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Mountain Standard
Mountain Standard

Mountain Standard Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.mtnstandard.com
  • Email: info@mtnstandard.com
  • Phone: (970) 476-0123
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Daily: 11:30am - 5:00pm
    Dinner: Daily: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: American, Seafood, Steak
  • Executive Chef: Paul Anders
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar Dining, Beer, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wine

Getting there

  • Public Transit: The Vail Village free in town bus shuttle is available year round throughout the village. Take the bus to the Covered Bridge stop and proceed as noted below. Free public transportation is also available from East to West Vail into the Transportation Center at the main parking structure.
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: Mtn Standard is located in the heart of the Vail Village, which is a pedestrian village. Take interstate 70 to the Vail exit #176. Proceed through rotary intersections so that you wind up heading East on the So. Frontage Road (ski mountain side of the highway). Go eastbound approx.¼ mile to the Vail Village parking structure. Exit the structure out the middle portal to the south. Go across the Covered Bridge another 75 yards, and go right on Gore Creek Dr. We are down the steps past the Fountain
A word from Mountain Standard
From the creators of Sweet Basil in Vail Colorado comes a fresh, innovative new restaurant opening December 2012. Aptly named Mountain Standard, this rustic and relaxed tavern aims to set a new standard in the Vail valley by using an ancient form of cooking.

The majority of Mountain… Standard’s menu will be prepared via the most primal cooking method: over an open and live wood fire. The only restaurant in the valley to devote themselves to this age-old way of cooking, the food at this exciting new restaurant will have rustic, bold and honest flavors, focusing on the purest ingredients in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.

