Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [357]
Estes Park Brewery
470 Prospect Village Dr. ☎ 970/586-5421. www.epbrewery.net. Sandwiches and salads $5.95–$8.95; dinner main courses (after 4pm) $9.95–$18. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Summer daily 11am–midnight (closes earlier in winter). AMERICAN.
Pizzas, burgers, sandwiches—including meatball and grilled turkey—and bratwurst made with the brewery's own beer are the fare here. Vegetarians can order a veggie burger and a variety of salads; kids have their own menu. In addition, the menu lists a number of full dinners, ranging from barbecued chicken and ribs to steak. The brewery offers about 10 fresh beers at a time, specializing in Belgian-style ales. It also produces an excellent India pale ale and an especially pleasant stout.
Grumpy Gringo
1560 Big Thompson Ave. (U.S. 34). ☎ 970/ 586-7705. www.grumpygringo.com. Main courses $6.60–$15. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am–10pm summer, 11am–8pm off season. Closed last week of Jan, 1st week of Feb. On U.S. 34, 1 mile east of the junction of U.S. Highways 34 and 36. MEXICAN.
Dine in style at this classy Mexican restaurant without breaking the bank. The private booths, whitewashed plaster walls, green plants, bright poppies, and a few choice sculptures provide a posh atmosphere. And although the food is excellent and portions large, the prices are surprisingly low. Our choice here is a burrito, but which one to choose? Besides burritos, we also recommend the huge enchilada olé. It's actually three enchiladas: one each of cheese, beef, and chicken. The fajitas (chicken or beef) are delicious. Diners choose from six homemade sauces, rated mild, semihot, or hot. Burgers and sandwiches are also available. The house specialty drink is the Gringo Margarita, made with Sauza Gold tequila from an original (and secret) recipe.
Molly B
200 Moraine Ave. ☎ 970/586-2766. www.estesparkmollyb.com. Reservations recommended for dinner. Main courses $3.95–$8.25 breakfast, $5.50–$7.55 lunch, $6.25–$19 dinner. AE, MC, V. Year-round Thurs–Tues 6:30am–3pm; May–Sept Thurs–Tues 4:30–9pm. AMERICAN.
It's hard to not feel right at home at this busy restaurant, where the atmosphere is casual and the staff treats you like an old friend. Located in an older downtown building, the dining room has light pine walls and tables that add to the down-home atmosphere. Molly B is especially popular at breakfast, when the menu includes specialties such as our favorite, the sunrise stuffer—a large tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and spicy chorizo. Lunch and dinner selections include vegetarian entrees, fresh seafood (we suggest grilled Rocky Mountain trout), pasta, and steak. Desserts are made in-house— try the mud pie (chocolate and mocha ice cream in an Oreo cookie crust, topped with fudge). Patio seating, allowing good people-watching along the noisy street, is available in warm weather. Note that dinner is served only from May through September.
Silverado
Lake Shore Lodge, 1700 Big Thompson Hwy. ☎ 970/577-6422. www.lakeshorelodge.com. Reservations recommended for dinner in summer. Main courses $4.95–$9.95 lunch, $11–$32 dinner. AE, DISC, MC, V. June–Oct daily 7am–2pm and 5–10pm; shorter hours Nov–May (call for schedule). STEAK/SEAFOOD.
This fine-dining restaurant at the Lake Shore Lodge (see "Where to Stay," earlier) boasts wonderful views, both of Lake Estes and out at the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. The dining room, of massive log post-and-beam construction, is simply but tastefully decorated in a Western theme. Dinner entrees are the way we like them—top-quality meat and fish, carefully prepared with only limited use of sauces. We especially like the grilled 10-ounce buffalo rib-eye and the grilled Colorado lamb chop. There are also several chicken dishes. Our fish choice is pan-seared Rocky Mountain trout with capers, lemon, and herb butter sauce. The lunch menu offers a good selection of salads and