Alpino Vino — Restaurant in Four Corners States

I am truly disheartened to have to write this but I feel it needs to be voiced. My family and I were so excited to eat at this restaurant for our last night in Telluride. We eat all over the world and enjoy great food, wine and eating at unique/beautiful places. However, upon arrival for our pick up time for the snowcat, we were RUDELY told we missed it by the girl at the front desk. No questions asked, just an accusatory tone stating we missed our time. Confused, we mentioned our confirmation email said 5:45. The woman said that wasn’t possible as they do not have that time, insinuating we made a mistake. My mother pulled up the email and sure enough, the restaurant had made a mistake as our pickup time was 5:44. The woman continued to argue with my mom, claiming that doesn’t happen because there aren’t reservations for that time and the time for the snowcat is strictly 5:30. Repeatedly, she argued with us with an attitude, saying they tried calling us as well, which ended up being the wrong number. Then, she contacted her boss, took a picture of the email, and said she would “try” to have the snowcat come get us, and then further telling us how lucky we are it’s coming back for us because it never does that once it was confirmed it would come and get us . Well, I don’t think we were “lucky”, we paid for a service and would hope they would uphold it and graciously correct their own mistake. Saying we are lucky implies we were at fault and we are lucky it’s coming back to retrieve us. Upon arrival at the restaurant, we were rudely greeted by the sommelier who acted as if we were a bother by implying we were holding the other guests up, rushing to get our food orders in, giving us a cold shoulder/ tone and having an overall smug attitude leaning towards the notion we were at fault for the miscommunication still. He didn’t even greet us and apologize for the mistake/mishap.

The tone/disrespectful attitude rubbed me the wrong way, with comments making it seem like this mixup was OUR fault and now we had to rush to eat, so I began talking to my family about how I will not be rushed during my dinner due to someone else’s mistake— not ours. I wanted to enjoy the experience and dinner my family paid for. The sommelier overheard, deciding to insert himself into the conversation smuggly stating “the snowcat doesn’t go back for anyone so it’s special that he did. We need orders in because you’re late to the time and everyone needs to leave together”. Whoa. Special? We paid for a service and shouldn’t be treated as if we made a mistake in the first place or was late to our time on purpose. We were given incorrect information due to the restaurants mishap so how is it “special” it went back for us? I feel like that is 100% their responsibility to correct a mistake that was made on THEIR end not ours. Then to insinuate we had to rush in order to leave with everyone instead of politely explaining to the other guests the issue, greeting us and apologizing for the mix up, we felt totally unwelcome and as if we were a bother. I even told him “this is not our fault. We were told 5:45 pick up” and he rudely barked back at me, making excuses and had a serious attitude in his voice. It’s hard to describe in words how much of a smug attitude/tone he had with us but it was so evident to the point my entire family said we will NEVER return, even though the food was great! His actual word choices might not sound harsh reading this, but trust me when I say it was awful to sit through, especially watching him snicker and talk about us in the corner with his colleague. After dinner, my mom explained to him how unwelcome we felt. He kept arguing with her, making excuses for his behavior, and to truly understand this man’s way of thinking and attitude, he ended with “ I can keep apologizing but I doubt it will make a difference” in a smug, I-don’t-care, tone. Ps. I was a hostess as well as a waitress at high end restaurants in NYC and I would never, ever have treated a customer this way and this entire experience...

Very disappointing. We made dinner reservations over one month in advance to celebrate a birthday. The woman who took our reservation assured us that the fireside table would be waiting for us, along with an adjusted menu to accommodate food allergies. Our reason for making the reservation so far in advance was to be sure we were not inconveniencing the chef by dining there with dietary restrictions. We were assured it would not be a problem. When we arrived at the restaurant another couple from our snowcat made a beeline for the fireside table without waiting to be seated. When we were directed to a table in a claustrophobic alcove that I can only assume was once a broom closet, we reminded the waiter about our reserved table. He was extremely smug and told us the tables are first come first serve. What?? In what universe are tables first come first serve at a 5 star restaurant, especially when they require you to make a reservation?! It was absurd and upsetting so we requested to speak to the manager. Unfortunately he was equally as smug and belittling as his staff. We would have walked out and gone home had we access to our own transportation but the snowcat had departed by this time. When we inquired about the menu on our table including food items we expressly requested the chef to avoid, the waiter told us our food would be "adjusted" in the kitchen. We expressed concern that we did not have a printed menu to understand what we would be eating and asked somewhat facetiously if our courses would all be a surprise. The waiter flatly responded yes, it would be a night of additional unwelcome surprises. The food was just ok. Nothing to write home about. One would think the proprietor of this establishment might consider the clientel and possible influence of such in a small town like Telluride. Needless to say we will never entertain our clients, friends or family at this restaurant. If you want a true fine dining mountain top experience go...

I usually don’t post reviews because when it comes to food everyone has a different taste. But I really have to put my two cents here. The restaurant servers and sommeliers were nice and knowledgeable and asked me to critic the food since I am a “native” I couldn’t, I just couldn’t be honest or I would have been disrespectful and that’s not my way to be. But with all my heart I have to say this was by far the worst “ Italian “ dinner I have ever experienced since I live in the US. The pasta dish was bottom line disrespectful to the Italian culture. It was a mushy mess, so over cooked I could have eating it with a spoon. Pasta Al dente is the only way Italians eat their pasta, no other way. The sauce was bitter and clearly no high quality sanmarzano, the burned garlic spread? Simplicity is the key, and in the attempt of creating something “ scenic” you fail to provide taste and warmth. The dessert 🤦🏻‍♀️ a Sicilian would have toss that “ cannolo” in the trash. That wasn’t even a reverse cannolo as you called it, The flat tiny microscopic biscuit was hard as steel, no flavor on the crema on top, the caramel decoration stuck under your teeth. What a mess. Portions of nonsense. The plates were practically empty. The main dish was all fat very little meat. I had seafood. Big mistake, there is no way of cooking seafood in high altitudes without compromising quality and taste. Choose something more appropriate to the location. The cherry on top, we paid $400 per person for this. 🤦🏻‍♀️ On a good note, The wine served was a good wine, and the som was knowledgeable. I don’t know who has more money then sense, and I am not shy of paying high price for a spectacular dinner. But this was beyond disappointing. I felt I paid $400 for 2 glasses of wine and a ride into a snowcat....