Boogie's Diner

Boogie's Diner  at the corner of Cooper and Hunter,  Aspen (970-925-6610)  Boggie is owned by one of Aspen's favorite local citizens, Leonard "Boogie" Weinglas.   Boogie's Diner is a real family’ place, designed for young people, and grown-ups alike.  Try  the huge milk shakes.   The size of the desserts make it a dessert-only destination for many people, with jumbo banana splits, as well as the brownie delight, and much, much more. Left picture are stairs leading into the dining section.

If classic, hearty food is what you're after, then go “fried chicken.”  I have eaten many plates of fried chicken here through the years, and they are consistently, “wonderful.”   This wouldn't be a diner if they didn't offer meat loaf, or macaroni and cheese or a hot open-faced turkey sandwich which are all delicious.  Just about any item you order will prove to be a casusal dinner's delight.   This is my  "every other day" place I eat when in Aspen.  In their store entrance at ground level, is a high end fashion casusal clothes selection that will keep one busy for hours.

                                           The Steak Pit 

In a recent winter trip to Aspen I returned to a favorite dining establishment on New Year’s night.  Located in the unique town of Aspen, Colorado, this restaurant is one that won’t disappoint the traveler, summer or winter.  The prices are no different than one would fine in Dallas, Texas, or any major city in the United States, which is unusual for the trendy, up-scale, expensive Aspen town. 

In a town where dining places come and go with the highest bidder for the property,  (where frame Victorian houses start at $1,000,000) this dining experience has been an Aspen landmark since 1960.  This  is the last remaining steak house in town. The steaks as well as prime rib are worth the journey to the underground eatery, which happens to be a perfect place to indulge in the unlimited  salad bar with the fine fresh bread.  This place will put a “smile on your face.”  I ate the lobster my  recent visit and  the price was one of the most reasonable I have found in several years!  The Steak Pit is open every evening, even during off-season, from 5:30 to 10:00.  The location is the corner of Hopkins and Monarch in downtown Aspen, Colorado: 305 E. Hopkins Avenue.  Reservations are accepted only for groups of 12 or more. A separate dining room that seats 30 is available for private parties. Call  970-925-3459 for more information.

The Cantina

I could not write about dining without writing about Mexican food.   Recently trip I ate twice at this Mexican place  located at the corner of Mill and Main St. (970-925-3663) What makes this Mexican restaurant a little different, though, is that it's a local institution, having been owned by the same person for more than two decades. The fare is pretty standard with some Rocky Mountain specialties thrown in: wild game fajitas and the pork loin with a smoked jalapeno sauce are among these. Otherwise, mole chicken, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, burritos, guacamole, salads, and quesadillas round out the menu.  The food is not Tex-Mex - not much ground beef here!  But there is great Mexican food on every plate.  I promose!

All three of the above dining places above are my personal "Editor's Choice" in Aspen, and my personal places I rotate eating around when in Aspen every year.

Happy Dining.