626 on Rood — Restaurant in Grand Junction

What an awesome find via google map search for Grand Junction restaurants!

Such innovative, flavorful dishes for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans alike. And the staff was so wonderfully friendly and helpful, from our hostess who sat us to our waitress/bartender Amy B, who was such a great guide to their on menu (and offmenu) dishes. And she offered such great insight on the area’s fun activities and living in the Grand Valley (we’re looking to escape AZ and move to Colorado).

We started with Spanglish flight which led us to very nice bottle of local wine, the Open Range red blend (Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc) from Sauvage Spectrum in next door Palisade, Colo.

The Charcuterie - Plant Based board, with Mushroom Walnut Rillettes, was amazingly flavorful. Quite unique and wickedly tasty plant-based cheeses, with rich plant-based sausage that impressed this meat lover. The cool blend of flavors with addons of onion jam, coriander nuts and homemade strawberry jam was perfect start to the night.

Amy mentioned the off menu item of local heirloom tomatoes with backyard basil and cheese was an ideal gift for this birthday celebration. So richly flavorful!

Despite feeling stuffed to the max our entrees were even more perfect. My wife had the Arctic Char which she loved. This meateater passed on the delicious sounding Flatiron steak salad for the unique Yakitori Mushroom entree which was divine!

We topped off with the 10yr old tawny port (Warre’s Otima) and the decadent Chocolate Marquis de Sade.

A wonderful birthday celebration, made even more cool by the unique friendly folks we met at our next door table.

In 2 months of traveling across Colorado, 626 on Rood is by far the best restaurant we’ve visited. The dishes are unique and richly flavorful, portions perfect sized and the staff super super nice. A wonderful eatery that is very rare in that it can be equally enjoyed by meatlovers, vegetarians, vegans and gluten free diners. Thanks for such a fun culinary experience, delivered with such great down-to-earth friendly service! ...

During my recent visit, I was initially drawn in by the allure of the lobster mac and cheese—a decadent-sounding dish priced at $26. Unfortunately, the portion was unexpectedly small, and the flavor profile leaned disappointingly bland for something billed as a specialty item.

To the restaurant's credit, the management responded swiftly and graciously, allowing me to order a replacement. I opted for the Wagyu burger, which, paired with the arugula pecan salad dressed in a vibrant balsamic vinaigrette, proved to be a true highlight of the meal. Both were exquisitely prepared, balancing richness and freshness with finesse.

The parmesan truffle fries, though conceptually promising, fell short in execution. Rather than the expected delicate shavings, the parmesan resembled pre-packaged granules that failed to adhere to the fries subtracting from the intended cohesiveness of the appetizer. Most of the cheese settled at the bottom of the conical metal dish, which, while visually striking, proved impractical—particularly as one reached the lower layers. The garlic aioli though that accompanied the fries, was somewhat of redeeming addition as it was a very well balanced savory and acidic component.

Despite the uneven culinary experience, the attentive and courteous service stood out. The staff remained consistently professional and responsive, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

In short, while not every dish met expectations, the thoughtful service and quality of the revised offerings reflect a kitchen and team willing to improve and adapt. With a few adjustments, this establishment has the potential to be even...

This was our second time coming here and we were thoroughly impressed with the food (again!). Off the bat, I cannot say enough good things about the Sticky Peach Habanero Calamari. It's flash fried in just a bit of rice flour, and had a texture and flavor I've never had from calamari before. If we weren't so full, we'd have gotten another for dessert. Definitely the highlight of the night, get at least one while you're there. Their Cheese and Charcuterie board was very interesting, with the pate, duck prosciutto, and caramelized onion jam being the most memorable. The street corn was delicious as well, with the only minor complaint being it is served on the cob. It's a fun giggle with your special someone trying to keep all the yummy cheese, cilantro, and chorizo on while nibbling, but might test your manners on a first date! You'll never be sad coming here and eating nothing but apps and small plates. For entrees, the chef's special fatty strip steak was great, and the seasoning on the brisket from the surf and turf was on point. Definitely filling. Cocktail-wise, I would definitely recommend the Colorado Tin Cup Pomegranate Manhattan. It's a keeper, went well with all courses, and I'm already hankering for another one. For dessert, we wanted more calamari, but only had room for their Espresso Martini. The martini comes with a little chocolate truffle at the bottom, be nice and share! Service was extremely attentive, and our server made sure everything came out at the right time and just perfect. This was an absolutely great experience, and if you're anywhere near grand junction this place is a...