Garfinkel’s
536 E Lionshead Cir, Vail, CO, 81657
Garfinkel’s Menu
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Address :
536 E Lionshead Cir
Vail, CO, 81657 - Phone (970) 476-3789
- Website https://www.garfsvail.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live, Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Angela C.
If you want a no frills, everyday, reminds-you-of-an-Irish-pub-in-SF kind of place minus the shamrock decor, this place is it. You'd probably even walk into the place expecting nothing more than bar food, but you'd be surprised at the menu selection. They even have sashimi!! We had the edamame to start. No, this is no ordinary edamame, and you really haven't had edamame until you've tried their variation on the dish. SO good, you could eat the whole plate. Wait, I did. The grilled veggies were nothing spectacular, maybe even a little too much pepper, and the chicken probably was too dry, but after a long day on the slopes, or single ride down the slopes, any place with a good vibe is brilliant. And you'll definitely love the flat screens. If you can't see the screen behind your boyfriend's head, there's another to your left, or maybe it's to your right, whichever way it is, there are three flat screens positioned front and center at the bar. You'll like it here, I almost guarantee it.
(4)David N.
Nacho appetizer was amazing. Fresh Jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream. Oven baked melted cheddar. Worth every penny. Moscow mule was great - although I did miss the copper mug the increased size made up for that. Jack and diet coke was very generous with the Jack. Service was very solid. Zero complaints. Buffalo burger and fries ... Oh my goodness. The buffalo had to have died this week. Cooked to perfection topped with two of the most pristinely cooled pieces of bacon. The bun had to have been cooked locally. Chicken parmesan was nicely cooked. I don't think it was fresh - it may have been a Sysco product, but it was - nevertheless - a good meal. All in all, 4.75 stars. You should try it.
(5)Ryanne B.
Not a fan. At all. The location was nice, right by the gondola & within walking distance from our lodge. But that was basically the only nice thing about the experience. We were in Vail for our wedding, and like I said Garfinkles is within walking distance of our condo. We had two nights out with friends while we were in town, and decided to try Garfinkles out. The service- sucked. It was horrible. My husband & I arrived after our friends one night and after waiting 10 minutes with no waitress, we had to go to the bad to order. We also had to order our refill from another waitress. Our waitress was not attentive, and I really don't know why she is employed there. When we were leaving and asked for our tabs, we noticed that some of us has gratuity added onto our checks. We are all under 25, and our group was big enough to qualify for the added gratuity but she seemed to pick out those who she thought wouldn't tip. This is trashy. Each one of us have in the past or currently do serve tables- we were planning on tipping well to begin with. Either she knew her service was shit or she decided by looking at us and assuming since we are young, we wouldn't tip. And no, we weren't drunk to the point where she would assume we wouldn't tip due to this. Another issue was they close the patio after dark. I find this strange. I've never ever been to a bar that does this, so anyone who was a smoker had to walk through the front door (leaving their drinks at the table) and exit the establishment to do so. Which was a pain. The food isn't that great, and the whole experience was awful. Never again
(1)Hall W.
Yes, this is probably the only place in Vail that approaches normal people prices. Yes the service is great - James our server was stellar. HOWEVER - I expect decent food in Vail and all around this was the worst food non-ski area sit down dining experience I have ever had a major Colorado ski resort. It was so bad, that we started playing this game called, can you guess why my food sucks which I tasted people's food and see if we can agree the same reason on why their food sucks. Some samples: 1. The steaks are dry (tasted like frozen stuff defrosted) and horribly bland 2. Chicken tenders is mildly better than school cafeteria - super dry on the inside - no flavor 3. French fries lack a crisp taste and feel When in Vail, there are lots of dining experience to explore. This is not one you want to waste your time and money on.
(2)Jenna J.
Stopped here after a day of biking - sat outside on their patio overlooking the mountain. Started with chips/salsa/guacamole and a Coors light. Liked the salsa and guac - chips were tri colored ok but a bit stale. Had a cheeseburger and fries that were really tasty. Service was excellent, waiter very friendly from Southern NH didn't catch his name but really knowledgeable about the menu. Definitely will return - good vibe and menu selection. Only negative was the stale chips. But I was so hungry ate them anyways :)
(4)Jim Z.
For such an upscale environment, Garfinkel's was a disappointment. Poor flavor for the hummus, not fresh cucumbers accompanying. The grilled chicken southwest salad was hit and miss. The chicken was very good, but the lettuce was browning at the edges. Lousy dinner for my wife and I after a beautiful day on vacation in Colorado.
(2)Greg W.
After 3 days of gorging crappy, carb-filled food I was looking for something that didn't involve processed meat, bread or dairy. I decided to order the Ahi Tuna with sautéed vegetables and coleslaw at Garfinkels. Yes, that was probably a poor choice, and no, my expectations should not have been high, but I was just so freakin desperate for some non blood sugar raising, arterie clogging food and it was on the menu. The Tuna tasted like rubber but the broccoli and coleslaw were surprisingly good. Also, the price point wasn't bad here relative to the other joints. Got a pitcher of Colorado Kolsch for $10 which was solid. Better than my $20 breakfast at the supposed best restaurant in Vail (Little Diner). My stomach and taste buds suffer on in Vail :(
(3)Alexis B.
Place was a great lunch stop off the Vail mountain. Prices were a little expensive and our service was particularly slow for a late lunch. We did get to sit outside, great patio! Food was mediocre but what can you expect on the ski hill, definitely better than the food court. Selection of brews was decent, especially local crafts!
(3)Brittany S.
This place is located right off the gondola and has the closest to normal bar prices I have found in Vail. Come here for Après hour and it's packed with a good atmosphere.
(4)Susan S.
We ate at Garfinkel's twice in one day - once for a snack between the Farmers Market and going up on the mountain, and once for dinner. It was a great place to relax and watch people much more energetic than us hike and bike on the mountain. For the snack, we had the chips and salsa with guac and cheese dip. All were good; the salsa was nice and spicy. I also had some of the white sangria, which was delicious. For dinner, I had the turkey reuben with black beans and rice. A little bit of a weird combo, but both were good. My companion had the buffalo chicken salad and really enjoyed it. The prices were very reasonable and the beer selection looked extremely good. And again, that view is probably worth a star in and of itself.
