Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For dinner, slip into a red booth for delicious black truffle flatbread or poached halibut
served over a gorgeous mint-pea puree.
Syzygy
( 970-925-3700;
www.syzygyrestaurant.com
;
308 E Hopkins Ave; mains $26-55; from 6pm)
Tucked into a
basement on Aspen's restaurant row, this elegant dining room showcases the considerable
talents of a local chef who's been feeding Aspen Jazz Festival VIPs for years (through his
catering company). Think herb-crusted Colorado lamb, elk tenderloin and pan-seared
scallops with gnocchi.
EUROPEAN
$$$
Wild Fig
MODERN AMERICAN
$$$
( 970-925-5160;
www.thewildfig.com
;
315 E Hyman Ave; mains $22-38; 11:30am-3pm summer, 5:30pm-close
year round)
This bright, tiled dining room and patio edged with flower boxes packs plenty of
gourmet cheer. It does a nightly risotto, a tender grilled-octopus salad and an enticing fig-
glazed pork chop. Its small plates are also worth considering - we loved the marinated
figs with pancetta, the pan-seared scallops and the fire-roasted clams with chorizo.
JAPANESE
$$$
Takah Sushi
( 970-925-8588;
www.takahsushi.com
;
320 Mill St; mains $26-31, rolls $9-16; 5:30pm-late)
It's not as cel-
ebrated as Matsuhisa, but Takah Sushi is not quite as expensive either and this fun base-
ment and patio sushi bar has tasty cooked small plates too. Think sirloin-wrapped as-
paragus, Kobe beef sliders, atomic lobster (yeah, it's spicy), the usual sushi and some cre-
ative rolls, such as the ninja (tempura avocado and crab salad wrapped in tuna).
Red Onion
PUB FOOD
$$$
(
970-925-9955;
www.redonionaspen.com
; 420 E Cooper Ave; lunch $10-14, dinner $18-21;
11am-2am;
)
Open since 1892, this saloon has been recently renovated with a certain mountain-bistro
flair. The fusion menu has a brainy side, starring mango and brie quesadillas, and grilled
lamb chops in a habanero preserve, plus you've gotta love a joint that serves chicken and
waffles for (late) breakfast. The kitchen stays open well into the night.
