Let me preface this review by saying I have never written review on-line because as a former business owner, a former bartender, and a former server myself I know the daily grind it takes to keep the doors open and try to respect other owners in a positive light. Secondly, I'm not a fan of on-line reviews because it gives people the ability to be the "expert" when they are not qualified to be. I'm an "expert" eater and that's about it. SHOCKED. I think that best describes my experience here. I bought a Groupon last week and we dined on 3/15/13. I made the reservation via OpenTable--only available time was 6:00pm or 7:45. Since I was driving down from Denver after work, the 7:45 slot was the only time that would work. Got to the gf's hotel at around 6:00, vegged out, got dressed and made it to the restaurant at around 7:25. Thinking we were way early, we planned to get drinks at the bar. Checked in with the hostess and she took us to our table--early. Okay, early is good, no complaints there but the restaurant wasn't full at all. It was actually pretty empty for a Friday night so why the odd times with reservations? No idea. We sat, met our server, ordered drinks and browsed the menu. GF got a lemon drop martini and I ordered a sidecar. Drinks came out--GF got her lemon drop, I got a straight gin martini with olives. Hmmmmm...sent that back and got it corrected. To the food. The Groupon was good for two five-course dinners so I went with the lamb chops and the GF went with the fillet. Food was great for the most part. The bread/cracker and spread was awesome, the salad was a salad, and the entrees were cooked perfectly. Desserts were "meh--I got the pumpkin cheesecake which was okay and the GF got the chocolate cake. That came out on a cold plate (which isn't out of the ordinary) but you the caramel sauce on was horrible--you can tell they pulled the plate from the fridge and brought it straight to the table. Here's the SHOCK! Our intermezzo (intermission, palate cleanser)--was a raspberry sorbet. Our server brought it out, set it down and I saw something shiny at the top of my sorbet. At first I thought it might have been a small piece of ice or possibly sugar crystals. I took my first small bite with the shiny piece in it and figured it would melt in my mouth--WRONG!!! It was sharp and almost cut my tongue. FRIGGIN' PIECE OF GLASS!!!!! I called the server over and she thought that I wasn't enjoying my sorbet--I whispered to her, "I found something in my sorbet." Her response, "Glass?" Wow, really? A piece of glass is your first answer? Not hair, a bug, a whatever else but you guessed "GLASS"? Wow. She asked me to put it right on top of my sorbet and quickly took it to the back. Upon her return, she asked if I wanted another one or if she could get some anything else. I told her no. We ate dinner, got leftovers boxed, ate dessert and here comes the bill. Now, I never feel the need to complain, not out there to get comped or something free--like I said, I know how it is in this business but our server brought out the bill, explained the "regular" price and the new total with the Groupon discount. Dropped it off, asked us to fill out a survey but to make sure we leave out the "glass" portion of dinner. Wow. Shocked. Manager never did come over to apologize...I'm convinced he was never told of the situation. Obviously didn't do the survey, tipped accordingly, saw the rest of the manor (which was beautiful), walked out and will never come back and will never recommend this establishment to anyone. da_neenja
(1)
Colleen K.
The service by Amanda was excellent. The chef also went all out to acknowledge and make our Anniversary celebration special. Kudos to the staff.
(5)
Shamonn M.
Okay so here goes. I took my bestie here because she had never been treated out to a nice restaurant before, so I wanted to do something special. We arrived about 15 mins late which we called while on the road there to let them know....they were so understanding and made sure that our table was ready when we arrived. It was so beautiful in the evening, especially with the mountains in the background. I am a sucker for beautiful scenery so I was loving it. My friend and I were seated and our waiter brought out water and asked if we wanted drinks...She explained the menu and we ordered off the 5 course meal side of the menu. The menu was priced by entree, and includes soup/salad, amuse bouche, palate cleanser, entree and desert. At first my friend was kind of skeptical and didn't think she would like anything on the menu, so I ordered for her. There were no desserts that she thought she wanted, but again I encouraged her to at least pick something. Oh my goodness she was such a mess not knowing if she was going to like the food. Anyway, she ended up loving everything, including a mushroom patte (neither of us eat mushrooms but we tried it anyway). I would definitely recommend the duck confit and the pumpkin cheesecake or the blood orange chocolate mousse. Special thanks to the CHEF!!! You are amazing! Also thanks for the amazing service Briarhurst Manor. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Isibella A.