(4)Michael L.
Standard bar located on the lionshead side of Vail, drinks are ok, food was average, service was not terrible. It does have a lot of TVs for you sports fans and also a shot wheel if you feel like getting trashed. Atmosphere is a bit divey
(3)Maz M.
What can I say... It's a bar... It's in Vail!!! Drinks were good and the service was great. The food was bar food that was lacking. Came to watch the national championship game and have some drinks. We were successful so not a bad review, but the food was blah, so not a great review. Cheers!
(3)Jeff H.
Our server was pleasant and the beer was cold. As for the food, not their best effort I'm guessing. Prime rib was recommended but was by far the worst I've ever had. Took 4 bites from all different sides and ended up not being able to swallow what I was chewing as it was like eating beef flavored rubber bands. They did refund the cost of the not so prime rib on our check which was nice. Should have known better than to think a $22 14oz cut would be very good in a sports bar.
(3)Donna W.
Good food & service. Don't order the sashimi, over priced wanna be sashimi. Definitely would come back.
(4)Jennifer S.
Visited Vail today. I'm from Florida so this was a new experience. We had a great experience. It's such an adorable, quaint piece of the earth. I would love to go back for a full skiing experience. The menu here provides many options for you to choose from. I had a grilled buffalo chicken wrap and a Caesar salad, with a Coor's light. My wrap was delish. The chicken seemed very fresh and not like mushy mystery meat. I would absolutely get it again if I ever find myself in Vail again. Besides that, you can't beat the views. My cousin and I watched skiers flying down the gorgeous mountains while staying warm inside.
(4)Christina And Gus W.
Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT service! Liv and the busser were on top of it! We came in with a large party and they handled everything with ease. Food especially the burgers are great and fast! Try the TnT sauce if you need some spice!
(5)Brian S.
Garfinkel's gets credit for being a Lionshead fixture. It's tradition to come down after a day of skiing, sit on the patio, drink a beer, eat nachos, and watch the last skiers of the day come down. The problem is that the food isn't great, and the service is just miserable. We sat at a table outside the other day and ordered some simple appetizers and drinks, all of which took forever to come out, if they even did. My brother had to ask FOUR times for a soda, which arrived as we asked for the check. The extra chips for our nachos arrived after we had finished the nachos. A bloody mary never arrived at all. The waitress was nowhere to be seen for most of this. It was a joke. This isn't unusual at Garfinkel's, but it probably won't stop us from going, since that patio is too nice to pass up. And the nachos are kinda a mess, but perfect after a long day on the slopes. However, don't ignore the Chophouse and Taphouse for your on-mountain apres-ski either.
(2)Daniel R.
Absolutely okay. We came here because it was late and other places were closed. Got the veggie burger and one the pastas. Burger was okay, but the pasta was pretty tasteless, and 16 dollars for penne, peppers, tomatoes, and no spices is not my idea of a good deal. Probably wouldn't come back unless again everything else was closed.
(2)Heather C.
This place pretty much sucks. It has a great view, but that doesn't make up for the clueless waitstaff or subpar food. Our waiter seriously had no idea what was going on and struggled to take our order without his iPad. We think he was high. Which is fine, but you probably shouldn't be high at work. They forgot a couple of our orders, and didn't even bring a KIDS grilled cheese literally until we had already gotten and paid the bill, and were just about to stand up and leave. They brought out the grilled cheese then (not even in a to-go box), for a 2 year old, after all the adults' plates had already been cleared. Lol.
(2)Mark O.
Good cold beer served by friendly folks. We had draft beer and our kids had the Ice Cream. Kids loved it and so did we!
(5)Megan G.
Enjoyed a quick lunch here. Was surprised to see how many healthier options they have. Definitely not just bar food. We thought of coming back for the nightlife but were too tired. The spinning wheel of shots looked fun! The staff and environment is very casual.
(4)J T.
This place has a fabulous view of the slopes. It's an amazing place for an après ski beverage or a post bike ride nosh. Servers are attentive, they even allowed dogs on their fabulous patio. Our server was even attentive to our gang of dogs and gave our pups a bucket of water. Family-friendly and super casual, it's a great place to connect with your friends and family after a day on the slopes. Food is decent. Lots of beer options. Try their lettuce wraps! It's a bar food type joint, sandwiches and salads are decent. Nachos are ok. I liked their Caesar salad. Kept my diet coke refilled without even having to ask. A local staple, a great alternative to the 'swankier' options available in the village, prices are decent. Service is solid. Definitely a great, unpretentious joint in Vail.
(4)Josh B.
Great place for a cheap beer and a great burger. Over looking the ski yard it's a great place to people watch, summer and winter. The food for bar food is about the best in Lionshead, burgers, fry's, Salads. Great for kids with the video games and other and free pool at lunch. The only thing that might not be so great is this place is very busy in the winter around happy hour and in the summer all day. Garfs has been in the Lionshead area since I do not know when and I guess you would call it a locals bar. The view with the ski mountain is just about the best in the Vail area, best in summer
(4)Heather S.
Waited 25 minutes with 8 people at a table for a server to come by and take our drink order. Numerous servers walked by, one kept on saying that a server would be by but nothing happened. Walked out and the hostess didn't say anything.
(1)Dave F.
Sorry, but, I recognize the local's hangout. We ate outside & drank inside. When a still dressed newlywed party shows up on off-season (June).... I am impressed. We ate the "specials", 2 prime rib & 1 fried chicken, We also ordered the salad & wings. The beer of choice was Colorado Native- an great smooth Amber. Everything food wise was phenomenal... IMHO, the exception, the size of chicken in both wing & 4 piece, but flavor was there. (It seems chicken is not the thing to order in the mountains) Hot wings sauce was had a descent kick. The salad was mixed greens & nice sized for a side salad. I ordered the prime rib special for $14. I got a huge cut of meat for that price. The side vegetables included al dente asparagus. My sweet potato was waffle cut... I was prefer whole, but $14!
(5)Kelley M.
