Mountain Standard

Ask any in-the-know local where the best place to eat in town is, and you'll be directed to Mountain Standard. This spin-off of Vail’s white-tablecloth classic, Sweet Basil, has an open kitchen and butchery diagrams that give it a casual feel. The food is downright ambitious—it puts a spotlight on local proteins (premium grass-fed steaks, lamb, trout) and doesn't shy away from bold flavors. Among the menu standouts: Southern-style pimento cheese, Kobe steak frites, and Rocky Mountain trout with (of all things) Alouette cheese.