I'm going to try and help Briarhurst out here. The venue is breathtaking, it is elegant if not a little pretentious. But personally I like some pretentious in my dinning from time to time, it gives me a chance to slip on some heels and a little black cocktail dress. So dressy is good, ambiance is good. The food is pricey but at an acceptable quality. Despite the other poor reviews regarding the duck I will say as a seasoned foodie and duck lover that I quite liked mine. I am still waiting to try the foie gras though (I'm an evil kitten I know). But every time I seem to have dined here it was on a set menu (Though the set menus were good each time.) Honestly if it's an anniversary or if you're looking to get dressed up and have some champagne, this venue is ideal. I will be going back.
(4)
Laura M.
not worth the money we spent.
(3)
Tisha B.
I have to agree with Matt W. The dining room was freezing. I left my wrap on through the entire meal and was still cold. Not a fun way to dine. Maybe this is a COS tradition, eating with coats on, but I don't see the charm in it. The service was okay. Our server tried hard to be charming, but she was a bit too loud, trying a bit too hard -- like she thought everyone was hard of hearing. Maybe most of the clientele is generally older folks. Judging from the BLAND and BORING food I'd guess so. The description on the menu will be NOTHING like the food you will receive. You have been warned. Onto the food. The best part of the meal was the bread. The amuse bouche' - not amusing. Not creative, not especially tasty. A piece of cheese, a piece of crispy toast and some apricot. Okay.... already feeling that sinking feeling in my stomach now. Soup: Lobster bisque that has no lobster. Tasted canned or frozen, just had an odd texture. Not good. The entrees: Elk was apparently good. My husband ate all of it, but he will eat all of anything (usually). It was cooked appropriately, had a nice sauce. Was decent. The veggies were bland, barely cooked and the key to the food here again, they were boring and tasteless. Yes, there were a lot of veggies. But a huge plate of tasteless, bland, boring veggies is still crap, bad food that I will not eat. I ordered the duck. HUGE mistake. Do not order this dish. I got one duck leg which was tender and had a few bites of edible (though bland and tasteless) meat. This was accompanied by another chunk of duck breast (I think) that had the skin on. It was not crisped at all. It was rubbery like jello. Nasty. Absolutely no flavor. It was so dark I couldn't see to cut my meat. Probably better. I suspect I would have rejected or ejected the entire mess. The plate FULL of accompanying veggies were bland, tasteless, boring and some were inedible. Some so hard and undercooked I couldn't cut them. Mostly they just seemed pointless. I've ordered duck in many restaurants. This was by far the worst I've ever had. My duck came with NO SAUCE at all. Nothing. Just duck plopped on the plate and a pile of undercooked veggies. Oh and for color they threw in some kind of Asian squash (or something) that looked like a pear, but tasted like nothing. What was the point? To be trendy? I doubt this place has ever been trendy. And offering raspberry sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses doesn't make you trendy. Dessert: My creme brulee had LUMPS in it, actual lumps of flour or something. Gross. It watery and gooey at the bottom. Not creamy the way it should have been. It was no doubt old -- at least days old (I wouldn't be surprised if it was older than that). My husbands "chocolate truffle cake" was a tiny little thing about 3 bites worth. A bit of a joke. We were not offered after-dinner drinks or coffee. Major FAIL. The whole mess was pathetic. Thank goodness we had ordered a decent bottle of wine. The bread was good and served with butter and some nice raspberry jam. I couldn't recommend this place to anyone for any reason. Go down the street to Adams Mountain Cafe or Mona Lisa. Go anywhere else, but here. Just plain awful.
(1)
Heidi W.