Dinner our first night in Vail. They were really busy when we walked in and it is seat yourself bar type atmosphere (still good for kids though) but the manager at the door walked us through the place and helped find us a couple of tables for our family of 5. Service was quick even being packed. Food was great. I love Moscow Mules, this one was a little heavy on the ginger beer. Couldn't taste much more than ginger. But all in all it was great. We will visit again when we return to Vail.
(4)Olga S.
Went here for a happy hour on a Tuesday, and our server didn't know any of the specials and didn't care enough to find out for us. We had to ask for water multiple times because he kept on forgetting, we also asked him to switch the TV to a hockey game... And he never did. I was very disappointed in the service here, the food was your typical bar food and it was good, nothing special but good! But the service just ruined the whole experience for me. They did have a nice atmosphere, with live music but all in all definitely a place I wouldn't come back to.
(2)Brad C.
Garfinkel's was a great relief for my wallet which has been taking a beating for the past few days. I enjoyed the Buffalo Chili, which was very flavorful and had a unique spicy kick. For my entree I had a very mundane Chicken Caesar Salad. It's exactly what I would have expected from a random bar in an average culinary town. Service was good, and the price point was strong.
(3)Shea S.
An A-OK place to unwind after battling the slopes of Vail. The view can't be beat, especially on a warmer day. It does get crazy busy here though, so it's probably a better place for a day when you quit a bit early. The service was surprisingly attentive given all the people. The nacho plate was massive and loaded with pretty much every nacho ingredient you can think off. A good option for a group to share. The tab, which included a couple pitchers of Coors Light, seemed a bit high. But then again it's Vail and was actually kind of affordable in a warped Vail kind of way.
(3)Amanda B.
Good food, great beer selection, excellent, laid-back atmosphere with a gorgeous view of the mountain. What's not to love? Service is sometimes sluggish and it's a bit overpriced; but, the pros outweigh any downsides.
(4)Kelly S.
LOVE!!!! Went to Vail Columbus Day weekend and stopped by Garfinkels mid afternoon for beer and football. Great beer price of $3 and had some tasty nachos. Huge portion. They still had restaurant week dinner specials at 5 so we stuck around enjoyed the lamb. Bou was it good! Katie was our server and was super! LoVe Alex! Everyone was so friendly we returned on Sunday for more beer, football and prime rib. Chris served us that night and was equally friendly. The last person I want to commend is Juan...he worked his tail off both nights and likely does not get customer feedback. Props to you Juan. Honestly, I love this place and will return anytime in in the area.
(5)Wes T.
Get the bison meatloaf! The whole feel of the place is relaxed and the beer is cold. Get the bison meatloaf! Did I mention get the bison meatloaf?!? Seriously though it is a great dive good for families and party crowds alike. The prices are fair and the staff is super friendly and attentive.
(5)Greg M.
Garfinkels is the best of Vail! I look forward to having an ice cold beer and fish tacos or the giant nachos after a day of skiing. They are located right in front of the gondola and the views up the mountain are very nice. Highly recommend!
(5)Tara B.
Great place to go for a drink after you have been on the slopes all day. The food is average bar food at best, but the location can't be beat.
(3)Red W.
I went during the Jazz festival and just had a Garf burger, WOW. I took a big bite expecting traffic in my mouth, but the texture was surprisingly soft and easy to bite through the whole burger!!! It was soooo delicious and fresh. I had medium well with everything on it and it was made perfectly :)
(5)Jake S.
(For vail) this place has a great menu, easy seating, and good prices. If this was in my home town I'd probably give it 3/5, however considering the deal in vail it's a 4/5. Also IMO, their meat and fish is the same as the higher end places and probably comes from the same truck. It's a good goto place for dinner.
(4)Paul S.
Average food/drink at best. Good location with a nice view from the patio.
(3)Jeff M.
Stopped by for a snack between runs. Waiter commended us on ordering the sweet potato waffle fries with side of cheese sauce. "Never seen that before." I innovate. It's what I do. I also recommend the hot buttered rum. Hoo boy. The butter was still floating on top when it came out! It also appears to be good for football watching.
(4)Christine B.
So last year's slow service was definitely a fluke. We stop into Garfinkel's every year at least once. Yes, there's always a happy hour deal (nachos, burger night, wing night, cheap beers, cheap Bloody Marys), but it really has turned into a must-go for our annual trip to Vail. Why? Food is affordable, even if you don't order the special for the evening and definitely doesn't suck. Sitting on a picnic table, looking out at the mountain, sipping a beer and/or Bloody Mary, it's a happy place for us. When Bloody Mary's are on special, you get the $8 Bloody for $5 AND they'll sub that celery for dill pickle spears (love). On burger night, you can get that $9 burger for $6 with up to three toppings (and your traditional LTO) for no extra charge and a side o' fries. Bar food not your thing? Go for the sashimi grade tuna seared to perfection, lightly seasoned and get the loaded baked potato with steamed veg on the side. I have no problems with Vail being over priced, but over priced for lackluster food - I have a problem with that. Garfinkel's is an affordable, tasty choice (of course, you can always rack up that tab even when drinking beers for $3). As long as it's not 10 p.m. on a Friday night, it's relatively family friendly and everyone can leave happy. Dinner for three with many beers and many Bloody Mary's - well, not going to share that tab with anyone on Yelp. Just trust me. It's affordable.
(4)Danielle D.
Pros: great location, right at the bottom of the mountain in Lionshead. Perfect for a apres-ski beer. Tons of outdoor seating. Fun arcade games to keep the kids entertained for a bit. Cons: The food. I think I cooked better food in my college dorm room. Kids liked their meals, but the adults weren't impressed. Bottom line: go for the location and the beer, not the food.
(2)Steve G.
Come here a lot for some apre food or late night Lionshead activities. I enjoy their menu and am rarely disappointed. Yes, it's certainly not fine dining but boy does this place get the job done. Tons of room, sweet deck, tons of TV's, and good overall atmosphere. I end up here a lot.
(4)Karma K.
I'm a local, and love this place. The set up is you "sit yourself" This place doesn't have enough staff to take all the drunks skiers hahaha, staff changes a lot, some good, some bad, but the food is good. The nachos are so good.
