Yampa Valley Kitchen — Restaurant in Steamboat Springs

TL;DR The food here was so good, we came back for breakfast the next morning.

So, Steamboat is very clearly a “foodie” sort of town, and there are a ton of options to choose from, but I implore you to choose this restaurant over others.

We arrived in the early evening while traveling through Colorado on our honeymoon looking for food, and a comment made by a coworker of mine lead us to look at Yampa Valley Kitchen. Luckily for us, they have apparently only just started doing dinner service in addition to their breakfast.

There is street parking, though we wanted to walk “the main drag” and look at the stores downtown so we parked in the free public parking lot about half a block away.

When you walk up, the first thing you notice about this restaurant is how cute the outdoors area is. The landscaping around the building is very carefully curated and maintained with love, and the sedum growing along the sidewalk towards the entrance is some of the biggest and showiest I’ve ever seen. From the outside it looks simultaneously somewhere between a modern home and a cozy cottage.

The interior I would describe wholly as a “Cottagecore” aesthetic. It was very cute, very cozy, and we walked in within a few minutes of them opening for dinner. We were greeted by Julia, whom I will say had a delightful British accent that only made the cozy cottage feel even more authentic.

We started by splitting a bowl of the soup of the day, which was chicken and mushroom soup with some gruyere toast, which was excellent. Julia did a very detailed description of it, and it sounded so good we couldn’t pass it up. I’m glad we didn’t.

As for dinner, we both opted to go with the waygu steak au poivre with peppercorn sauce and truffle fries. The steak was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the sauce was absolutely excellent. I was incredibly surprised to learn that they had only just started doing dinner with how completely and perfectly they nailed it.

I will be very upfront in saying, I don’t generally care for truffle fries. I feel like the majority of them I have had in the past have been drowned in oil and restaurants that do them overdo it to death, relying heavily on that flavor. It was subtle, but present. I ate them all.

This was easily one of the top five best meals that I have ever eaten. I am incredibly glad we came.

We were so impressed with the food and enamored with the atmosphere and Julia’s service that we came back the next morning for breakfast. We had every option in Steamboat available to us, and yet both of us just wanted to come back and experience the breakfast here.

She opted for the bananas foster French toast and I got the California dreamin eggs Benedict. Just as the evening before it was absolutely perfect. Maddie was our server in the morning and was quick and attentive. I also had a great chat about the landscaping with the host, whose name regrettably escapes me this exact moment. Everyone is super friendly, the atmosphere is cherry and cozy and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone going to Steamboat . Thank you all for such a wonderful experience and another great memory to add to our...

Yampa Valley Kitchen: A Culinary Gem in Steamboat Springs

Nestled in the charming town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Yampa Valley Kitchen is a culinary haven that has quickly become the highlight of my dining experiences. Frequenting this delightful restaurant at least once or twice a week all summer long, I can confidently say it offers the freshest and most beautifully presented dishes in town.

Unlike the many other fine dining establishments in Steamboat Springs, which often feature glamorous meat entrées, Yampa Valley Kitchen shines with its focus on fresh ingredients and exquisite presentation. The restaurant boasts lovely outdoor gardens, filled with herbs and flowers that are incorporated into their dishes. These gardens provide a serene and picturesque setting, perfect for a leisurely meal with friends, family, or business associates.

The menu at Yampa Valley Kitchen is diverse and caters to all tastes. For breakfast, their avocado toast is a California dream, while the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon is a must-try. Another standout is the French toast with Foster bananas, which is a delightful treat. Each dish, no matter how simple, is elevated with fresh herbs and vibrant presentation. The freshly mixed vegetable juices are a refreshing complement to any meal, and the selection of teas, served in elegant tea presses, adds a special touch to the dining experience.

Inside, the ambiance is equally inviting. The air-conditioned dining room features charming music, a great bar, and spotless bathrooms. However, my favorite spot remains the outdoor garden, where the beauty of the surroundings enhances the pleasure of the meal.

Dinner at Yampa Valley Kitchen is nothing short of spectacular. The mushroom soup is rich and flavorful, and the salmon is cooked to perfection. One of the absolute highlights is the truffle fries, topped with truffle oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese—simply the best fries in Steamboat Springs.

What sets Yampa Valley Kitchen apart is not just the quality of the food, but the overall dining experience. The attention to detail in both service and presentation is remarkable. The staff’s dedication to creating fabulous food and a welcoming atmosphere is evident in every aspect of the restaurant.

Yampa Valley Kitchen is truly a special place to eat. It’s my favorite dining spot in Steamboat Springs, and I’m not alone in my admiration. Each visit reaffirms why I keep coming back, and I am always eager to return. My heartfelt thanks to the staff for their exceptional work in making each meal a...

Usually I would be giving this place 5 stars and praising the amazing waitress. However, this last time was different from the other dozens of times I have been here. I bring everyone that I travel to Steamboat with here to this restaurant.

Was in town with some friends and family that flew in from all over the country. I raved about this brunch spot that I hit up EVERY SINGLE TIME IN STEAMBOAT, because it’s that good. This time we had a waitress I have never seen, she was unclear about her name. We think it was “Low or Lou”. We asked her to clarify, but she was very vague and annoyed. She was immediately annoyed with us as soon as she came to the table. Not sure why, we were super nice and kind to her. She was rude, annoyed, flustered, borderline sarcastic. We noticed she was super nice and attentive to the other tables. I asked her about the drink with apricot and she looked at me like I was an alien and like she had no idea what I was talking about. Then she realized no one had brought us any menus, and that’s why I was asking her about the drink because we had no menus, after sitting for like 5-10 min without anyone greeting us. Finally got menus, and there was literally one drink on the menu with apricot. There was a big group of us so we were slowly giving her our drink order, and apparently we were taking way too long for her, heaven forbid she wait for us to give her our complete drink order, so she blurts out “Do you all need more time?!” Flat out rude. As we are giving her our order and asking her questions.

I ordered a coffee, didn’t get it until we were leaving so I had to get it to go. Just the whole experience was bad with her. Everything took forever, things were forgotten. We ended up taking our food to go because it just took forever and we had prior engagements. She ended up “accidentally” charging us an extra $100 to our bill. What a nightmare, and a horrible start to our day. Almost put us all in a bad mood, but we got out of there and presumed our wonderful day and had a blast on an atv tour.

I have been in the service industry for over two decades, so customer service is everything to me. Low, or Lou, or whatever her name was did not give even mediocre service. Felt very let down, disappointed, frustrated, and embarrassed that I spoke so highly of this place only to get a debbie downer for a server. Hopefully, if I return, my next experience here will be...