Powered By OpenTable: Restaurant Reservations. Right this way.
Restaurant Reservations - Free • Instant • Confirmed

  • Mountain Standard

  • Online Reservations

Reserve at Mountain Standard

Date

mm/dd/yyyy

Time
Party Size
Mountain Standard
Mountain Standard

Mountain Standard Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.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
Foodspotting photos
See all photos >
Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerAmerican
  • Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies
  • Diners' Choice WinnerHot Spot
Diner Reviews
  • "apps were great but the two steaks ordered medium were very rare and because of the lavish presentation (with various things all over steaks - a good thing) it made it hard to send the steaks back for more cooking. We are big fans of this place and have eaten here several times with all previous times being great."
    Dined on 7/26/2014
  • "My husband and I were in Vail for one night and, after much internet research, settled on dinner at Mountain Standard. It was fabulous. From the food and drinks to the service to the atmosphere, everything was perfect. Our dishes (I had the chicken and biscuits and he had the hanger steak) were seasoned perfectly. We ordered a side of creamed corn - delicious! I could go on and on. Check it out!"
    Dined on 7/26/2014
  • "We were greeted by the host when we arrived for our 6:15 pm reservation. Our party of four was then directed to a booth in the back of the restaurant near the restrooms. As having been there several times. I knew this to be too busy of an area for conservation and asked and was moved to a better location. After being seated, it took a while before we were greeted by the server and provided with water. The restaurant was busy at the outside seating area, but not inside at this time. We were then asked for our drink order and while thinking, we ordered two appetizers. One came on time, the other arrived with our dinner order. We took our time in reviewing the menus, food and wine, and felt at times that this was a problem. Felt rushed."
    Dined on 7/23/2014
  • "Can't say enough about this GEM. Great menu, great service and outstanding food. The management and staff are extremely professional. We sat where we could see the kitchen. WOW! Talk about well run - this place is amazing!"
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "This place was kid-friendly for our one year old and all the food was delicious. Go here- you will not regret it."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "Good creative menu and food. Every food item prepared was very good, including the coctails. The atmosphere, I would call, upbeat, modern, rustic casual was inviting and appropriate for what they are trying to do. Staff is friendly and efficient. Our only complaint was the turn and burn pace of the experience. We had anticipated this from other reviews so only gave eack course order when we were ready to receive, and then before we could sit back and relax the food arrived. For this price point and the atmosphere they are trying for, a little slow food experience would welcome."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "The noise level was unbearable. Diners were noisy. Staff was noisy. One could barely hear fellow diners opposite side of the booth. Too bad, because loved the food and will recommend with noise caveat."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Get the shrimp & grits, asparagus and egg, anything recommended by your server. All top-notch!"
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "We had a perfect meal/evening at Mountain Standard! Sat at a patio table overlooking the river. Started with a smooth D.A.C. to drink. The wood grilled bruschetta with sweet pea hummus and the pimento cheese with bacon jam were excellent starters. The Rotisserie pork loin over the creamed corn and with mustard greens was juicy and very flavorful. My friends cleaned their plates of the striped bass and shrimp and grits. Service was excellent and all staff were enthusiastic about their menu. We'll return again during this visit to Colorado. A must got to restaurant when near Vail!!!"
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Food was remarkably tasty. Well served and would definitely recommend it"
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "4 of us had lunch at Mountain Standard and we were all impressed with the quality of the food. Everything was delicious and enjoyable"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "We were in Vail for the 4th of July weekend, so the fact that the place was crowded was no surprise - glad we had a reservation. This was our first visit into Vail so we were using Google map to find our way around. After meandering around the plaza we gave up trying to find this place and walked into a pet boutique to ask for directions. Past the fountain, down the stairs, turn left . . . finally found it. We were seated a little past our reserved time, but the service was so good that the late seating was quickly forgotten. I ordered the trout and my husband ordered the chicken - both cooked to perfection. This isn't the place for nice quiet conversation with the bar situated right next to the dining area, but it was a nice dinner."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "Nice energy inside and great appetizers. The pimento cheese is amazing!"