(5)Steven B.
Terrible service. We were with a group of friends and most of them were from out of town. So we wanted to spin the wheel for 4 people so they could each get their own shot. But they'd only let us get one spin per table. We explained our friends being out of town and our server still said no. BIG LET DOWN. Bad service
(1)David B.
One of the few places in the area open late for dinner, and also quite affordable for Vail. Definitely more of a local vibe. The food was fine, it is basically diner food. Parking is tight in the local lot.
(3)C C.
10 bucks for Reuben and 4 bucks for a beer not bad for Vail, except that they got my order wrong and my server never came back to refill my beer or offer me water. Actually, my server never came back (willingly)... I wish I would have kept the first order. At least the bread was nicely toasted on the sandwich and the French fries crispy. When my order came out the second time it was completely soggy, fries bread all of it like it was just thrown together in a hurry. I didn't dare complain again for fear I would get a spit sandwich, not to mention that I wouldn't have been able to find my server to make the complaint before I starved to death. On the up side, The restaurant is conveniently located by the slopes in Lionshead and its fun to see the skiers coming down the hill. It has that going for it. One the down side, it's a seat yourself place with servers who look busy but in reality just seem to be moving around a lot and not really doing the "service" part of things. In the end, I had to chase my server down through the bartender (who was a bit snotty about it) to get water and my bill. Needless to say this was reflected in my tip. I didn't hold getting the order wrong against him (that could have been a kitchen error) until he disappeared and I had to chase him down. I have this thing about servers who are less attentive to single diners--like somehow they think we tip less or because the bill is smaller it's not worth the work to earn a good tip. I am a good tipper (usually) and I'd be willing to bet that there are times when I have excellent service that I tip more than your two or four top. So don't ASSume anything when you see a single patron all alone at a table. Do your job like you mean it and want to keep it. Servers take a lesson: Server is derived from SERVICE (enough said).
(2)John D.
It's a bar. It's hard by Lionshead ski area at Vail. It has a great big deck. What's not to like. Good food, cold beer, servers iwth an attitude.
(3)Mark E.
Here is the scoop: If you are walking around Lionshead looking for a place to eat that will not empty your bank account, stop by Garfinkel's. The food is good bar type food. There is nothing fancy here. The place is loud with the sounds of Journey and Def Leopard playing in the background. The men's room has pictures of models and comics posted by the urinals. The decor probably hasn't changed since it started. Put it all together and it works for this bar. The staff was friendly. The food came out fast. We went on a Tuesday night at 6ish and they offered $8.00 pitchers. Try the Bison meatloaf and mashed potatoes!
(3)Rebel O.
Apre ski at its best. Food and beer are great and the deck is really fun. The steak strips are so good and nachos are great. Great service for both beer and food.
(4)Alex S.
The only thing this place has going for it is that it is right next to the lifts and you can immediately engage in après-ski drinking. If this place was anywhere else, it would probably be out of business. Food is well below par, and service is horrible. Our waiter had no idea what beers were on tap. It could either be that he was new or that he smelled like he just got done baking out his car. The wings were boneless and resembled chicken fingers, and the chili was Hormel with some green onions sprinkled in top. The good thing is that our beer was on special. We ordered IPAs, but somehow Cheech (our waiter) translated that to Coors.
(1)Emily B.
The only thing that Garfinkel's has going for it is it's amazing location just steps from the Eagle Bahn Gondola. It is precisely this feature that lured us in here for a drink and afternoon snack while on vacation in Vail last week. There's basically nothing to say about this place except that it's a sports bar with below average food, a mediocre beer list, and staff that clearly embody the ski bum lifestyle and all the pot smoking opportunities it has to offer. Maybe it's the rigid east coaster in me, but I like my wait staff to at least show up to work awake. That being said, it's just an average sports bar, so some may be completely content with all it had to offer. I, however, won't be back.
(2)Sarah F.
I say this being completely serious: I'm not sure if the bartender was mentally challenged or just out of control rude and/or oblivious. I try not to be obnoxious trying to get a bartender's attention since they usually see you there if you make yourself obvious and will make their way over to you. I had practically climbed onto the bar and no matter how many times I said "excuse me" in increasingly higher volumes as he passed, he just ignored me. Keep in mind, it wasn't all that crowded. Every guy who came up to the bar somehow got immediately served. I even tried going to the place where the person who had just ordered went to catch him as he brought the drinks, but he still decided to walk away as I was talking to him. Then, my friend came to drop off the TV remote that she had borrowed previously to change the channel. A guy nearby finally helped me flag him down and he asked me if I wanted the remote again. I explained that was someone else and I wanted a drink. He then kept talking about me giving him the remote and really didn't seem to believe or care that it wasn't me with the goddamn remote and took forever to get my drink. THEN when I went to pay, I pulled out my card and told him I also wanted change for my cash to play Big Buck Hunter. He just took the bill, and gave me change (not even coins, but dollars) for the drink. When he came back and I told him I wanted the drink on my card and quarters for the game, he asked why I didn't tell him before. I did, you imbecile!!!! Seriously, find a new bartender who doesn't have dementia. Only good part was the Big Buck Hunter. And there was one other server/guy who was very friendly.
(2)Nora H.
Garfs is a staple in the Lionshead/Vail Village scene. Yes they get super busy, especially when games are on, and I don't think a lot of the poor service remarks are warranted. Every time I've been the servers have been really nice and all of my food and drinks have come out in a timely manner. The food has been awesome every time and all of it is really well priced for Vail. I recommend you try the nachos (the plate is HUGE so you might want to share), I also love the edamame and the brownie sundae is enormous and delicious. Their menu is incredibly versatile and kids and vegetarians won't have any trouble finding something to eat. At any given time you can find tons of families and sports fans here, and at game time it gets fairly rowdy but that's all a part of it. I love Garfs and I'll be returning again and again :)
(5)Kate G.
