| Some Good Restaurants - and a Saloon or two |
214 E. Hwy. 160 (Main St.). Overall, maybe the best restaurant (and most expensive) in town. Located in an
historic 1912 home. The menu is creative -- they call it "Global/Colorado/ Fusion". Entrees in the $15-$35
range. They also have 6 or 8 pizzas, but those are not the stars of the show. It's small, but the interior is
open, California contemporary. Suitably dim with well-placed lighting. The cocktail shakers at the bar stay
busy. There's also a nice wine list, from moderate to higher priced. Reservations recommended, especially
during the busier seasons or if you have more than 4 in your party. Open only for dinner. Their web site.
historic 1912 home. The menu is creative -- they call it "Global/Colorado/ Fusion". Entrees in the $15-$35
range. They also have 6 or 8 pizzas, but those are not the stars of the show. It's small, but the interior is
open, California contemporary. Suitably dim with well-placed lighting. The cocktail shakers at the bar stay
busy. There's also a nice wine list, from moderate to higher priced. Reservations recommended, especially
during the busier seasons or if you have more than 4 in your party. Open only for dinner. Their web site.
356 E. Hwy. 160 (Main St.) Prime Rib, seafood, Colorado lamb chops, elk, trout, and pasta. One of the top
restaurants in Pagosa. Entrees $15-$35. Good views of the San Juan River which is just outside the back
door. When the weather's nice, you can dine on their spacious patio and see and hear the water rushing. I've
even watched a bear on the other side of the river. This restaurant has been around for a while and is a
favorite of many local residents. Hard to argue. A few people have said that service can be inconsistent, but I
haven't experienced that myself. The Alley House down the street is smaller and the menu is a little more
trendy, but JJ's is similar quality and can accommodate larger tables more easily. The bar is always busy and
sometimes offers live music. Check their web site.
restaurants in Pagosa. Entrees $15-$35. Good views of the San Juan River which is just outside the back
door. When the weather's nice, you can dine on their spacious patio and see and hear the water rushing. I've
even watched a bear on the other side of the river. This restaurant has been around for a while and is a
favorite of many local residents. Hard to argue. A few people have said that service can be inconsistent, but I
haven't experienced that myself. The Alley House down the street is smaller and the menu is a little more
trendy, but JJ's is similar quality and can accommodate larger tables more easily. The bar is always busy and
sometimes offers live music. Check their web site.
475 Lewis St. This rough-hewn bar & grill is a hundred feet off the main street, near the traffic light at
Lewis Street on the west edge of downtown. They offer dozens of burgers and sandwiches such as French Dip,
Reuben, Philly Cheese Steak. There's much more, including some good salads. See their menu here. Prices
$8-$10. Good bar. It has a mountain saloon atmosphere, and it's a good place to eat. Two pool tables. Giant
screen TV. This is where you want to take older kids (till 9:00), college students, hunting buddies, or that
mother-in-law that you don't like. Yes! Live music on weekends.
Lewis Street on the west edge of downtown. They offer dozens of burgers and sandwiches such as French Dip,
Reuben, Philly Cheese Steak. There's much more, including some good salads. See their menu here. Prices
$8-$10. Good bar. It has a mountain saloon atmosphere, and it's a good place to eat. Two pool tables. Giant
screen TV. This is where you want to take older kids (till 9:00), college students, hunting buddies, or that
mother-in-law that you don't like. Yes! Live music on weekends.
157 Navajo Trail Drive. Well- priced steaks and prime rib, plus burgers, fish, chicken-fried steak, and a small
salad bar. Something for everyone, $8-$25. On the highway, west side of town. It's not a small place, but
it's so popular that there's often a wait. Fortunately, they have a well-stocked bar in the rear where a lot of
trophy animals watch people drink. I hang out there until they call my name, which usually isn't long.
Semi-rustic interior. The food is not fancy, but it's dependable and you'll like the prices. More restaurant
info here.
salad bar. Something for everyone, $8-$25. On the highway, west side of town. It's not a small place, but
it's so popular that there's often a wait. Fortunately, they have a well-stocked bar in the rear where a lot of
trophy animals watch people drink. I hang out there until they call my name, which usually isn't long.