EXQUISITE in EVERY WAY: MAGICAL WEDDING Briarhurst Manor is one of the most gorgeous, magical, BEAUTIFUL, ROMANTIC places for a wedding. My husband and I were married there last month and couldn't have been more pleased. Janice, our event coordinator was SUPERB! She worked with us to give us our dream wedding and within our budget too! The Briarhurst is also the perfect place for wedding pictures! Not to mention their food is THE BEST we ever tasted. The Steak Diane was so tender...just everything is done to perfection. When we arrived from our ceremony, Jeremy and I were whisked to the Briarhurst front doors, the attendants parked for us, and we were attended to in every detail. I could go on and on about the Briarhurst. If you aren't getting married, then go to their restaurant for an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere and enjoy anything on the menu. Everything is 5 star. As a bride, I felt comforted in knowing every detail would be taken care of without my worrking about it. The conversatory is such a great place for a reception with the elegant bar, the fireplace, the coffee bar, the dance floor, the pearls strung from the ceiling. This day was so magical for us...the Briarhurst had a huge part in creating that atmosphere for us and our guests. I'd recommend the Briarhurst over any location in Colorado. It is Divine, romantic, lovely, and everything they do there is done with such care. WE LOOOOVE BRIARHUST MANOR!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Fred H.
Very swanky and beautiful setup near downtown Manitou Springs. Wish I could say the food, atmosphere and service was as nice as it looks on the outside. Kind of stuffy, almost like eating in a library. I understood what they were going for in presentation, but at the same time it just didn't seem like anyone was really enjoying themselves. The food wasn't as good as I thought it would be, especially for the price. I can't say I would recommend this to the wayward traveller.
(2)
David G.
Whenever I'm in the Colorado Springs area I try to stop by the Briarhurst for dinner. This unique restaurant is located in a converted 19th century mansion at the foot of Pike's Peak in the artsy village of Manitou Springs. The menu is described as "Rocky Mountain" and consists primarily of game dishes such as wild boar, bison, pheasant, and elk. (The "game" may in fact be farm-raised, but I didn't want to ask and spoil the mood.) The 2-foot thick granite walls and old carved-wood details make a meal at the Briarhurst feel more like dinner in Europe. Everything I have eaten there has been interesting and well prepared and complementary between-course palate-cleansers are a nice touch. The staff does tend to be on the formal side, but the clientele is anything but. They can also accommodate large groups, such as wedding receptions, on their extensive grounds.
(4)
Barbara S.
Very disappointing. 45 minutes between the salad and main corse. Others tables that were sat after we had already ordered were served prior to us and they were having the 5 course meal as well. When we finally received our main corse the gnocchi appeared to have been under a heat lap for a long time. The sauce was soaked into the gnocchi and to top it off it tasted horrible. The waitress, had said that we had one course plated and were waiting on the other 3, that was about 15 minutes prior to us receiving our food. The rice in the risotto was hard. I understand that a dinner like this is paced to allow time to enjoy, but having the main corse come out 1 1/2 hours after ordering is just not acceptable. I decided to call back to discuss our experience. When I asked if the gentlemen that answered the phone was the manager, his response was "ya." For the surroundings and the cost I would expect I much more.
(1)
Sibby S.
After years of driving by this beautiful building in Manitou, and hearing mixed reviews, I got together a small group, and we made reservations on a Friday night. We were initially seated in a very lovely and historic dining room, but asked to relocate outside on the beautiful patio, as it was a warm evening. Let me just say, that this is one of the most charming venues for dinner in the Springs. I can see why so many wedding receptions are booked here. I found the service to be good, but not 5-star as at some of their competitors. We all ordered something different, and then shared with each other, so I got a good sampling of their menu. The wild game dishes were good, but not great, but their fish entrees were fresh, and well-prepared, finished with excellent, but not over-powering sauces. they have a decent wine list as well. Overall, I was happy with my experience, and would recommend to others.
(4)
Paul M.