Garfinkel's gets 5 stars for the view. It's tough to beat sitting outside on this sunny deck staring at the bright white slopes of Vail Mountain. I'll agree with the other reviews that this place is a bit more of a bargain than some of the other restaurants and bars in Vail Village, and therefore always crowded, but you lose some serious ambiance sitting on long benches wedged in between large groups of people. You'll wait a long time for service sitting down, but waiting in line at the bar isn't always any faster. The worst part about the long picnic tables and benches is that even if you wait long enough to snag a spot for your group (good luck!), the food baskets and beer glasses from the last group might sit on your table the whole time you're there. Kind of gross and only adds to the claustrophobic feel. But hey...you're in Vail! P.S. The Garf burger is a bargain at $9 for a half-pound hand-formed patty that you can get as rare as you want.
(3)John B.
Garfinkles has a great location at the bottom of the hill. Couldn't be better for après; however, the service was poor at best. The potential of this place is huge if management changed I'll would go back. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was when they refused to changed to sound from the UNC Cincy football game, a blow out, to the UK Louisville basketball game. Note the game had the past two national champions, as well as being rivals, and ranked opponents. To be attentive to the customs when they heard 30 plus people cheering for the basket game and no one for the football they should have changed the sound. When asked by multiple customs their response was "nobody likes the squeaky shoes of basketball".
(1)Maxim B.
Bad service. They brought me a kid's hamburger instead of an adult one and messed up on a bunch of other stuff. The food was OK, nothing special but not bad.
(2)Fake U.
March 2013. Food Not very good. Wife's burger was poor quality meat. My chicken sandwich was drier then sawdust.
(2)Frank W.
Good price/value for Vail. $17 bucks for a huge (Queen) ribeye. We also had a green salad with salmon on to and it was a nice big cut of seared salmon! Tasty food and good service.
(4)Alexis M.
We stopped in here for happy hour after a day of skiing. There was a bouncer at the door, I guess it's 21+ at all hours. This was fine and dandy since our whole group was of age, however I continued to get ID'd 3 more times while at the bar. After I mentioned that to one of the waiters, he explained that they had recently gotten in trouble for underage drinking, hence the repetitive ID checking. They had a good beer selection, I especially enjoyed the wide selection of local (Colorado) brews. Our first waiter was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. He made some great beer suggestions. However, his shift ended about halfway through the afternoon. After we closed out our tab with him, no one else came to check on us for at least 20 minutes, so we decided to move to another section and hopefully get some service. The waiter in our next section was not as friendly or attentive. I ordered a Moscow Mule from him, which was supposed to come in a copper mug. He brought it over in a pint glass, and when I asked about the mug, he said they were all dirty. I was a server for 3 years, and that is NEVER the answer you give a customer. If I had ordered a martini or a glass of wine, would those have come in a pint glass as well?? I suggested that as a solution to this dilemma, he could go wash one of the mugs, but that never happened.
(2)Tony S.
First night was a great experience. Food and service were very good. The chicken nachos were very tasty. The beef skewers were outstanding, especially with their additive peanut sauce. They had 3-4 craft beer selections, which worked for us. It was a good value, especially for Vail. As other Yelpers have said, it's a real "down to earth" place in an uber-upscale (and expensive) resort town. Second visit... well, the games were on TV and it was WAY too crazy crowded to find a seat. Oh well, maybe next time.
(4)Kevin D.
My favorite place in Lionshead Village. This is a big bar with tons of seating both inside, around the bar, and on the large patio, looking out on the ski lift going up the mountain. Best beer selection in town, and good bar food. They have healthy food too, but it's not good. Trust me. If you come here, you might as well get something fried or greasy and enjoy it. Good mix of locals and visitors.
(4)Jill S.
Pretty solid off the beaten path joint in Lionshead (as opposed to Vail Village.) Bar food is a step above the usual and the waiters knew exactly what I was looking for: bottomless drinks. Saturday was karaoke night which I'm never going to turn my back on.
(3)Darius B.
Was here for some beers with friends while in Vail... great place for cheap beer/drinks on friday night, maybe even saturday. Gets pretty roudy and loud...but hey that's what you want in a bar, right? :-) Great view of the mountain and nice deck to sit on and enjoy your beer or drink. They serve food, but I'd only eat it if you're really hungry and drunk, so you need something greasy in you.
(4)Jenna S.
This place was pretty packed when we arrived, so I'm not sure how I feel about it. Garfinkle himself greets you at the door so that was fun - I'm all about bars having animal mascots (especially a moose). I am not sure if this place does karaoke every single night, but it was definitely karaoke time when we arrived around 11 p.m. on a Thursday night. Of course, it was MJ tribute night as he had just passed earlier that day, but still - kind of irritating. The karaoke was pretty embarrassing and ridiculous, so I can't really decide how I feel about it. The line was too long to even sign up for a song and no one was singing anything good. Such is karaoke, I guess. There were too many people in the space (especially toward the front) and the beer was kind of expensive so we just got out of there after one drink. They did have a pretty good selection of drinks and they had it looked like they had a very large menu of food. If it hadn't been so chilly, we would have taken advantage of the outdoor patio which seemed really awesome. Too bad we couldn't bear to sit out there for more than a minute. Meh, this place was OK. It really seems like the locals love it because it's like a drunk frat party, so more power to you if that's how you have fun.
(2)Stephen B.
Perfect low key bar in a upscale town! Decent prices, karaoke, happy hour, nightly specials! You can't ask for more in such an expensive town as vail! The bartenders are mostly nice (theres one crabby one I've seen). They are very good to service industry people there. A lot of locals but of course a peppering of drunken vacation debauchery. It gets decently busy at night but never too busy to where your uncomfortable and you can't find a seat. I haven't tried the food but have seen it, pretty standard pub fair, and you can never go wrong with that! Give it a try.
(4)Griff H.
Garfs is a local bar and tourist bar all in one. Boasting the largest deck in Vail, it isn't hard to see why this place attracts everyone. If you're headed out with hopes of meeting people whether you live here or not then this is probably your best bet. During ski season don't miss Friday nights here. Their big special is $3 you-call-its. Tough to beat a Crown or Grey Goose mixed drink on a Friday night in a ski town for $3. The place gets packed and they have a DJ, so put your dancing shoes on and utilize them if you can find room. In the summer it's not quite as wild due to less seasonal workers and tourists, but there are still great times to be had. Whether mtn biking or skiing, you can't beat this place for an early afternoon beer and appetizer. Their beer selection is nothing to boast about, but when the bar is 100 meters from the gondola I guess you can't be too picky. I'd recommend the quesadilla, and also get a side of their thai sauce no matter what food you order (trust me on this one). I'd say this place is the epitome of a ski bar, and not many places in Vail give Garfs a run for their money. Show up in ski boots, covered in mud, or dressed up and nobody's gonna judge you - but they will probably be able to tell if you're from outta town. :)
(4)Wendy B.
