Remember the crepe you ate on that street corner in Paris, that street taco you devoured during your adventures in Rocky Point, or that slice of pizza you still swear is the best slice you have ever tasted, eaten during your stay in New York City? The food we eat while on vacation is almost as important as the adventures you experience, and during your visit to Steamboat Springs, we at Grand Adventure Company want to share some of our favorite local bites with you, ensuring that this vacation will be one you long remember. This guide to our favorite must-try summer Steamboat eats will have your taste buds cheering as you begin to salivate and your stomach begins to rumble.
A Cup of Joe from Off the Beaten Path Bookstore & Café, 68 9th St
Although coffee technically isn’t considered a meal, so many travelers skip breakfast but never skip coffee that we feel it should be grandfathered in, and a cup of joe at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore & Café is where we are starting our epicurean explorations. The coffee might not be the star of the show in this eclectic bookstore, but just like those earrings you purchased added the right amount of bling to your “OOTD” (outfit of the day to those without TikTok) the coffee served here is the perfect accessory to the books you will not be able to resist buying. Also offering a yummy selection of pastries, spending a couple of hours sipping iced coffee, devouring every crumb of your cream cheese brownie, and browsing the aisles of the bookshop that reminds us why we still need books when eReaders are in existence, might be the adventure you remember most.
Plate-Sized Pancakes from the Shack Café, 740 Lincoln Avenue
The plate-sized pancakes of the Shack Café will certainly push all thoughts of Paris crepes from your brain, offering a fluffy treat to help get your brain functioning in the morning. (Although the Shack Café does serve breakfast all day.) The pancakes are literally the size of dinner plates and can be stuffed with your favorite fruit or chocolate chips, or can be enjoyed the way nature intended, plain and drowned in maple syrup! Kids will be delighted by their “Mouse” pancakes, the ears made with dollar-sized pancakes, banana slices and blueberries as eyes, a chunk of strawberry for the nose, and more blueberries lined up in a smile.
Happy Hour at Café Diva, 1855 Ski Time Square Drive
Happy hour is summer’s version of après ski, and Café Diva is where you will find us from 5-6 PM in both seasons. Serving smooth wines and delectable bites that include a charcuterie plate, which we feel is the best light meal for summer, your happy hour at Café Diva may roll over into dinnertime, and a menu that is destined for greatness. Seared scallops are one of our favorite summer treats, and we always are sure to save room for the Diva’s key lime pie ice cream sandwich!
Rocky Mountain Chili at Stonewall, 685 Marketplace Plaza # C-1
Ok, you got us. Chili is usually considered more of a fall or winter dish, but in Steamboat Springs, the temperatures can drop into the 60s in the evenings, so chili is a year-round dish to us, and the version served at Stonewall may be our favorite. Made with Colorado bison & elk and served with cheddar cheese, cornbread, and house-pickled jalapeños, when you want to spice up your day a bit, nothing does it better than Rocky Mountain Chili from this wonderful eatery. Their summer salad is a good choice for those seeking something lighter, made with arugula, charred broccoli, grilled corn, almonds, bacon, and served with a lemon parmesan vinaigrette.
Step into the Past with a Shake From Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain, 685 Marketplace Plaza # C-1
Back in the day, first dates were usually enjoyed at a soda fountain counter, sharing a milkshake with two straws, and today, your Steamboat Springs adventures will let you continue that tradition with a stop at Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain. Lyon’s opened its doors for business in the 40s, but there has always been a pharmacy on this spot since the 1920s, and the history of Steamboat is steeped in every inch of floor space in the business. Also offering a savory menu of sandwiches and soups, guests can enjoy an authentic flavored soda, banana splits, sundaes, or, of course, a milkshake or malt, a tasty summer treat.
Your Secret Family Potato Salad, at Home with Grand Adventure Company
Your secret family recipe for potato salad will stay a secret as you putter around our fully equipped kitchens, gathering the ingredients to prepare the dish that makes your family think of home. Reserve your favorite summer sanctuary today!