Semi-rustic interior. The food is not fancy, but it's dependable and you'll like the prices. More restaurant
info here.
439 San Juan St. (Main St., downtown by the river). Mexican food, Texas style. If you're from California or
Arizona, you might prefer Ramon's in the City Market shopping center west of town. In my quest for the
perfect margarita, I concluded that Tequila's probably has the best margaritas in Pagosa Springs. The large
ones take two hands to lift. The patio out back has outstanding views of the rapids of the San Juan river, just
a few yards below. Colorful interior, big menu, good food, snappy service. Try the Carne Asada Tampiquena.
And check out what you see from the patio, below. This was spring, when the river was running strong from
the snow melt in the high country. You don't get these views in the big city.
Arizona, you might prefer Ramon's in the City Market shopping center west of town. In my quest for the
perfect margarita, I concluded that Tequila's probably has the best margaritas in Pagosa Springs. The large
ones take two hands to lift. The patio out back has outstanding views of the rapids of the San Juan river, just
a few yards below. Colorful interior, big menu, good food, snappy service. Try the Carne Asada Tampiquena.
And check out what you see from the patio, below. This was spring, when the river was running strong from
the snow melt in the high country. You don't get these views in the big city.
Hwy 160 on east edge of town. This is a rustic diner at the "junction" of U.S. Hwys. 84 and 160 that is
especially good for breakfast or lunch. Imagine a mountain Denny's. Good place to stop on the way to the ski
slopes or trout stream. They also have a well-stocked gift & souvenir shop. This could be handy if you're on a
hunting trip with your buddies and you need to grab a romantic souvenir t-shirt or ash tray to take home to
thrill the wife. A very comfortable, small-town café.
especially good for breakfast or lunch. Imagine a mountain Denny's. Good place to stop on the way to the ski
slopes or trout stream. They also have a well-stocked gift & souvenir shop. This could be handy if you're on a
hunting trip with your buddies and you need to grab a romantic souvenir t-shirt or ash tray to take home to
thrill the wife. A very comfortable, small-town café.
Located in the big City Market shopping center on the west side of town. If you've eaten all the elk, trout,
and Colorado lamb that you can stand -- or if you're looking for a lot of good food for a reasonable price -- this
is the place. For $8-$10 you can get huge plates (or to-go boxes) of very decent Chinese food. We take-out as
often as we dine on premises. The kids love the Chicken Fried Rice. And right next door is a good pizza joint,
the creatively-named DSP Pizza. DSP also sells by the slice. We've been there a lot, too.
and Colorado lamb that you can stand -- or if you're looking for a lot of good food for a reasonable price -- this
is the place. For $8-$10 you can get huge plates (or to-go boxes) of very decent Chinese food. We take-out as
often as we dine on premises. The kids love the Chicken Fried Rice. And right next door is a good pizza joint,
the creatively-named DSP Pizza. DSP also sells by the slice. We've been there a lot, too.
This bar is the best watering hole in town if you like old saloons. It's barely changed in 60 years. It's in the
middle of the downtown retail shops, and it's where I go for refreshments while "the girls" prowl the stores.
This is a "shot & a beer" joint, and it's not unusual to see the guy next to you with a beer and a shot. The shot
of the day is chilled Blackberry Brandy -- always. Check out the worn bar top. And I award extra points for
using guns as decor. There are also a pair of quarter pool tables. Friendly, a lot of regulars - you'll see
ponytails & tattoos. Easy to start a conversation; hard to end one. I've even taken my 80-year-old mother
there. She liked it. It's a little more of a "manly place", but there are always some women hanging around.
Note: if one of those ladies offers to shoot pool with you -- "loser buys the drinks" -- trust me, she will know
how to break.
This joint knows that many of us guys get thirsty early in the day, so they open at 9 a.m. "Cheers".
middle of the downtown retail shops, and it's where I go for refreshments while "the girls" prowl the stores.
