happy with the environment presented, the service and the yummy, yummy food! The staff was so concerned about my happiness, I think I was asked by everyone working that night! After the patio cleared, I asked to sit outside and I was walked with care to the new table! WONDERFUL staff!
(5)Eric W.
My wife and I went here for a date night and it was amazing. The service was spot on the food was exactly what we wanted and a good alcohol selection was nice to enjoy as well.
(5)Scott S.
Great food, great view and great service!! The burger was over cooked, but still delicious which says a lot!! They did remake the burger though I told them it was just fine, and even better! Btw, their bruschetta and strawberry chilled soup is ridiculously great!!!
(4)Rachel C.
PROS: My mom and I have come here a few times for Christmas Eve dinner. The setting and view are spectacular, and the service is exemplary. I always get the Brussels sprouts because they are innovative in the way they season them. I've tried to recreate it at home and just never can. Really can't sing enough praise in the direction of the chefs and the staff. I don't even want to give you menu recommendations because they change so frequently and really, everything is delicious. CONS: This is really more for you, reviewer, than for Willow Creek. If you have a child under the age of, say 2, and it begins to scream in a public place such as a restaurant or movie theater but especially a restaurant that isn't meant for babies and is on a holiday, be kind to those around you. Certainly don't let it scream and make high-pitched noises for a full 5 minutes before you even look at it. Take that child outside or to the bathroom or shorten your meal because you made a choice to have that child. I did not. I make a conscious choice everyday not to have a child, and I'm sure many of the other patrons do the same or hire babysitters. And listen, I get that babysitters on Christmas Eve are probably hard to come by. Sucks. It's not fair. But it's not fair to other patrons, either.
(5)Pamela P.
The nicest restaurant in Evergreen, with beautiful décor, a scenic view of the lake and delicious food. Love the various risotto options, as well as most every other dish that I've ordered.
(5)Pamela J.
Innovative fresh fish entrees. New Year's Eve menu was amazing!! Love the ambience and views. Our hometown gastronomique tour. Pam and Kurt
(5)Katie O.
Seriously fantastic. I would go back in a heartbeat. This was by far the best meal we had when visiting Denver! For starters our waiter, Hunter, was so friendly and fun. He provided excellent service in a comfortable atmosphere. He also made great recommendations and clearly knew the menu (which changes often) quite well. For appetizers we had the gnocchi with a side of grilled bread. Awesome! So flavorful. The bread was perfect for dipping in the extra sauce around the gnocchi. We also had the house-made mozzarella with kale & butternut squash. Mozzarella was very good, but not the best we've had - it seemed a bit chewy and not as creamy as others. The squash & kale toppings were very good though. For the main course I had the rabbit pappardelle. So amazing. Huge chunks of rabbit in an unbelievable wine butter herb sauce, perfectly reduced and so flavorful. The pappardelle was nicely cooked and fresh. Veggies were delicious. Literally I've been dreaming of this rabbit dish since I got back to Rochester. The menu might more accurately describe it as a rabbit stew. Please use your spoon and any remaining bread on your table to suck up every last bite of the amazing sauce. So so delicious! My husband, mom, and I all got this rabbit dish and were all super pleased. We didn't want to share! My sister got the steak and was thrilled. I had some also and found it fantastic. Perfectly cooked, so tender and flavorful. Delicious. My dad got the rigatoni and loved it. I tried some of that as well and would have gotten it had we gone back for another trip. =) The pastry chef at this place is also very creative and makes good desserts. We tried an apple cobbler, spicy brownie with avocado ice cream, and mango trifle. My fav was the brownie with the super unique ice cream, I think, although they were all good. Brownie may have been a bit too spicy for some. The cake in the mango trifle was supposedly quite unique - made with rosemary or something. Unfortunately it was too doused in the mango sauce to taste it! Wish I could have had that alone. We shared a bottle of Malbec from France, and liked it, although we have had better bottles at home. Their wine list looked extensive, so I'm sure you can find something you'll like. Hunter made the evening fun and special. We would all love to go back!
(5)Bill H.
Outstanding. Patio view fantastic. Brunch was great. Taste French toast. The eggs Benedict with trout was superb. Bloody Mary's nice and spicy! Must try dinner.
(5)Nicole F.
This is my goto restaurant in Evergreen. I have never had a bad experience here or a poor meal. I feel like this is the best restaurant in Evergreen. The service is always impeccable and the food is excellent. I think the menu could change more often but what is on there is very good. I always take my out of town guests here and have never been disappointed.
(5)Chef S.
