Aspen Times Weekly Food Matters: Last Call!
CLOSED
Cache Cache (June 6)
Chefs Club (May 14)
Hotel Jerome (May 22)
La Palapa
Pinions (June 17)
Plato’s Restaurant (June 9)
Prospect Restaurant and J-Bar at Hotel Jerome (May 22)
Pyramid Bistro (June 6)
LAST-CALL
39 Degrees at Sky Hotel
Closed April 21-25;
April 28-May 21
709 E. Durant Ave.
970-925-6760
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Ajax Tavern
Après: $15 burger&beer, $2/oysters
Closed April 21-May 15
685 E. Durant Ave.
970-920-6334
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Brexi Brasserie
3 courses, $35
Closed April 21
411 S. Monarch St.
970-925-2838
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Brunelleschi’s
Closed April 28-May 10
205 S. Mill St.
970-544-4644
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Casa Tua
$39, 3 courses
Closed April 21-June 1
403 S. Galena St.
970-920-7277
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CP Burger
Closed April 27-May 15
433 E. Durant Ave.
970-925-3056
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Creperie du Village
40% off raclette, fondue
Closed April 19-June 2
400 E. Hopkins Ave.
970-925-1566
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Element 47
$10 bottomless mimosas Sun.
Closed April 21-May 15
675 E. Durant Ave.
970-920-6330
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Ellina
Closed April 20-June 2
430 E. Hyman Ave.
970-925-2976
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Finbarr’s Irish Pub
Meatball Mon., $11
Wed. Burger Night
Closed April 27-May 21
415 E. Hyman Ave.
970-925-2719
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Jimmy’s Restaurant
Closed April 27-May 6
205 S. Mill St.
970-925-6020
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Justice Snow’s
Closed May 11-26
328 E. Hyman Ave.
970-429-8192
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Su Casa
Closing Party May 3
Closed May 4-21
315 E. Hyman Ave.
970-920-1488
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The Red Onion
Closed April 21 – May 15
420 E. Cooper Ave.
970-925-9955
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The Wild Fig
Closed April 21-May 15
315 E. Hyman Ave.
970-925-5160
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Zane’s Tavern
Closed April 21
308 S. Hunter St.
970-544-9263
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Zeno
Closed April 21-May 24
501 E. Dean St.
970-429-8588
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LIMITED HOURS
bb’s
2 dishes, $21
Closed Sun.-Mon.
525 E. Cooper Ave.
970-429-8284
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Campo de Fiori
2 courses, $29
Closed Mon.-Tue.
205 S. Mill St.
970-920-7717
Kenichi
50% off sushi rolls
533 E. Hopkins Ave.
970-920-2212
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L’Hostaria
Closed Sun.-Mon.
620 E. Hyman Ave.
970-925-9022
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Mezzaluna
$1 oysters, Thu.
Closed Sun.
624 E. Cooper Ave.
970-925-5882
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Rustique Bistro
$26, 3-course fried chicken, Thu.
50% off dinner; 10% off wine
Closed Sun.-Mon.
216 S. Monarch St.
970-920-2555
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Steakhouse No. 316
Closed Mon.-Tue.
316 E. Hopkins Ave.
970-920-1893
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The Meatball Shack
312 S. Mill St.
970-925-1349
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BUSINESS AS USUAL
Acquolina
415 E. Main St.
970-925-8222
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Asie Restaurant
413 E. Main St.
970-920-9988
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Cantina
Daily specials
411 E. Main St.
970-925-3663
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Limelight Hotel
355 S. Monarch St.
970-925-3025
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Matsuhisa Aspen
303 E. Main St.
970-544-6628
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Ryno’s Pies & Pints
430 E. Cooper Ave.
970-922-7966
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The Square Grouper
304 E. Hopkins Ave.
970-429-4968
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White House Tavern
302 E. Hopkins Ave.
970-925-1007
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Zocalito Latin Bistro
420 E. Hyman Ave.
970-920-1991
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FAREWELL FOR FOREVER
Takah Sushi
Ute City Restaurant
NEED AN UPDATE?
