Bear Den Aspen — Restaurant in Aspen

We went tonight to enjoy a lovely meal for our anniversary. The wine was delicious as were the marinated olives. We also enjoyed the king crab salad. However, the focaccia was dry, and the croquettes lacked flavor. We also ordered the lobster risotto, which was underseasoned, almost flavorless, and had fishy tasting lobster. We politely asked our server to take it back and ordered another entree instead. After several minutes, another server came to our table and said, “the chef tasted it and said it tastes like it’s supposed to, so we’re not going to refund it, but you can still order something else.” She did not return the lobster risotto so they basically wanted us to pay for something that we didn’t like and didn't even get a chance to eat.

The server and other staff then avoided our table for 10 min before they came back, and my wife told them we were not going to pay for it and that we’d like to talk to a manager or the owner. They then avoided us for another 10 min before they returned to get take a plate from the table, and we had to ask for the check. It felt like we were being kept in limbo intentionally.

The server then returned to the table and told me the total without showing me the receipt. I had to ask for an itemized receipt, which they brought and showed that they finally removed the risotto from our bill. Never gave us a notification.

Meanwhile, while we were waiting, we found out two other tables had their orders poorly handled and were also very unhappy.

Contrast this with Element 47, the restaurant we ate at last night. The power went out there last night in the middle of our amazing meal. They were kind, courteous, comped our wine and cheese plate (hadn’t ordered entrees yet), and ordered a free ride to Jing, which was an amazing dinner as well. Go to one of those places, don’t not go to Bear Den.

It’s really disappointing as the atmosphere and aesthetic is gorgeous, and some of the food is tasty. Just don’t order the lobster risotto and don’t ask for good...

Upon arriving at the restaurant, I noticed that it was not particularly crowded. However, I was promptly attended to, and throughout my dining experience, the entire staff exhibited exceptional friendliness and attentiveness.

Regrettably, my dissatisfaction arose from the quality of the food and the pricing. I observed that the prices for cocktails were notably higher compared to other establishments in the vicinity. Furthermore, the most exorbitant cost was associated with the food itself, amounting to $85 for a mere appetizer and main course.

The Ham & cheese croquettes, to my disappointment, lacked any discernible flavor profile. The tomato sauce accompanying them was unusually acidic, overwhelming any possibility of savoring the delicate combination of cheese and ham.

Subsequently, I opted for the lamb chops, which failed to deliver a remarkable gastronomic experience. While the cooking technique was appropriately executed, the peach demi sauce failed to capture the essence of peach, and its excessive saltiness compromised the overall balance of flavors. Consequently, the dish predominantly tasted of lamb without any harmonious interplay of complementary elements.

In essence, the culinary offerings at this establishment proved to be devoid of the anticipated depth and complexity of flavors described in the menu. Consequently, I am compelled to withhold any recommendation for this restaurant purely from a gastronomic standpoint. However, it is worth noting that the ambiance remains pleasant, and the staff exhibits commendable amiability and...

We visited while on a month long vacation your of Colorado, just passing through Aspen. My wife is from Colorado but I am not.

Nice place with a small menu. Staff was very nice but either overwhelmed or absent minded. We arrived at 1330 hoping to arrive after the lunch rush on a Saturday. We did not have to wait for a seat but the place was full. The person seating asked if we wanted the wine menu which we requested but never received. I asked the server what beer was available, most of which they were only able to tell by style, no brand. I ordered a pilsner and hoped for the best. It took more than 5 minutes to receive our drinks.

I tried to order the steak and Thai noodles, only then were we informed they were out of steak, which comprised a quarter of their entrees. I changed my order to the cheese burger with cheese truffle fries, for a 4 dollar upcharge. We did not receive the truffle fries but were not charged for them. The burger was ok, not great. Ordered medium came closer to medium rare, the outside was charred to the point of being burnt but not enough to send back. My wife's quinoa chicken bowl and son's chicken club were delicious.

The server checked on us once but did not come near our table after that until it was time for our check. I would have flagged her down for another beer if she had walked by.

Overall, that atmosphere was nice but the food and service was not worth the $100 for three people price tag. Would not be my first choice for another visit but I would be willing to try again to see if it was...