Foodstuff: Dinner and a show

If you were able to tear yourself away from Olympics coverage over the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed a new dining option just emerged in Aspen, which could make you feel like you’ve won gold for the cost of a bronze. The Hotel Jerome continues to innovate in the food and beverage space this season, adding new programs for visitors and locals alike. Now, it’s introducing their “Pre-Theater Menu” in the Prospect restaurant space, which was conceived in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House. 

According to the Wheeler Opera House, this dinner is “specially curated for Aspen’s performances” and offers a “seamless transition” from dinner to showtime. Seatings are nightly at 5 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a three-course menu for only $55 per person. If you’re smart enough to join the Wheeler Insiders program, that could mean a reasonably priced dinner and a show for two for about $150, depending on what’s playing. 

The menu is a choice of one item per course, with salad up first. Decide between chicories of endive, radicchio and frisée, served with navel orange, radish, pepitas tossed in a light vinaigrette or the Hotel Jerome Caesar, with little gem, parmesan and sourdough croutons.

The main attraction is a selection between three options; the pan roasted duck breast with celeriac, quince, pickled mustard seed and cherry jus. Or try the trout (like I did) with perfectly salty tasso ham, dill and sweet onion, and fish skin so crunchy it crackles on the fork. A vegetarian option, while not mentioned online, is also on offer: a delicious short-cut lumache pasta with diced winter squash, crispy kale, sage and espelette pepper, which you can also find on Prospect’s standard a la carte menu. 

End things on a sweet note as you choose between the New York-style cheesecake with a cranberry sorbet and graham cracker crumble or the apple cranberry crumble pie, individually-sized and served warm with a quenelle of slightly spicy ginger ice cream. I suggest bringing a friend (or two), so you can sample all the options.

Our server let us know that the pacing and portions are meant to reflect and honor the show-going crowd. This is an intentional prix fixe that doesn’t require you to linger longer (Read: You’re not going to be panicking about getting the check as the curtain raises across town) and slightly smaller plates, so you’re not overly stuffed whether you’re seated for the theater or ready to get down at Belly Up. But don’t think you’ll go hungry; despite the tip about smaller portions, I still left with a doggie bag in tow, enough for lunch the next day. 

Mid-valley peeps shouldn’t sleep on this either; a 5 p.m. reservation after work gets you out of commute traffic and still on the road in time to hit a late show at TACAW or Thunder River Theatre Company.

The menu will be available at least through the summer months, so be sure to add it to your calendar for upcoming outings such as the 2026 Aspen Laugh Festival or Aspen Shortsfest by Aspen Film. This excellent dining option deserves to take a bow.

For more information or reservations, go to auberge.com/hotel-jerome/prospect/pre-theater.

Katherine Roberts is a mid-Valley based writer and marketing professional who encourages you to experience performing arts alongside the art of food. She can be reached via her marketing and communications firm, Carington Creative, at katherine@caringtoncreative.com.