This is a "shot & a beer" joint, and it's not unusual to see the guy next to you with a beer and a shot. The shot
of the day is chilled Blackberry Brandy -- always. Check out the worn bar top. And I award extra points for
using guns as decor. There are also a pair of quarter pool tables. Friendly, a lot of regulars - you'll see
ponytails & tattoos. Easy to start a conversation; hard to end one. I've even taken my 80-year-old mother
there. She liked it. It's a little more of a "manly place", but there are always some women hanging around.
Note: if one of those ladies offers to shoot pool with you -- "loser buys the drinks" -- trust me, she will know
how to break.
This joint knows that many of us guys get thirsty early in the day, so they open at 9 a.m. "Cheers".
On Main Street, downtown. This is a casual 1960's style small town café. It's been in the Montoya family for
over 30 years, and someone else owned it before that. This cafe has a huge 4-page breakfast menu with every
kind of egg, omelet, sausage, huevo, and breakfast burrito that you can imagine -- served until 11 a.m. The lunch
& dinner menu consist of sandwiches & burgers & meal-size salads -- PLUS excellent New Mexico-style Mexican
food -- all for a small check. Cheap bottled beers, too. A good place for breakfast before heading to the ski
slopes, and it's a handy place for lunch if you're shopping downtown. Seldom crowded. Very kid-friendly with
the café-type formica-top tables. Colorado atmosphere -- a personal favorite.
over 30 years, and someone else owned it before that. This cafe has a huge 4-page breakfast menu with every
kind of egg, omelet, sausage, huevo, and breakfast burrito that you can imagine -- served until 11 a.m. The lunch
& dinner menu consist of sandwiches & burgers & meal-size salads -- PLUS excellent New Mexico-style Mexican
food -- all for a small check. Cheap bottled beers, too. A good place for breakfast before heading to the ski
slopes, and it's a handy place for lunch if you're shopping downtown. Seldom crowded. Very kid-friendly with
the café-type formica-top tables. Colorado atmosphere -- a personal favorite.
121 E. Hwy. 160 (Main St.) This place has a cool and funky ski-bum atmosphere -- it's owned by some ski-patrol
and river-rafter types. It's in a quaint little old house on main street. They serve burgers (including buffalo
and elk), plus a green chili (very hot), and 8-10 different soft flour tacos. Try the spicy shrimp tacos (an
everyday blackboard special), and maybe add a splash of their house-made thermo-nuclear habanero sauce.
Friendly service with a nice little bar. Being reasonably priced, and with only 10-12 tables inside, it's always
busy. The shady side patio may be the best in town and attracts a crowd in the warmer months. Coming early
or late is not a bad idea during the tourist seasons. And - it's open till 10 p.m. (later than most)! Here's their
menu.
and river-rafter types. It's in a quaint little old house on main street. They serve burgers (including buffalo
and elk), plus a green chili (very hot), and 8-10 different soft flour tacos. Try the spicy shrimp tacos (an
everyday blackboard special), and maybe add a splash of their house-made thermo-nuclear habanero sauce.
Friendly service with a nice little bar. Being reasonably priced, and with only 10-12 tables inside, it's always
busy. The shady side patio may be the best in town and attracts a crowd in the warmer months. Coming early
or late is not a bad idea during the tourist seasons. And - it's open till 10 p.m. (later than most)! Here's their
menu.
| Okay, this one is not a restaurant (those are below) but it's got cold beer! |
| Shanghai - Inexpensive Chinese, plus take-out |
| The Junction - Mountain diner, great breakfast & lunch spot |
| Tequila's - Tex-Mex overlooking the San Juan River downtown |
| Boss Hogg's - Moderately priced steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and salad bar. Very popular. |
| Bear Creek Saloon - A mountain bar & grill with extensive burger & sandwich menu |
| J.J.'s - Fine dining with prime rib, lamb, seafood, & pasta |
| Kip's - Gourmet soft flour tacos & burgers |
| The Alley House - Upscale, contemporary |
| Elkhorn Cafe - An old-time cafe with breakfast menu, sandwiches, salads, and Mexican food |