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "The food was amazing. We shared trout and the chicken with a biscuit. Crazy good! The shrimp and grits had us liking the bowl. Fries were the best. Matt and team took great care if us. Definitely on our list to return...and rave about."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Placed a reservation on Open Table and placed in special request section the desire to sit near the window. The greeting we got was that we knew you wanted a window view but we just seated someone at one of those tables but we hope another will become available in the next 20 minutes. The next one was not available for another hour. It was obvious that the restaurant couldn't manage their seating or special requests. We were seated in a corner of the bar where it was hard to hear and dark . This steak place had two steaks with limited flavor. Shrimp and grit appetizer was good. Hostess came around a few times because she knew they didn't deliver and offered a dessert. But, anyone can take requests, but the deal is in managing them."
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "Great place with a unique menu of options. Only one dish wasn't what we had hoped but the rest was really good."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "We had a great lunch on the patio, but the only negative was that the music was extremely loud and the music kept cutting on and off like they had bad reception, so it was a little distracting and unpleasant. Other than that the food and service were great!"
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "When we arrived we were greeted by a cheery receptionist and promptly seated. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, friendly and engaging. We ordered the Pork Navarin and the Rotisserie chicken. The flavors of the meat were savory and smoky, exploding deliciously in our mouths. The burnt honey was a great contrast to the crispy roasted chicken."
    Dined on 6/19/2014
  • "We almost cancelled our reservation when we learned this is the sister restaurant of Sweet Basil. Even though Sweet Basil is supposed to be the best restaurant in Colorado, it's creative, artful food completely lacked flavor. It seemed to be more about the chef than the food. In contrast, Mountain Standard's fare was flavorful and delicious. To start, "Three Little Pigs," was an educational, fun, and delicious tasting of ham from Virginia (our home state), Italy and Spain. We appreciated the choice of Atlantic vs. Pacific raw oysters. I loved my mountain trout and my husband's flat iron steak. In the casual and welcoming atmosphere, it was fun to watch the chefs in action, but it was more than show as evidenced by the delectable dishes!"
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "Dinner with the family last weekend. Read all of the hype on the internet and pleased that that our experience from start to finish was extraordinary. Our only regret was that we hadn't tried the restaurant sooner. I'll try to keep it short: don't miss the Bruschetta for starters, although the animal crackers were a treat as well. Loved the pork shank along with nibbles of the steak and chicken from the kids' plates. Returning soon to try more. Hope you are us lucky as we were to be greeted and looked after throughout our meal by Mountain Standard's gracious Manager, Dave. Cheers!"
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "One of the best meals we have had in a long time. The food was just spectacular. "
    Dined on 5/30/2014
  • "We had a great lunch here with a superior server named Mary. She was low key, totally knowledgable and efficient. The roasted olives were incredible. The pea shoot bruschetta and asparagus with slow egg were wonderful. We could have kept eating all afternoon. Good wine list and cocktails. Not to be missed in Vail. "
    Dined on 5/28/2014
  • "Had a good meal at Mountain Standard this past Sunday. Great people watching, acceptable service and good food. Coal Smoked Olives are a highlight. Also good onion rings with a spicy ranch dressing dipping sauce. Salmon with mushrooms, pickled turnips, fava beans, asparagus and Dashi butter was tasty, but nearly ruined by the foam that covered the whole thing. Would have given four stars for food except for this ill-conceived idea. Burger was excellent and enormous. Service was a bit slow, but we had a great table next to the windows overlooking Gore Creek, so not really a problem. Overall a very good place for lunch."
    Dined on 5/25/2014