Service, like the cuisine, will have that perfect balance of providing a first class dining experience with a more casual vibe. There is no smoke and mirrors here - no fuss - just simple, honest, from the heart service and cooking. The beauty of the creek side location is mirrored by the high energy vibe of this dynamic restaurant.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked
Diner Reviews
  • "We have been coming to Vail for more than 2 decades and are very happy to have discovered Mountain Standard on our recent visit. It has a modern but rustic feel with a busy bar, and we sat in a comfortable booth. Even though it was a busy night and we arrived on the wrong day (our oops!) they were kind enough to accomodate us. The moniker for the restaurant is a pig so we thought we might be in for a heavy meat menu, but we were wrong. I am a vegan and i had a delicious kale salad with grilled squash. Then, the chef prepared an OUTSTANDING assortment of vegetables. My husband loved his pork and sea scallops and all the dishes were grilled to perfection. Service was very professional. We will be back!"
    Dined on 3/9/2014
  • "Everything from the location on Gore Creek to the cool ambiance. Had a great time here. The entree list is not large but seemed to have enough variety. Wood fired cooking"
    Dined on 3/10/2014
  • "We always enjoy the food at Mountain Standard. The service needs help. Who's in charge???"
    Dined on 3/6/2014
  • "We order the steak special. Waiter forgot to tell us price. Guess how much? steak was$80!!!!! Yikes."
    Dined on 12/1/2013
  • "Its unaniomous that we eat here as our first pick when returning to Vail. Please add a few more Brussels sprouts to the salmon for total perfection!"
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "I've been to Mountain Standard several times, and all have been excellent. It is clear that the wonderful food, service and management of Sweet Basil have been handed down to this "offspring". I recommend it highly!"
    Dined on 3/3/2014
  • "Last Sunday my husband, daughter and I had lunch at Mountain Standard, along Gore Creek in the Vail Village. It is the sister restaurant of Sweet Basil, a long-time favorite. From the roasted tomato Bloody Mary with tomolives to the (shared) slice of cheese cake, everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Grilled flatbread with apple butter, pancetta and taleggio cheese was just plain yummy and enough for 2 or 3. The Colorado leg of lamb salad and the Maine lobster pot pie were perfectly prepared and came in generous portions. Creative dishes come from the open kitchen and the service was excellent."
    Dined on 3/2/2014
  • "I was excited to eat at Mountain Standard because I'd heard such great things. While the food was good, it doesn't hold a candle to sister restaurant Sweet Basil. Fine for a more casual dinner, but the wine list was pretty limited. It was also definitely a lot louder than some other restaurants around Vail - probably great for a group of friends, but not a romantic dinner."
    Dined on 2/25/2014
  • "Try to short rib sandwich. truly outstanding.. Had Lunch after skying and everything was great, but the sandwich was to die for."
    Dined on 3/2/2014
  • "What was all the hype about? The food was good, but just as good as many other restaurants in Vail Village - Not fit for foodies though. The only difference is the other restaurants offer comfort, class and ambience with the price. No table cloths, no candles, no elegance, cardboard menus (guess they think this is chic), and crowded. If you are unlucky enough to be seated at the tables with "the view of the creek", bring a back pillow because they are "cafe style" hard wood table and metal chairs; or better yet - ask to move to a booth. I was not impressed. I wish I would have chosen another venue and for the same high price have gotten more of a relaxing experience than Mountain Standard offered."
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "We did not enjoy the food here at all. This restaurant is nowhere near the standard of Sweet Basils - it's parent. The green vegetable was inedible and the meal thrown together in the latest casual style. The desserts are not nice - we had the chocolate dessert which was so dense and heavy we could not eat it. Both of us had indigestion afterwards. Not good food at all. My daughter had eaten here before and on that occasion could hardly eat the ribeye steak for two it was so fatty. But we have it another try. We won't return."
    Dined on 2/24/2014
  • "This was our 3rd visit to Mountain Standard. It is our favorite restaurant when we visit Vail. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the overall feeling is that you are in a cool, hip restaurant. Their famous Bloody Mary's you cannot go wrong with any of their meals. Even the salads look like a piece of artwork! The portions are perfect and their ingredients and main courses are beautifully presented as well with excellent flavors and quality of food."
    Dined on 2/17/2014
  • "Inventive, modern American menu; fun wine list; vibrant, energetic scene; informative servers; fun open kitchen; super bar area!"
    Dined on 2/16/2014
  • "Our fifth time at Mountain Standard and it was underwhelming. There were several open tables and we were seated next to the kitchen. Staff almost ran us over while we were getting settled at our table and then again when we were leaving. Our server forgot my son's drink twice. No one brought condiments with our food and when we asked it still took 5 minutes of us looking at our food and waiting. Just underwhelmed especially since my last visit I threw a party for 25 people there last season."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "I didn't make reservations quick enough to get into Sweet Basil but was able to try out Mountain Standard for the first time. From the moment you walk in you can smell that wood fire aroma. The atmosphere was excellent, staff very friendly, service excellent. I would definitely return. A less formal place than Sweet Basil- more of a fun, hot spot with amazing food."
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "I was sold on this restaurant when I was told that it is Sweet Basil's sister restaurant. It is nearly impossible to get a reservation there unless you plan ahead. We were sat at a window overlooking the ice sculptures. My friend had her baby with us and no one gave us any looks. The service was great. The refilled the water several times without us having to get their attention. I had a glass of wine that wasn't great, but not terrible. We had a salad and a sandwich. They both were great. Suggestion, if you get a salad for a meal, add the protein, otherwise you will leave hungry. The food came out in a short amount of time and was delicious. I can see that the perfect food flavors run in the family."
    Dined on 2/11/2014
  • "A typical Vail restaurant... loud, cold, expensive. Tables along the long front window are cold, and since there is no noise insulation anywhere, the sound reverberating off all surfaces makes it difficult to have a conversation without yelling, which encourages neighboring tables to yell even louder. The food was good, portions reasonable, but prices for what you get are higher than anywhere in the USA. Figure on a minimum of $100pp for a mid-priced glass of wine, soup, appetizer and main course, tax and tip ."