We happened to be in the Manitou Springs area and decided to give Briarhurst a shot. It was a cool, beautiful summer evening and we chose to be seated outside on the porch. The setting was perfect. As dusk settled in deer approached on the lawn. There's something about eating elk in front of deer that appeals to me... My elk was very good--albeit heavy on the pepper--and the rest of the food was forgettable. We tasted the same lifeless veggies that other reviewers have complained about as well. Overall it was great atmosphere with hit and miss dining.
(3)
L H.
This has some of the best food I have ever had in my life! I first tried their food at an event that had several restaurants with samplers. The sample was great, so my wife and I went. Again, it was amazing. There are layers of flavor in the food that just unfold as you eat it. My wife and I have been back many times and always loved it. We were there for a wedding one time and the food was not quite as good, but it was a large group meal.
(5)
C B.
Attended a wedding here in late August and it was lovely; certainly kudos to the bride/groom, but the venue was beautifully done; nice set up for the ceremony as well as formal, seated dinner following. Overall ambiance extremely nice -- even the deer that they somehow managed to get to appear during the wedding ceremony!
(4)
Kevin S.
Excellence is the best word to describe Briarhurst Manor, from the comfortable and yet elegant atmosphere to the amazing courses this place stands out as the jewel of Manitou. The prices are what would be expected with a truly 5 star dining experience but you will leave feeling that your money is well spent. I highly recommend this place for ANY special occasion.
(5)
Justin L.
I don't know what the others were smoking. The steak was great as was everything else. Just expensive.
(4)
Mysti A.
In a word disappointing. My Husband and I went to the Briarhurst for a romantic dinner for my husbands birthday. It was a waste in every way.. I truly am having a hard time finding the words to describe what happened. Even though it looks charming from the outside and the entrance is inviting that is where any hope for a lovely evening ended. the room we were sat in was cold and lofty. The waiter was shall I say "brief" with his explanation of the menu, and was blunt and matter of fact with all information and contributed nothing to the overall experience other than making the evening even more uncomfortable. We were required to ask for everything from refills of beverages to silverware. I have a feeling this place has made it appoint to pay more attention to the elderly lighter skinned clientele and that is as nice as I can put it for what we experienced. Moving on the the actual food. It is hard to describe cold, improperly prepared, weak in taste and texture and made without love, no "love" in food is a waste of food. Everything tasted as though it was made the night before. tiny portions of less than a mouth full bites of bland under dressed food items. My husband had the beef wellington, the beef was over cooked the pastry soggy, the sauce tasted like onion soup that comes from a package. More than half the food went back untouched and the waiter still handed us a hefty bill with out batting a eye lash, and appeared oblivious to the dislike of the food. I must agree whole heartily with Matt and Tisha one star is generous. It is a shame, the building is beautiful and the place would be wonderful with a new heater, new chef, new management..
(1)
Todd N.
I ate Thanksgiving dinner here with family. The Butternut Squash Bisque was awesome. The cuts of prime rib were great even at the end of the night. My elk was tasty - but bacon wrapping anything makes that happen. I was amused to have the terms "Amuse Bouche" and "Intermezzo" explained to the table when each of those courses appeared. And I'm not sure how something that's dairy based can be used as palate cleanser, but it happened. If I'm back in Manitou, I might try this place again after hitting all the other restaurants in town.
(3)
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Address :404 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs, CO, 80829
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Da N.