  • "Wonderful place. We loved it, especially the roasted olives and the inion rings. There were six of us and we all got diggerents thaings and everyone was oh so happy."
    Dined on 5/17/2014
  • "Everything on the menu is the delicious. If you like trout, theirs is one of the best, according to my mom. Personally, the salmon was amazing. I love how everything comes with a sauce and some veggies. We went two nights in a row and pretty much had everything on the menu between three people. Drink-wise, how can you go wrong with a Ketal One on the rocks for 9 bucks and it's to the rim?? Our servers were Mary one night and John the other and they were great too. Willing to tell us what was great on the menu. John took us outside our comfort zone and recommended the sashimi which was amazing! You cannot go wrong with Mountain Standard in Vail! Bypass Elways any day!"
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "No host upon arriving, we just stood there until a waiter noticed us and seated us. Waiter's uniform visibly dirty. Ordered 2 glasses of wine, delivered them cupped in his hand, no tray. Ordered, asked second waiter (dirty uniform also) what that seed looking thing was on the plate, he blurted out "pine nuts", obviously wasn't pine nuts, he took another stab at it but was wrong again. Had to ask for forks for 2nd course. Waiter shuffled away, noticed his tattered pants dragging on the floor. "Animal Crackers" stale, ridiculous heap of a portion falling off the plate, chicken liver mousse had sort of skunky taste. Trout way overcooked, pork was good, dessert pre-sliced out of a cooler, served ice cold tasting of the refrigerator. "
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Excellent service, food, and drink start to finish. I had the salmon and it was one of the best salmon dishes I've had. Also had beet salad which was also very good. Our entire table was highly satisfied with our dining experience and quality of food. Jamie was our server, who was excellent and knowledgable, and just made everything that much better. "
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Dropped in Sunday for lunch. Excellent salmon. Fresh vegetables and light but tasty sauce. Friendly, attentive service in a bright, uncluttered ambiance. "
    Dined on 5/4/2014
  • "Consistently good. I think I could eat here every day!"
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "Great spot. It's our new favorite spot in Vail. Trout is outstanding."
    Dined on 4/28/2014
  • "Just LOVE what you guys (and gals) do with food! Can't wait for our next visit."
    Dined on 4/20/2014
  • "Went with a group...every dish was plated Beautifully, incredibly flavored, creative coctails actually containing liquor, fun server.....this single restaurant gave us all a new outlook on dining in Vail! How can such great food be served in a fun, attractive, low keyed environment?! And if you ask for onion rings...forget about it...gourmet.."
    Dined on 4/19/2014
  • "The food was innovative and delicious. Each dish was cooked to perfection. The desserts were much too good, but after a day in the Back Bowls, why not?"
    Dined on 4/14/2014
  • "Our group of four lunched at Mountain Standard on a Saturday. All the entrees were very good. The burgers are quite large - may consider splitting if you are not that hungry. Nice assortment of both draft and bottles beer. The signature drinks were both creative and tasty."
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "Food is always delicious. Recommend the salmon and pork shank. Kale salad also good!!! Service was a little slow but overall very friendly. Will go back many times!"
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "Two words - kale salad. Delicious! The service was outstanding and we sat at a little table by the window with a great view. All in all - wonderful experience! We'll definitely be back."
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "I had the chicken salad. Not great. The lettuce was wet, and it was overpriced. Second time there Will not return."
    Dined on 4/10/2014
  • "I had salmon and she had the lamb. Both were excellent. Nice wine selection by the glass."
    Dined on 4/9/2014
  • "Restaurant has a good name but they served under done chicken to two of us. That is dangerous. There are a lot of really good restaurants in Vail. Their sister restaurant Sweet Basil, La Tour, Leonora, The Left Bank, Elways, Lord Gore are all far superior"
    Dined on 4/7/2014
  • "Good quality food very similar to it's older sibling, Sweet Basil's. More limited selection and lacking the gustatory excellence of SB's however. Cost not much off of SB's either. Limited seating and unremarkable decor. I suppose if one is bored with Sweet Basil's, Mt. Standard could provide a change of pace. For me, I'll just stick to the original and forgo the "sub-standard"."
    Dined on 4/7/2014
More reviews ›
Larger map ›
Smaller map ›
Diners' Choice Awards
  • Mountains Winners
  • American
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Hot Spot
  • Most Booked
Learn more ›