    Dined on 2/11/2014
  • "Sweet Basil has long been our favorite dinner spot in Vail, but their sister restaurant Mountain Standard is now a strong contender for our top pick. Food items tend to be locally produced and expertly prepared. The pork, salmon and trout dishes were excellent and the side of Brussels sprouts converted two people at our table who claimed no love of the vegetable. It can be difficult to bring a larger group here as the place is small and most tables seat 2 or 4 with just a few 6 seater booths. On the plus side, it does has a more intimate feel than most restaurants. Prices seem reasonable for the food quality. Love the pig etched glasses cut from wine bottles. They usually have these for sell if you ask."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "I was impressed the minute I walked into the restaurant! The incredible smell of wonderful food is like walking into a home of chefs!! The corned pork shank is an absolute favorite!! I encourage everyone to put this on their bucket list!! My recommendation for wine is: 2010 Vieux Telegraphe “Telegramme”. It is $90 a bottle and worth every drop. Treat yourself; you are in Vail!!!"
    Dined on 2/9/2014
  • "We've been twice and enjoyed every morsel. Interesting menu with inventive food combinations. The flatbread with apple butter is a must as a shared starter as well as the homemade pâté. The pork shank entree and whole trout were excellent."
    Dined on 2/10/2014
  • "We enjoyed our meal at Mountain Standard. The pork shank was delicious, as was the bone-in ribeye for two. Solid execution from the hostess until dessert. We'll go back."
    Dined on 2/9/2014
  • "Very impressed with our visit to MS last week, the food was imaginative and original - really well presented and very tasty"
    Dined on 2/5/2014
  • "Overall this place has potential, but we must have caught them on an off night... First, we waited over 40 minute after or reservation time to be seated. Once we were finally seated we ordered some drinks and 2 appetizers. Only 1 of 2 appetizers came out so we had to remind the waiter that we should have another plate on its way. After we received our last appetizers all of our food arrived. The Corned Pork Shank was a good, the NY Strip was alright, it came out cold. It would be nice to say how the Brussels Sprouts tasted, but they never came. At this point with how long we had been at the restaurant we did not want to wait for anymore food. Over all it was a long, and forgetful experience with ok food."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Excellent menu, well prepared and nicely presented. Attentive service with good recommendations. Will return."
    Dined on 2/3/2014
  • "The Charred Baby Octopus is the best dish I have ever had in any Vail restaurant."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "We enjoyed this much more than Sweet Basil. The food was better quality and our server was attentive and friendly. Excellent!!!"
    Dined on 1/16/2014
  • "excellent meal, the salmon and pork shank were delicious as well as the kale/squash salad."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "Vail co has so many outstanding culinary experiences. every time I return to Mountain Standard... the food and service are outstanding. the menu is different... the bone marrow is off the charts and this time I had the rotisserie chicken salad. just great. going back next visit"
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "The whole Rocky Mountain trout was probably the best trout I've ever had...moist and full of flavour. The appetizer of cooked olives was large enough to share and was also very good. However, avoid the Caesar salad...it was very salty."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "We are up in Vail for a week of skiing and we always like to go out to dinner 1 night and find it fun to try a different place each time we come up here. I'd read a few reviews and so I thought Mountain Standard was worth a try. What a pleasant surprise. There were 3 of us and we all loved it. From our drinks, appetizer, soup, and main courses everything was VERY good. I had lamb and my only complaint was that the serving was so generous it didn't leave any room for dessert. My husband and our friend had the trout, which they both raved about. The service was terrific too. If you are looking for a nice (casual) place to dine in Vail I would highly recommend Mountain Standard."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "Fabulous food, A-1 service. They handled a group of 7 effortlessly. Highly recommend."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "Pork shenk was one of the tastiest we had tried. Fun place with energetic crowd."
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "I don't get to Vail often, but this one was good. Tucked away off the beaten path but along the river, it is lovely, warm and inviting. Unique menu, small vineyard wines, and appropriate service. Not too much, not too little. Had oysters and pork shank with a nice Cab by the glass. Very relaxing. In the summer they have outdoor seating too. I will go back."
    Dined on 1/13/2014
  • "Beautiful decor, creative menu and great service. We had a great time."
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "This may be a meat-foodie's paradise but it did not hit all the spots for me. The veal marrow dish was superb and the food was great but a bit too much of a steakhouse--then again, its sign is a pig. Friendly, knowledgeable and spot-on staff."
    Dined on 12/25/2013
  • "Squash Kale salad was very good and the salmon entrée was done to perfection."
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "First evening in Vail and what a way to be welcomed! Fabulous server, great beverage program,craft beers, cocktails and enough yummy items for the less adventurous carnivore. Salads look fabulous, had to have the pigs ears! and the king salmon was spectacular and a locally renowned pastry chef. Bravo!"
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "this is a great restaurant. the bone marrow is drop dead!! all of the food is made with a exiting twist and the service is excellent. strongly recommend"
    Dined on 1/10/2014
  • "Great diverse menu. The Pork entrée was fantastic. Our waiter recommended several items and each was outstanding. Best meal we had in Vail..."
    Dined on 1/4/2014
  • "We were excited to go to this place because we have never had a bad meal at the companion place Sweet Basil. The service was prompt and friendly; however, we were all disappointed with the food. We chose to go on a night when the vegetarian in our family was not with us because, as was explained to me on the phone! they were not able to accommodate vegetarians beyond, "leaving the meat off a salad." That is fine, especially given their logo, it is clear that they focus on hearty, meaty fare. It's just that not one of the four of us enjoyed our food. We each had a salad or soup and an entree and no alcohol, but with tip, our bill was almost $300.00. For that price, I expect the food to be as "sweet" as Sweet Basil!"
    Dined on 1/8/2014
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