Ski Tip Lodge — Restaurant in Four Corners States

After many years of dining at Ski Tip Lodge for our most special occasions (including our wedding dinner for 50 people several years ago), my husband and I will not be back. Our recent experience there for our anniversary dinner was incredibly disappointing. First, we were dismayed to learn the two amazing sommeliers (Kurtis and Megan) that were there for decades have been let go. Their knowledge and tableside manners were impeccable and a big part of what made Ski Tip so special. The wine-pairing option for the fixed-price meal has been removed altogether, so we were on our own trying to choose a single bottle that would pair with our chosen dishes. Only one remaining staff member was recognizable (for years it was a cohesive team of the same people), and our new server, though professional and nice, seemed like he was just going through the motions and had no enthusiasm for his job. Secondly, the ambiance, which used to be warm, cozy, and elegant, was flat and cold. Despite being a chilly night, there were no fires lit in the fireplaces and the music was barely detectable, which made the place seem oddly quiet. The "fireplace room" where guests are allowed to enjoy their dessert, was literally cold (again, no fire) and uncomfortable. They have removed all the comfy couches and seating areas (due to COVID, the server said) and replaced them with small tables and hard wooden chairs that look like they've been languishing in a shed since the 1970’s. Lastly, and most importantly, our meal was horrible. This is the first time in the 20 years I have been coming to Ski Tip that I was disappointed in the food. It has always been inventive, well-executed, and beautifully-presented. This time our meals were served lukewarm, in tiny portions (my ”beet salad" was three melon-ball size pieces of cooked beet and a swipe of goat cheese on the plate. I literally laughed out loud). Our main entree - braised short ribs - was lukewarm and gristly to the point of being inedible. Even the dessert choices (one of which our server steered us away from, saying he “wouldn’t be comfortable serving it”) were unremarkable. For all of this we paid more than $300 (which we have happily and enthusiastically paid in the past, but this time felt resentful about as we handed over our credit card). I understand that many places have had to make changes due to COVID and staffing issues, but my sense is that Vail Resorts seized the opportunity to implement cost-cutting measures that have stripped the charm from the restaurant and essentially sucked the life out of the place. They apparently fail to understand that Ski Tip has always provides its guests with a unique and magical experience, not just a meal on a plate, and they've obliterated all the wonderful touches that made it unique - all the things that have kept us coming back and sending our out-of-town visitors there for years. We used to feel like family there; this time we felt like two numbers being hurried through a revolving door. The old Ski Tip is no more. What a loss for Summit County and...

Wow what an incredible experience. Ski tip is a bed and breakfast as well as a fine dining restaurant. A unique combination but Zach and his team absolutely hit it out of the water. The rooms are very nice, clean and homey.

We did not dine for dinner until our last evening here for a birthday celebration. The included breakfast for the b&b was nice, the menu stays the same but the quality was decent.

Where Ski Tip truly shines and sets itself apart from others is this dinner service. They offered a four course meal on a weekly rotating menu. Wow the food was amazing, the service outstanding and the vibe unmatched. Firstly the service, you could tell the staff knew their stuff. Dom was our primary server and he went into detail on the menu offerings, wine pairing and specifics of where each dish/item was from. I have traveled the world and eaten in some of the most esteemed culinary regions and never have I had this level of knowledge about the menu.

The food was all amazing and everyone at our table really enjoyed every dish - clean plates all around. I did not catch the chefs name but wow they deserve a shout out.

Cindy Lou was primarily with us in the dessert room (by the fire); she was amazing and super friendly as well.

The staff was unique in that they are down to earth yet still so professional. They do not have a stuck up pretentious fine dining attitude; they have a friendly approach. It is amazing to experience this. One specific example was at check in on Monday Zach asked about our upcoming dinner reservation on Thursday I casually mentioned that we where excited for the reservation as my birthday was the next day and they took note and acted upon this without being prompted again.

Really cannot sing Zach, Dom, Cindy Lou, Chef l and the entire Ski Tip lodge staff enough praise’s. I just hope they are able to maintain the feeling of “home” which they...

We have eaten at Ski Tip Lodge many times over the years - pre Covid. Our experience tonight was worth writing about because it was so different and so disappointing. We were a party of 6 adults and the bill was $1000. Three people did the wine pairing and the other three had nothing but water to drink. The positive - the food is still quite good and the setting is quaint and cozy. Make sure to read about the history of the Lodge - it's interesting. The negative - there are no longer sommeliers working there. The wine pairing still exists but the star of the show was the sommeliers telling you all about the wine, why they chose to pair it with the entree and stories of their actual visits to the wineries all over the world. Our waitress had no clue about the wine we were being served. Everyone used to be seated in the fireplace lounge for dessert. This is a cozy room with a large, roaring fire. We never had to make a special request for this or reserve it in advance. Tonight we were told we did not reserve it so our dessert would be served at our table. This was news to us and quite frankly a very bad policy. We were the first guests to be seated at the restaurant and we should have had no problem being seated there. So disappointing. We had talked up this restaurant to our guests and it was a totally different experience that what we had had previously. Word to the wise - book by phone, not on Tock. Request to dine in the room with the small fireplace and make sure to reserve your dessert in the lounge with the large fireplace and hope they hire...