 We visited Kelly Liken restaurant in Vail June 19, 2006.. Three of us found the restaurant food, service, and wine list be exceptional. I was accompanied by Doug Gonano and his wife Melinda. Doug and Melinda are well-seasoned food lovers and wine coinsurers. The restaurant seats 80 in a cozy contemporary environment.
 We were greeted by Rick Colomitz, Dining Room Manager. Rick comes to Kelly Liken by way of Splendido Restaurant Beaver Creek. Kelly Liken the Chef owner graduated from the Culinary Institute of America number one in her class, then she worked at the Inn at Little Washington and Splendido prior to opening her namesake restaurant in 2004.
Most restaurants of this stature stress they use the freshest ingredients available. This usually means from the same restaurant providers all the other restaurants get theirs. Not at Kelly Liken. Chef Kelly was out picking mushrooms in Eagle County prior to coming to the kitchen the evening we were there. Many of her vegetables are grown within the state of Colorado, frequently a few miles from the restaurant. Chef Kelly calls her style of food Simple, Seasonal American Cuisine. My dinner consisted of: Shaved Spring Vegetable "Ceviche" petite artichoke, zucchini, fennel, local tomatoes, sweet garlic,
marinated in a herbed-citrus vinaigrette for the first course. For my main course: Kelly's SIGNATURE Potato Crusted Trout Filets shallot studded haricot verts, currant tomatoes, lemon beurre blanc. I also had a side dish of, grilled spring vegetable medley. I can assure you there wasn't a finer dinner served anywhere in Vail than what I was received at Kelly Liken. All the food served had it's own recognizable flavors. Nothing was smothered in sauces.
My friends had: Grilled Pork Tenderloin brandied local cherries, savoy cabbage, pork and cherry dumplings for their first course and for their first course Shaved Spring Vegetable "Ceviche" petite artichoke, zucchini, fennel, local tomatoes, sweet garlic, marinated in a herbed-citrus vinaigrette. The wine paring was put together by Doug with two wines excellent selections, one being a wonderful Chardonnay the other a fabulous Pinot Noir.
We were all amazed at the wonderful wine selection and the fact that many of the wines are impossible to obtain at a conventional wine store. The other excellent feature is the 38 wines they have by the glass.
Kelly Liken is a wonderful addition to the restaurant scene in the Vail Valley. We placed Kelly Liken right up there with Splendido, Ludwig's and the Wildflower.
Online reservations are available for parties of six or less. For parties of seven or more, please call (970) 479.0175, daily, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Parking has never been easier in Vail. Located in the Gateway building, drive up to our door and let our complimentary valet service do the rest.
Kelly Liken web Link
Hours Of Operation: 6pm till 10pm
|