We ate here twice last week and really wanted to like it at first. Food & ambiance are OK, but the service & the people at the front door are lacking hospitality. If you want to feel like you are being waited on by snobby servers who obviously have tables all over the restaurant & have a hard time engaging the guests because of that, then go ahead & give it a try, but we won't be going back. We tried it twice & the first time we didn't even know who our server was, because he greeted us once & then it was different people for the rest of our dinning experience. The second time, the server, Todd, had such a snarky attitude & made us feel like it should have been an honor to be waited on by him, that we won't be going back. What's up with the attitude at Willow Creek? We are frequent diners to some of the best restaurants this country has to offer & was hoping for more than a view. Both times the servers were never around when the food was dropped off, to see if we needed anything else. Our entrees were brought over by a stranger, who just dropped our plates & ran away too. We couldn't order more drinks when we wanted too or get the condiments we needed, when we needed them, etc, etc. I thought servers were supposed to serve you the food & ask if you needed something else? We also just made it in time to even get food, because we overheard the hostess say the kitchen was closing early to a walk in party at the door, because they had a rough day!?! WOW, never heard or seen that one before. They just close whenever they feel like it, despite the posted hours of operation. The servers & hostesses have such bad attitudes that it brought down the whole experience, sorry to say. They need to hire somebody NICE, who knows how to talk to the public & give proper service, otherwise it's only a matter of time before the bad reviews catch up to them.
(2)Kergan E.
Friendly staff, excellent food and the perfect setting on the lake make Willow Creek a perennial family favorite!
(5)Terry F.
The service in this place is terrible and the manager/server is rude. I do not recommend bringing a large party here.
(1)Gabriella T.
Poor custumer service and the owner has been asking people to take off their yelp reviews. What kind of owner tries to cover up their poor service rather than resolve their issues? If you have a larger party than 2 then do not come here because they are incompetent and incapable of handling parties any larger than that.
(1)O K.
Pasta with sausage was incredible. I would order this all the time. Loved this place on our trip to Evergreen.
(4)Roady O.
been here about 5 -7 years ago by accident and i had awesome fish here, im glad i found this place again and the food dident chance at all, the place in self is so nice causy the staff friendly and cute , the food is excellent and high quality this time we had moussels home made mozeralla rabit stew and fish and every singel dish was just yumy with out any words more to say. im comming back hope earlier this time ;) ( if my job wants so)
(4)John C.
Was hopeful some of the 5-star reviews would reflect my opinion also. Nope, didn't happen. It was a beautiful Saturday night on 8/1/15. The porch was open and the view was great. That is the best part of this restaurant. This was our 3rd trip over the years. Our Genesee friends insisted we come up there. The restaurant had been pretty good in the past, as I remember, but don't think we want to go again. Our waiter, Todd, was a little to cool for the room, and left the clear impression we were lucky to be there and be served by him. We weren't. My seafood special was served just warm. Todd didn't check back, nor did he seem to care very much. It was a generous serving of fish, but just not that well prepared or seasoned. Just because it is plated in an attractive manner doesn't make it great. Trout was OK, but to me it was not as good as other reviewers would indicate. As they cleared the table, we were told it would be OK to stay longer since they didn't plan on reseating it. What were they thinking? If it were earlier, were they going to ask us to leave? There is a bit of an attitude from a staff that is a bit full of itself. it is also pretty expensive, and hardly worth it unless you care more about the views than everything else.
(3)Sarah J.
I feel compelled to update my review primarily on the owner's comment upon my first review wherein the owner completely failed to take any responsibility for this establishments lack of service, respect, as well as, not providing accurate information in regards to our parties' time table. Frankly, the details of planning are completely irrelevant. This review is about staff interaction with customers so to try and place blame elsewhere is just "silly". I encourage Willow Creek to take responsibility. It is rare that I rate a business poorly and when I do owners ALWAYS approach the review with a remedy and a solution. Most certainly not with hostility. Willow Creek clearly has approached these reviews with intentions of escalating which is in poor taste. Of course this is what we have come to know from Willow Creek so we would not expect anything better or more appropriate. Attempting to place blame of the resignation of your staff is just despicable.
(1)Shane S.
The food was good. But my Best Friend had her rehearsal dinner here and they rushed the dinner, were unbelievably rude to the guests and someone sprayed mace after dinner to get us to leave. After 30 people had dinner the fact they wanted to rush us out to turn the tables was unacceptable.
(1)Sayreko K.
By far the best restaurant in Evergreen. We have been living in Evergreen for about 2 years now and this is only one of two restaurants worth going out for. Friendly service, yummy (diverse menu), and great view. Great bar where you can hang out with friends for a few drinks or seat down dinner... You cannot go wrong with this place.
(5)Randy B.
Love this place. Our friend Susanne said it best: The food is gourmet quality, and is wonderful. The people are very very nice, and the view of Evergreen Lake is great. The menu changes every day , and it is varied and excellent. Today it rained lightly while we were eating on the patio, the hawks flew overhead , the birds flew around , and we talked, safely under the umbrella while enjoying this near perfect Colorado day. A great place to eat, relax and enjoy the view.
(5)Laurel M.
