Changes in the Restaurant Scene

The slopes of Aspen Mtn. and Snowmass have been open for a week now much to the delight of locals and early season skiers. Feedback has been very positive due to the above average early season conditions. This past weekend was a phenomenal way to kick off the season. The Women’s World Cup skiing always creates a lot of excitement in town and with skiing fans throughout the world. The free food tastings, free concert, and fireworks display didn’t hurt either! In addition to this past weekend’s festivities, there is a lot of buzz in the air due to recent and upcoming changes within the Aspen restaurant scene. Il Mulino, a new Italian restaurant located at the base of Aspen Mountain has opened with rave reviews. Some guests of ours went there for lunch recently and had a fantastic experience. Il Mulino has been open for three weeks but only recently has opened their outdoor bar and patio. They will continue doing so, weather permitting. There are two new additions to “restaurant row” on Hopkins Ave. Ute City, an American style bistro, opened last week and was packed by 8 p.m. This new establishment is run by the same crew that runs one of Aspen’s all time favorites, Syzygy. Speaking of Syzygy, they are set to open in their new location on Hopkins ave. in the near future. It promises to be a revamped version of the old Syzygy, complete with a fully renovated dining room, bar, and night club. They will be located in the same building as one of their sister restaurants, Ute City. The always popular Kenichi is wrapping up an extensive renovation and is set to open soon. Noodles by Kenichi is open at their cooper ave. location. This is a great place to get a quick and inexpensive bite to eat before or after a day on the hill. Perhaps the biggest restaurant news of late has been the closure of the hugely popular D-19. Part owner and head chef Dena Marino has made a quick turnaround after the closure and is set to open her new Italian restaurant Ellina in the near future. According to www.eataspen.com , the theme is to be “rustic country Italian, with an emphasis on local ingredients and slow food.” In the bar scene, look for two new additions. The Hunter Bar has opened on the corner of Hopkins and Galena. They promise to have DJ’s spinning on a regular basis throughout the winter. The last change you may notice is that the space formerly occupied by the famous Club Chelsea is now called The Mustang. The Mustang is focused on becoming an eatery as well as a bar. They have added 7 hi-def TVs and frequently have drink specials during sporting events. Their menu boasts items from burgers and stews to authentic Mexican cuisine. They have frequent happy hour specials, live music, and karaoke/Open-Mic nights. Thanks for reading, see you at après ski!