Such a great place for après ski! The atmosphere is laid back and the service is great.
(4)Vail I.
Great watering hole. These folks have a solid grasp on less is more. Prime example; I got a super hoppy IPA and a sandwich called The Alpinist grilled cheese; which includes tomatos, lettuce, pesto, brie, swiss all atop semi thick slices of Rye and mashed potatoes and gravy all for 13 bucks. Sometimes you'll wait to get a drink from the bar on a busy Friday or Saturday evening but that's to be expected. I still think they have some of the best bartenders in town.
(5)Billy W.
Well, have to admit up front that the setting this day contributed to a high evaluation- it was 64 on this March 25 2012, the back deck overlooks the slopes (though not the typical white powder due to the warm weather). Not typical for this time of year. That said, the food was excellent even taken into account higher mountain pricing. What stood out was the quality and ample proportions from the kids turkey sandwich with four layers of turkey, to the the homemade quality of the salad dressings, to the ample portion of fries, to the very tasty ma-hi fish tacos and special salsa to the vast array of beers and drinks for the whole family. Our whole family ages 50 - 8 enjoyed this place.
(5)Ava K.
Had lunch here while I was skiing. It's decently priced, especially compared to the ski area food courts. The food was good. I had the Tomato Basil Soup and House Salad. The soup was really good. Salad was simple, nothing special. Quick service and nice for a break from skiing.
(3)Johnny C.
The only place that actually feels like a ski bar in Vail.
(5)Greg T.
we stopped into Garfinkel's for apres ski and ordered a pitcher of Mirror Pond and wings. These were the best buffalo wings I have had in all of Vail...these were no joke. very crispy and the sauce had just the right amount of heat and tang. so good.... $11 for 12 wings..a bit high but it is Vail after all.... Tons of flat screens and tons of space (inside and outside) Garfinkel's is a great spot to grab one or many.
(4)Jae K.
The location is great. Vail is amazing by the way. It lives up to all that people say. Garfinkel's is the perfect location for après-ski. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Garfinkel's.
(4)Kris L.
Great bar for apres ski with the huge deck but even better later on in the night after the day skiiers are gone. On a Sunday night you can watch the many screens and have any of a large selection of beers. Garfinkels is definitely an apres ski bar with predictable bar food but their deck is fantastic and they are open late into the evening for thirsty vacationers looking for somewhere to hang out.
(3)Patrick M.
Solid bar in the middle of Lionshead Village, with an awesome view of the mountain. I was there with a group of out-of-towners, and unlike some other reviewers, was made to feel at home. As others have commented, the service was slow, but in our case, it was also friendly. The food was surprisingly good. We had a mix of the bar food standards as well as serviceable sashimi. Great beer selection, and, for our gathering, what seemed like good prices ($2 standards like Budweiser, and $3 specialty brews). But then, I'm from DC, where a $3.50 bottle of Bud is considered a happy hour deep discount. Aside from the slow service, the overall layout, though huge, tended to make for cramped quarters. The table setup just doesn't fit the space, so you're always ducking and weaving through a crowd -- even if it's not croweded.
(3)Terry B.
There are three places I go for apres ski beer in Vail, and Garfinkel's is the only one I visit when I'm in Lionshead. I've gone in on countless occasions to have a beer or two, a shot or two, and reflect on my snowboarding adventures for the day. I've also been in here on a summer night when there was just my wife and I and two locals. The shot wheel was used plenty on that night! For those reviews stating poor service, I've come to expect mediocre service at best at any non-fancy bar that's offering an apres ski atmosphere. Service is completely hit or miss wherever I've ever been in the ten years I've been apres skiing. So, expect mediocre and you won't be surprised unless it's pretty good or horrible. (and it was actually fantastic the last time I went) The food here is solid bar food although I typically don't eat here, I have eaten here on a couple occasions. The beer selection is excellent, and this is also a great place to catch sports. The view from the deck is fantastic. The crowd is a nice mix of tourists and locals, although it does get crowded on a weekend.
(4)Lucas I.
A buddy and I sat at the bar right when it opened at 11am because the lifts were shut down due to wind. Unpleasant wait staff at first (although they did warm up after a bit), poor micro beer selection and mediocre food. Decent prices for Vail though. I may come here again in a pinch but there are certainly other good options around the village.
(3)Pachi C.
Food: Just ok to Yuck Service: Friendly enough Price: Can't walk out for less than $10 (for yuck, is sad) Anything tastes good after a day of snowboarding, right? WRONG! It's been a while since I've had really bad food. Granted, my pulled pork sandwich (recommended by our waiter), was actually quite decent. Ample meat with just enough sauce and slight heat. However, the bun it was served on tasted of pure sawdust. Spinach Artichoke dip - the worst I've every had. I didn't know you could screw that up. Lacked cheese (and/or artichokes?) and the bread it was paired with must've came from the same batch as my pulled pork sandwich bun - sawdust. I recommend to dip with the veggies, instead. Hubby's buffalo burger tasted just like a regular burger. Correction, hubby's buffalo burger tasted like less than a regular burger. Lacked flavor in the meat altogether. I can do better and I don't charge $10 for one. My friend Tsun T. wanted to use his Vail employee discount and was given some grief by the waiter before it was finally approved by management. Tight times, I suppose. Luckily, the dining experience was saved by good beer (Blue Moon with slices of orance, yummilicious) and good company!
(2)Jamie L.