TAKE all negative reviews seriously people! I took my parents to Willow Creek to celebrate my Dad's birthday on the patio. It was a special night. It started out great, nice night, wonderful view of the lake - but things went in a very odd direction. First we waited for about 30 minutes to have our order to be taken which is frustrating, had to ask for our glasses to be refilled and so on. We were finished with dinner and were just relaxing over some good conversation when the manager or some front-of-house-guy came over and asked us to LEAVE - that we were taking too long! The absolute gall of this guy to say basically our "time was up" - after making US WAIT on ordering and dealing with less than great service--lack-luster attitudes all over! NEVER in my life have I had this experience, never at a small scrappy diner, never at a Michelin-rated restaurant. Any good restaurant knows this is in BAD TASTE. And on such a special evening. And, it wasn't like we were there for hours past our dinner--just the normal amount of dining time. It was down-right embarrassing. My parents were so gracious about it, but I was steaming! I WILL NEVER GO BACK, AND I WILL BE SURE OTHERS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. Really too bad they didn't just let us finish our experience and stay happy patrons--what a bad decision to lose a paying customer and potentially many more. WILLOW CREEK SHOULD BE READING THEIR REVIEWS -- This seems to be a common theme of rudeness, poor service and shuffling people out. They should not be rewarded with patron business. So frustrating that they are not better stewards of the beautiful location they happen to be in.
(1)Vickie S.
This is a lovely venue for an event and the food is quite good. The problem that I had, is similar to nearly all of the reviewers who rated Willow Creek poorly - service. We had a rehearsal dinner for our daughter at Willow Creek recently. The wait staff was very accommodating throughout the meal and that service was excellent. Unfortunately the hostess - Katherine was more rude than any hostess I have ever come across. As we were leaving the restaurant all of the members of our party started choking, as another guest of the restaurant had accidentally sprayed mace in the bathroom, which was wafting into the rest of the restaurant including the area we had reserved. As we were choking on the fumes, we were desperately trying to get to water glasses that were on the tables to clear our throats. Understandably, the restaurant is not responsible for accidents of this nature. But, as with any unforeseen circumstance, it is how well you handle it that counts. The hostess -Katherine - approached me and my husband, who were both choking, desperately drinking water and completely unaware of why we were all choking. She told us that we needed to "either sit down or leave". Obviously we were standing because we were trying to leave, but had to stop and try to get to our water glasses to stop from choking. My husband asked, do you know why everyone is choking? And Katherine replied "all the more reason for you to leave." Obviously this was the most inappropriate response that she could have offered. Therefore the wonderful meal and socializing that we had enjoyed up until that point was completely negated by her behavior. We all understand that accidents can happen, but we need to handle them professionally, and with grace and dignity. This behavior definitely did not meet the standards of Willow Creek. After this experience I reached out to the one of the owners of the restaurant who is determined to get to the bottom of this, and be sure nothing like this ever happens again. Because of his responsiveness we will definitely consider Willow Creek again.
(2)Chad N.
The owners here have created a fantastic place to eat with excellent service and laid back grace. Our family of 6 was greeted warmly for our 12:30 reservation on the patio that gives the patrons a wonderful view of Evergreen Lake. Our server Todd was attentive, and kind, and seamless in serving our family. We were also greeted by all other servers on the patio with a hello, or nice to see you! We started with the antipasti plate and the brushetta trio. The seasoning was spot on, and you know it tastes great when 5 yr old twin boys ask for more! I had the salmon, my wife had the avacado crab omelet, oldest daughter had the cheeseburger, younger daughter and son had the french toast and the youngest had chicken. Everything was cooked to perfection, seasoned beautifully and every bite devoured. Our waters were consistently replenished and the italian sodas were a fun treat for our kids. We were left with a perfect day with fun memories made, when a hummingbird hovered around the patio and near our daughter. This place is surely something special, and their staff is to be commended for their professionalism, their standard of service and their attention to detail. Should you have a party of more than 4, a reservation would be a good idea. I've read a few of these other reviews on here, and sincerely wonder....could the "attitude" percieved be in reaction to over entitled and critical customers? We will be back, again and again.
(5)Erin M.
A-ok seems just about right. Wondering if we ordered the wrong items ? Based on the fact that the pasta, cheeses and sausage are made in house and we didn't order pasta, we will go back again to see. Pros: The atmosphere is cozy and romantic. The wine list is extensive. The menu is small but balanced. The gnocchi was top notch. Cons: Other menu items (beet salad. Albacore steak and NY Strip were average. The service was average (didn't listen to dessert order properly, continually knocked my purse off my chair, etc) Based on other reviews, it seems we may have come on an off night/ordered off dishes, so we will definitely give Willow Creek another try at some point.
(3)Bowdoin S.
I ate here with my work colleague who live in this area. I wanted to eat healthy and craved a beet salad, and this place was recommended. The beet salad was average, and didn't strike a right balance. The dressing was a bit too acidic and the arugula was a little bitter. There was a block of cheese that was too hard in texture to effectively spread it over the dish easily. I like the carrot shreds in the dish for the color and texture, but the nuts were too small to give the textural element that I prefer. They gave a decent amount of both red and golden beets, but overall the dish wasn't that special. The curried scallops were good. The curry didn't overwhelm the dish and I liked the quinoa side. Service was decent and the ambience was nice with a lodge-like feel which was appropriate given the location of the restaurant in Evergreen.
(3)