Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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roast beef or deep-fried catfish filet. Several Mexican standards are also offered, as well as
salads and vegetarian items.
45 E. Main St.
&
970/565-6253.
www.thehomesteaders.com. Main courses $5.95-$9.95 lunch, $7.95-
$20 dinner. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11am-9:30pm; summer also Sun 4-9:30pm.
Main St. Brewery and Restaurant
AMERICAN Fans slice the air under a
stamped-tin ceiling, and fanciful murals splash color above subdued wood paneling. The
pleasant contrasts found in the decor carry over to the menu. In addition to brewpub
staples, such as fish and chips, pizza, and bratwurst, this restaurant offers steaks and
prime rib—dry aged Angus beef from its own herd of Angus cattle, raised with no arti-
ficial growth stimulants or antibiotics—plus a vegetarian stir-fry plate and Rocky Moun-
tain trout. The beers brewed here go well with everything. We especially recommend the
hoppy, slightly bitter Pale Export and the Munich-style Pale Bock.
21 E. Main St., Cortez.
&
970/564-9112.
Main courses $6.95-$24. AE, MC, V. Daily 3:30pm-close.
Nero's
ITALIAN/AMERICAN This is our top choice in this area when we're
craving something unique. The innovative entrees, prepared by Culinary Institute of
America chef Richard Gurd, include house specialties such as the Cowboy Steak (a char-
broiled 12-ounce sirloin seasoned with a spicy rub and served with pasta or fries); our
favorite, the mushroom ravioli served with an Alfredo sauce, sautéed spinach, sun-dried
tomatoes, and pecans; and shrimp Alfredo (sautéed shrimp, with spinach, served over
fettuccine with Alfredo sauce and Romano cheese). There's an excellent selection of beef,
plus seafood, fowl, pork, veal, and lots of homemade pasta. A small, homey restaurant
with a Southwestern art-gallery decor, Nero's also offers pleasant outdoor seating in warm
weather.
303 W. Main St.
&
970/565-7366.
www.subee.com/neros/home.html. Reservations recommended in
summer. Entrees $8.95-$21. AE, MC, V. Daily 5-9:30pm. Closed Sun in winter.
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Pippo's Cafe
AMERICAN This friendly, down-home cafe is great for those seeking
a casual ambience, good, basic American cooking, and reasonable prices. Located along
busy Main Street, Pippo's serves only breakfast and lunch—the former, the restaurant's
specialty, is served during all open hours. We especially like the omelets and the home-
made hash browns, but then we wouldn't turn down the steak and eggs, either. The lunch
menu includes the usual burger and fries, along with homemade soups, Navajo tacos, and
fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.
100 W. Main St.
&
970/565-6039.
Main courses $1.90-$5.90. MC, V. Mon-Sat 6:30am-3pm, Sun
6:30am-2pm.
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MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
125 miles E of Bluff; 390 miles SE of Salt Lake City
Mesa Verde is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States, with some 4,000
known sites dating from a.d. 550 to 1300, including the most impressive cliff dwellings
in the Southwest.
The earliest known inhabitants of Mesa Verde (Spanish for “green table”) built subter-
ranean pit houses on the mesa tops. During the 13th century, they moved into shallow
caves and constructed complex cliff dwellings. Despite being a massive construction
project, these homes were only occupied for about a century; their residents left in about
1300 for reasons as yet undetermined.