Garfinkel's is right next to the lift and gondola at Arrabelle in Vail. I suppose that's why it's still in business: It's definitely convenient. Price-wise, it's less than nearby Tavern and Vail Chophouse, but it's nowhere near the quality. At the Chophouse, you can sit on the patio and watch the lift, gondola, and skiers and share a bottle of wine. At Garfinkel's, you can sit on benches and still see the mountain, but you're drinking beer and eating nachos. So it's a different caliber. That being said: You're still paying too much for minuscule portions and mediocre food. We ordered the Asian Beef Salad ($12) which is advertised as "Teriyaki Grilled beef tips over grilled julienne vegetables and a bed of mixed greens." We were never asked how we would like the beef tips cooked, and they came out well-done to the consistency of leather, with hardly any discernible teriyaki flavor. There was no salad dressing, and the portion was sadly diminutive. We asked our Servette (Who was of the "Oooooh.... Shinyyyyyyy........." variety) about dressing and her answer was "Huh...... Why didn't they put anything on there?" I don't know sweetheart. Could ya maybe find some for me. She suggested balsamic (With teriyaki??) and I said "How bout maybe the mango?" Yeah, it was pretty weak, right out of the SYSCO bottle. We also chose the Reuben ($10.) Typical: Pastrami, Kraut, Swiss, and Thousand Island, grilled on rye. The flavor of this one was okay (although the side of 'slaw that came with it was obviously days old, sogging away in it's vinegar bath.) The problem with this was that the "Rye Bread" it came on was all of 4 inches in diameter. Literally. The man ate all of it, and had to finish my salad to whet his hunger, although we both left still hungry, and headed across to Haagen Dazs to get him something sweet and filling. This area of Vail has no shortage of Nosh Huts. From 5 star cuisine to casual, there are easily 10 other options that would be better value and quality than Garfinkel's.
(2)Katrina L.
Stopped by here last night with my boyfriend. We went around 8-9ish on a Tuesday night and the place was dead. We sat at the bar and the bartender was pretty good. He made sure we got what we needed and made sure to check up on us. My boyfriend got a pitcher of Coors for $8, which is a good deal because the pitcher was extra large and was approximately 4-5 beers. However, the beer was already almost warm when we got it, so after the first beer they weren't very good warm. We ordered a basket of fries and chicken nachos. They were both good. The nachos were huge and we couldn't finish them. But we gave it a good try because they were good! We ended up leaving close to 11pm and it still was pretty quiet. They did have a pretty cool shot wheel. Some people at the end of the bar spun it a few times for some random shots. I thought it sounded fun for sure. Maybe next time!
(3)Jimi L.
Cool place for after skiing. The best chicken nachos I've ever had hands down. They were loaded with everything, not just a bunch of crap on top of chips. They have pretty good coffee drinks too!
(4)Jason C.
Great atmosphere right in the heart of Lionshead. We had a great view of Vail Mountain off the patio balcony. My wife ordered fish and chips and I had the Garf's burger which we both really enjoyed. Overall. Great location and good food.
(4)Martin K.
Our experience at Garfinkel's was terrible. After taking our order, our waiter disappeared for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, all the tables near us, who had been seated after us, were already finishing their food. Finally the waiter tells us that "I just checked and your ticket is next in line". Fifteen minutes later the waiter returns to inform us that the kitchen did not have our ticket. He didn't even bother to apologize. We decided to leave and try our luck elsewhere after noticing the other customers didn't seem to be enjoying their food all that much.
(1)Stephen S.
Great Apres Ski location in Lionshead. Get right off the Gondola and head to the porch with the music playing loud with the most beer in the village. Chicken parmesan sandwich is awesome if you dont mind the greasiness and the shot wheel is good fun as well. Prices are pretty good for Vail as well. Beware of the "moose piss" shot.
(4)Bob F.
Decent food at good prices, but slow service. Although it is a bar setting, music is loud depending on where you sit and the place has a grungy feel. 3 stars at best for food and price.
(3)Mos D.
Garf's has awful food and is like vacationing in Brazil or Argentina, whichever ethnicity has taken over for the night. Vail is full of Visa workers from South and Central America and apparently this is where they all hang out. Along with horrible food the drinks are a little pricier than other bars nearby, but this could be due to the fact that Garfs is one of the very few places you can ski in/ski out. My suggestion is head over to Mezzaluna for drinks and appetizers. If Jody is bartending let him pick your drinks, he'll have fun making things up and he's great at entertaining a crowd.
(2)Rachel J.
Great place! Low key! Great for lunch between skiing or great for cocktails or beer to unwind after skiing! Service at the bar is incredible! Look for Doogie, Mira, and Paly! Love this place! We opted to hang and eat here a lot instead of the fine dining options! Can't wait to come back! Love Vail
(5)Greg Q.
Garfinkel's is a bait and switch apres ski spot in Lionshead, right off of the Vail gondola. It shouts out "I am a snow-bum's paradise! See my cheap wooden tables! See my snow-soaked floor! Gaze upon the glory of my never-ending extreme ski videos on the many TV's!" Tired, hungry, you are lulled into complacency by the waitresses in tight tank-tops and the rough-and-tumble looking crowd of snow hounds at the bar. "At last," you think, "proof that Vail isn't just a millionaires' playground!" You fight for a table, peel off your layers, get settled in, order a drink from the waiter, take it all in for a moment and then...open the menu. $15 for a salad. $10 for kids' plates. $11 for cheese fries...$25 entrees...damnit! Too late to turn back now, you realize you are paying Vail prices for South Lake Tahoe ambiance. The food is decent. The service satisfactory. The ambiance: decidedly ski-bum. Garfinkel's is the place to get a pitcher or two on the deck after a day on the slopes. Maybe the only place to grab a casual bite at a sit-down restaurant in "the village." It is obviously the place locals go to party, after they've had a full meal at some less expensive place the In-Town buses don't travel to. For me, it is definitely the place to let our toddler blow off steam while I enjoy a burger and fries, and reminisce about my own ski bum days. Ah, the good old days...when we used to get just a beer on the patio after a day on the slopes and make fun of the people who actually ate at places like this.
(3)Emily D.
