DINING
Best Après Ski on the Mountain: Slopeside Grill Also second place Best Bartender; third place Best Outdoor Dining and Best Place to Watch the Game MATT STenSlAnD
Slopeside Grill General Manager Chad Gagliano knows the position his bar is in. When skiers end a long day on the mountain, there probably isn’t a better place to grab a cold drink than Slopeside. “Our live music, ice bar and location set us up perfect for après,” he says. Ah, the ice bar. It’s become a Steamboat staple. As each February closes out, employees build an ice bar right outside, letting patrons saunter up in their ski boots and order libations from a frozen counter. “But overall, it’s our staff that deserves the kudos,” says Gagliano, whose bar also won Best Après Ski on the Mountain last year. “It’s a fun environment and a fun staff.”
MATT STenSlAnD
MATT STenSlAnD
amped-up après: Pat Waters performs at Slopeside Grill.
The T Bar gearing up for another après sesh.
Cutting a rug at the Tug.
2. T Bar
3. The Tugboat Grill & Pub
It takes less than a couple of seconds for T Bar owner and operator Tres Holloway to unleash what makes his bar, now in its third season, unique. “It’s 100 percent for the locals and by the locals,” he says. “It’s a true skier’s bar.” The little trailer that could has kept on growing. Before this year, Holloway added an extra bathroom, more seating and a window for outside service. The cult-like following it’s garnered can be seen in its patrons who have their own glasses behind the counter. But Holloway has added another unique touch. His menu may be the most original of any après spot, consisting of creations like flatbread sandwiches, pork and other food Holloway likes to eat. And it, too, caters to locals. “It’s what I like to eat. It’s skier food,” he says. “It’s high in protein and carbs. We don’t fry anything, and most of our food is local.”
36 | STEAmbOAT living | Spring 2012
Walking into The Tugboat Grill & Pub in 2012 allows people to see what Steamboat was like decades earlier. The walls are filled with pictures that tell the story of one of Steamboat’s most iconic bars. And even with ownership changing hands in September, the bar still holds a special place in Steamboat. Even if it doesn’t have the on-slope presence of other bars, it’s not far away and still offers cold beer and cocktails after skiing. “We have a pretty good happy hour special,” says new owner Jim Beatty. “We have very reasonable prices.” It also has a new, fresh menu created by kitchen manager Sean Hengstler. “All the food looks better and tastes better,” Beatty says.