Last weekend we hiked over to Crested Butte via West Maroon Pass. If you haven’t been hiking recently you need to make it to the high country. We’ve never seen flowers so big and plentiful! After a great hike we arrived in Crested Butte tired and hungry. We couldn’t decide on just one restaurant. We wished we had a full week to really try them all. Do we return to favorite’s the Ginger Cafe or the Secret Stash or try something new? We decided to have the best of both world’s and have an appetizer at an old favorite and then sample a new Crested Butte restaurant.
We started the evening at the Secret Stash at the end of Elk Avenue. Ordering a mojito, beer, and a delicous cheese stuffed Ahneimh pepper, we soaked in the funky eclectic atmosphere and chatted up the friendly staff. The sign above bar “You will always miss 100% of shots not taken.” is classic. Our peppers arrived smoking hot and so creamy and delicious. I almost want to hike back there next weekend to have another order. It was the perfect combination of spice and cream. We paid our modest tab of $23 and set out for our next bite.
Pulling into the Last Steep Bar & Grill we split the artichoke cheese bread bowl. Yummy! The place was hopping and the bartender was nearly in the weeds but still nice and efficient. We gobbled up the soup while watching the Bronco’s defeat The Buffalo Bills in preseason. The sign about the Last Steep Bar was very adequate, “This side of Paradise, Crested Butte, Colorado.” With a $13 bar tab we were thinking these prices are paradise compared to Aspen, Colorado.
We finished the night at the Ginger Cafe. With awesome Thai food, we have yet to taste their selection of Indian food but maybe next time. Finishing of our night of wandering, we shared a pot of Chai tea, mango cheese cake, and ginger creme brulee. The desserts, although good, just didn’t have the right consistency, but we couldn’t help but finish them off.
It was a fun night out in Crested Butte and a welcome relief to find all the restaurants so friendly & unpretentious. Overall a lot like Aspen in the ’70’s.
