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  • Mountain Standard

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Reserve at Mountain Standard

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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
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked
Diner Reviews
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "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
  • "I had salmon and she had the lamb. Both were excellent. Nice wine selection by the glass."
    Dined on 4/9/2014
  • "The selection of starters is fantastic! My favorites are the onion soup (to die for) and the "three little pigs". Definately not for the vegetarian diner, but fabulous all around. I made the mistake or ordering a steak and wish I would have been more adventurous with my entree selection. The special sorbet on the menu was pineapple tarragon and it was out of this world. Also highly recommended is the carrot cake dessert."
    Dined on 4/2/2014
  • "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
  • "The staff are friendly, knowledgable and the food is outstanding. Kayla knows her food and was very helpful in making suggestions. Delicious kale salad and the octopus was so tender. Thank you Chef for your creative and tasty dishes."
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "I love this place. The atmosphere is great and the food is fresh and delicious. Great for carnivores and veggie lovers alike! I always come here when in Vail, but you need a reservation in advance."
    Dined on 3/30/2014
  • "Cocktails & desserts are consistently great. The meals however can be a bit inconsistent. It's all very fresh; oysters, pork and salad were fantastic but the octopus was undercooked and sun chokes with my fish were plain old boring."
    Dined on 3/26/2014
  • "Excellent food, especially the salmon (done medium rare) means you have to have good fish."
    Dined on 3/26/2014
  • "More of a diner atmosphere than fine dining, and pretty dismal service for Vail. The waiter was very blasé, and promptly disappeared before taking our drink order. When we tried to enlist the help of the hostess, she literally pointed at our waiter across the room and said "he's right there." The staff felt like college students punching a clock. The waiter failed to mention that the "caramelized onion soup" was just a French onion soup - I was expecting a more creative preparation, and wouldn't have ordered it if I'd known it was the traditional heavy cheese preparation. The rest of the meal wasn't bad, but wasn't memorable either. With so many good restaurants in Vail, I can only assume this one is surviving on run-off from Sweet Basil."
    Dined on 3/12/2014
  • "The menu at Mountain Standard surprises you- always in a good way! For example, I've never seen olives cooked on a wood fire with golden raisins, and pine nuts- they were delicious! Steak tartare that was course chopped with grilled endive was also different and quite tasty. The entrees were also excellent. I had corned pork shank and my wife trout- both well seasoned and perfect portion sized. Overall, a great Vail experience. (Make sure you have reservations!)"
    Dined on 3/22/2014
  • "We had a delicious dinner, excellent service, and a great time. Affordable This is one not to miss in Vail."
    Dined on 3/20/2014
  • "This restaurant strikes a perfect balance of upscale and relaxed. The front staff is always friendly and welcoming. The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of food and drink. There is a very cool vibe in this place, and a wonderful mix of families, friends and couples. I must also add that the kitchen staff is very lively. Send some "kitchen sauce" their way and you'll see what I mean. Love them! Food is so delicious and creative!! Excellent seafood and appetizers. I have never been disappointed in this restaurant. Definitely a must whenever you are in Vail!"
    Dined on 3/20/2014
  • "We decided to eat lunch here after learning it is a sister restaurant to Sweet Basil. Ordered a sampling of seafood appetizers that were all delicious and fresh. We were most impressed with the mussels and the scallop ceviche. The mussels had a unique blend of fennel and sausage that were a great compliment to the mussels. The ceviche is one of the best we've had. Fresh scallops paired with razor thin slices of radish, fresh parsley and topped with toasted farro for an interesting contrast in the dish. Highly recommend this restaurant if you love fresh food prepared in interesting ways. Best place we dined in while staying in Vail by a long shot."
    Dined on 3/13/2014
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