Aspen Chamber: 970-925-1940 aspenchamber.org
SLIDING UP TO the bar at Jimmy’s last Wednesday around 7, my pal Corby and I were struck by two things: That we didn’t have to wait for two seats to open up during restaurant primetime — and hover awkwardly in the entryway — and the sea of familiar faces. Our walk from the Wheeler Opera House was shrouded in the kind of eerie silence that creeps into town after Spring Break, but inside Jimmy’s we found a cocktail of longtime friends and laid-back energy. Our fearless bartender Dylan commented that he doesn’t see some locals at all during peak season — they know better than to battle the throngs of jetsetters and snow bunnies. We nodded between bites of lobster mac, and reveled in the chill, insiders-only vibe, which is why we choose Jimmy’s in the first place. Aspen Mountain won’t close for another couple of weekends, but one thing is clear: offseason is here.
Even local-favorite haunts like Jimmy’s need a couple of weeks to recharge, offering chefs, cooks, and hospitality folk a much-deserved, long-anticipated break. (See sidebar below for details.) Brunelleschi’s, which normally remains open year-round, is taking a few weeks off to do some remodeling. Aspen’s original watering hole, the J-Bar at Hotel Jerome, goes dark until May 22.
“We close pretty much every year to deep clean and refresh the old girl,” explains Susie Lee, marketing and creative projects manager.
Despite Aspen Skiing Co.’s announcement to extend spring skiing on Aspen Mountain past the initial closing date of April 20, this weekend could be seen as our last hurrah — at least, to après at Ajax Tavern or sip bottomless mimosas for $10 (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday) at The Little Nell. Across town, many restaurants — Brexi Brasserie, Casa Tua, Creperie du Village, Ellina, Red Onion, Wild Fig, and Zeno included — shut down on Sunday.
Others use this time to test specials. Finbarr’s Irish Pub inaugurates Meatball Mondays ($11) and resurrects Wednesday Burger Night before closing for a month beginning April 27. Such evenings hark to executive chef Joe Flamer’s popular Curry Nights last fall.
“All of these specials are specifically created with locals in mind,” says Kelly O’Donovan, co-owner with her husband, Denis. “They are the reason we created Finbarr’s. Denis has lived and worked in Aspen for 20 years and is familiar with what locals want. From 20-somethings to local families to the old ski bums, we see them all at the pub on a regular basis.”
The good, the few, the brave remain open nonstop — albeit with limited hours — before the gluttonous, booze-soaked Food & Wine Classic kicks off a new season of fresh produce, farmers’ markets, and al fresco dining. Offseason specials abound. bb’s offers any two dishes for $21, Tuesday to Saturday. Cantina offers specials daily, including $3 street tacos on Tuesday, five items for $5 each on Thursday, and Hangover Brunch on Saturday and Sunday, complete with Bloody Maria tequila bar. Semi-annual specials continue at Rustique: this week, take 50 percent off the entire dinner menu, and 10 percent off wine,too.
“I definitely take advantage of these deals,” says Melissa Wisenbaker, a PR professional who moved to Aspen three years ago. “I love being able to walk into a restaurant, know everyone — since it’s mostly locals — and get amazing deals, such as Rustique’s fried chicken prix-fixe Thursdays.” (3-courses, $26.)
Spring 2014 will go down in history as the real last hurrah for some. Ute City closed for good last Friday. And Takah Sushi, at 33 years one of Aspen’s longest-running restaurants, says sayonara with a blowout bash on Saturday, April 19. Thanks for the memories — it’s been a good run.
Amanda Rae likes the lull. amandaraewashere@gmail.com
WineInk: The 2023 vintage
“2023 predicted to be the Vintage of a Lifetime in Napa Valley,” proclaimed the headline this week in a press release sent out by the Napa Valley Vintners, the trade organization that represents the growers and producers in America’s most famed wine region. If there is anyone more optimistic than winemakers, it is the group that represents them.