My fam has been coming to Vail almost every summer for the last 15 years. And we ALWAYS make a stop at Garfinkel's! They have an excellent variety of food, definitely above the average bar food. I highly suggest the lettuce wraps--YUM! Aside from food and drink, you have an absolutely beautiful view of the Gondola and Vail Mountain. On the downside, the last couple times we patroned there, they seemed to be under-staffed and it took a little bit longer to get drinks and orders in. All in all, Garfinkel's is a great place for just two people or the whole family! It's moderately priced and just a fun place to hang out and grab a couple drinks.
(4)Brian S.
Went for lunch with group and the service was excellent even though it was pretty packed. Our server kept us filled on drinks and food. I had a cheeseburger with the works and it was very good. Chicken fingers were good as was the sauces - Cajun BBQ, ranch, Thai Peanut Butter, and my favorite sticky lava... Live a little and go for it. I sampled the ahi sashimi and wanted to change my order.. It was unexpectedly flavorful and delicious. Of course the beer was also good. Price was about expected for a ski resort in vail. View was excellent! Will be going back again.
(4)Bess R.
Stopped here for lunch on our first day into Vail this summer. We had a tasty (yet very unhealthy) meal on their deck overlooking the mountain. Beautiful view, delicious bar food and excellent service.
(4)Veronica W.
It was a beautiful fall day in Vail when the nasty food and bad service put a great big cloud over the whole thing. After ordering our beverages and requesting water we eventually got the beverages. We ordered food and WATER again. The food came, but still no water which was really unfortunate considering the food was inedible due to the ridiculous amounts of salt added to everything. Like why could I see crystals of sea salt on my pastrami? ICK! It's pretty hard to mess up a reuben, but somehow they managed it. We asked for water again and finally our request was granted. So, why the bad service? Understaffed? Hardly. There were 3 tables including ours for the 2 servers that were on the deck. It was just bad because they were obviously more interested in the game than doing their jobs. We literally got the bill dropped off at our table before we even got the water we requested! It was just bad, bad, bad. Speaking of the game it's all you could hear. I couldn't have talked to my husband if I wanted to because the game was blaring so loud it drowned out any conversation. Including the request for WATER!! Never again.
(1)Charlie G.
The food is middle of the road bar food but the view is fantastic.
(3)Brian S.
Wonderful, spicy bloody Marys! Dee-lish! And the deck after a full day of skiing, has a great view, outstanding tunes and friendly staff!
(3)Mike B.
5 stars for feeling like you are at a locals joint/people watching 2 stars for speed of service--yeah yeah you are busy, but hire a couple more staff would ya? 3 stars for price. Still expensive, but alot less than most other lionshead choices. 5 stars for location. Can't beat the sundeck just above the gondola and looking out on the mountain 4 stars for American food menu variety. Lots of choices for the big ones and little ones.
(3)Mike E.
A fine place for a pitcher and bar food
(4)Emily H.
A place I always have to visit when I'm in town. The staff is always very friendly and know how to recognize a local's family. The location is perfect for apres ski and for meeting up with family when separated out on the town or on the slopes.
(4)Laura W.
After a day of mountain biking on vail mountain, we went here for a couple of beers. It is in a great location literally at the base of the mountain practically where you get off the gondola. In fact, it is upstairs where you buy your gondola tickets. It was very quiet, hardly anyone there. Vail is pretty quiet during the week, but definitely picks up steam Thursday thru Sunday. We did get the Hummus platter, which I thought was quite yummy and they didn't screw up the beers!
(3)Mags L.
After my first day of boarding in Vail, I headed here to recover, relax and have some food. They have standard American bar food and attracted the young crowd. The servers were pretty busy, but helpful. Oh, and the hot chocolate was very hot and served in a large mug. We ordered fries, a bowl of chili and wings, which we didn't finish. The wings were still pretty damned good when we re-baked them back at our condo. All in all, it was a great way to wrap up boarding.
(4)marisa s.
great apres ski in lionshead! right off the mountain, dust the snow off, blow your nose, take off your layers and pony up to the bar. grab a brew, order some wings and fries and oh yea...loosen your boots! the wings came in many different styles, we got the sea salt and pepper ones, real good! the service was good for it being super packed in there (prime time is probably 3pm-5pm). b/c it's packed be prepared to share a table with some people (in our case a nice couple from Germany who just wanted to have a spiked coffee and a group of Brits who we made fast friends with). don't be "that guy" and sit there holding a table for supposed "others" ...let people sit down, make friends, colorado probably has some of the nicest people in the country!
(4)Patrick A.
Honestly, I love Garfinkels. In my mind, there really isn't a better place for apres in Lionshead, especially if the sun is out. There patio is one of the best in the town and you can relax at the end of the day and watch everyone stumble down the last slopes of the mountain. We went here for lunch, and lets just say, it was a dismal performance. Once we were seated we were served fairly quickly, but after that it was downhill. Once we finished our first beers, it took probably 15 minutes for our waitress to get back to us and take our food order. Once the food came out it was bland and boring. I had the nachos, and honestly I think that I've had better from 7-11, disappointing. Once our meal was finished and our beers were empty, it took us a half an hour to find our waitress. I mean she vanished, poof, gone. Once we saw here we did everything we could to be polite and get her attention, but finally had to resort to walking up and giving her our cards. Then it was another 10-15 minutes before she came back with our reciepts. Normally, on a sunny spring afternoon I would give Garfs a 4 star review, but due to the lack of service I've bumped them down. Take what you will..
(2)Paul A.
Good for burgers, nachos, and beer. Not much else. Also great for an apres ski or mountain activity and in a great location.
(3)Matt R.
nachos were huuuuge, but not the best. our server was great though and the drinks were good too.
(2)Yuri J.
Was here in the summer when the mountains are the time to escape the heat and connect some bike tires to the dirt. Garfinkel's is a ski lodge and does have all the attributes of one, but in the summer it takes on a different feel and still makes you enjoy the setup. Food is affordable for being in Vail and is of a decent caliber. Ask about the specials and you'll strike gold with discounted pitchers and 40% off deals on some plates.
(4)shawn g.
Ended up here three nights in a row during the summer. place was big enough to accomodate large crowds and the outdoor seatring is stellar in the summer. bar staff were very friendly, possibly since they had not too many people to deal with, and they had karaoke on sat night. and only one of my friends got cut off by the bartender :P
(3)