Let me preface this review by saying I have never written review on-line because as a former business owner, a former bartender, and a former server myself I know the daily grind it takes to keep the doors open and try to respect other owners in a positive light. Secondly, I'm not a fan of on-line reviews because it gives people the ability to be the "expert" when they are not qualified to be. I'm an "expert" eater and that's about it. SHOCKED. I think that best describes my experience here. I bought a Groupon last week and we dined on 3/15/13. I made the reservation via OpenTable--only available time was 6:00pm or 7:45. Since I was driving down from Denver after work, the 7:45 slot was the only time that would work. Got to the gf's hotel at around 6:00, vegged out, got dressed and made it to the restaurant at around 7:25. Thinking we were way early, we planned to get drinks at the bar. Checked in with the hostess and she took us to our table--early. Okay, early is good, no complaints there but the restaurant wasn't full at all. It was actually pretty empty for a Friday night so why the odd times with reservations? No idea. We sat, met our server, ordered drinks and browsed the menu. GF got a lemon drop martini and I ordered a sidecar. Drinks came out--GF got her lemon drop, I got a straight gin martini with olives. Hmmmmm...sent that back and got it corrected. To the food. The Groupon was good for two five-course dinners so I went with the lamb chops and the GF went with the fillet. Food was great for the most part. The bread/cracker and spread was awesome, the salad was a salad, and the entrees were cooked perfectly. Desserts were "meh--I got the pumpkin cheesecake which was okay and the GF got the chocolate cake. That came out on a cold plate (which isn't out of the ordinary) but you the caramel sauce on was horrible--you can tell they pulled the plate from the fridge and brought it straight to the table. Here's the SHOCK! Our intermezzo (intermission, palate cleanser)--was a raspberry sorbet. Our server brought it out, set it down and I saw something shiny at the top of my sorbet. At first I thought it might have been a small piece of ice or possibly sugar crystals. I took my first small bite with the shiny piece in it and figured it would melt in my mouth--WRONG!!! It was sharp and almost cut my tongue. FRIGGIN' PIECE OF GLASS!!!!! I called the server over and she thought that I wasn't enjoying my sorbet--I whispered to her, "I found something in my sorbet." Her response, "Glass?" Wow, really? A piece of glass is your first answer? Not hair, a bug, a whatever else but you guessed "GLASS"? Wow. She asked me to put it right on top of my sorbet and quickly took it to the back. Upon her return, she asked if I wanted another one or if she could get some anything else. I told her no. We ate dinner, got leftovers boxed, ate dessert and here comes the bill. Now, I never feel the need to complain, not out there to get comped or something free--like I said, I know how it is in this business but our server brought out the bill, explained the "regular" price and the new total with the Groupon discount. Dropped it off, asked us to fill out a survey but to make sure we leave out the "glass" portion of dinner. Wow. Shocked. Manager never did come over to apologize...I'm convinced he was never told of the situation. Obviously didn't do the survey, tipped accordingly, saw the rest of the manor (which was beautiful), walked out and will never come back and will never recommend this establishment to anyone. da_neenja
(1)Colleen K.
The service by Amanda was excellent. The chef also went all out to acknowledge and make our Anniversary celebration special. Kudos to the staff.
(5)Shamonn M.
Okay so here goes. I took my bestie here because she had never been treated out to a nice restaurant before, so I wanted to do something special. We arrived about 15 mins late which we called while on the road there to let them know....they were so understanding and made sure that our table was ready when we arrived. It was so beautiful in the evening, especially with the mountains in the background. I am a sucker for beautiful scenery so I was loving it. My friend and I were seated and our waiter brought out water and asked if we wanted drinks...She explained the menu and we ordered off the 5 course meal side of the menu. The menu was priced by entree, and includes soup/salad, amuse bouche, palate cleanser, entree and desert. At first my friend was kind of skeptical and didn't think she would like anything on the menu, so I ordered for her. There were no desserts that she thought she wanted, but again I encouraged her to at least pick something. Oh my goodness she was such a mess not knowing if she was going to like the food. Anyway, she ended up loving everything, including a mushroom patte (neither of us eat mushrooms but we tried it anyway). I would definitely recommend the duck confit and the pumpkin cheesecake or the blood orange chocolate mousse. Special thanks to the CHEF!!! You are amazing! Also thanks for the amazing service Briarhurst Manor. I will definitely be back.
(5)Isibella A.
I'm going to try and help Briarhurst out here. The venue is breathtaking, it is elegant if not a little pretentious. But personally I like some pretentious in my dinning from time to time, it gives me a chance to slip on some heels and a little black cocktail dress. So dressy is good, ambiance is good. The food is pricey but at an acceptable quality. Despite the other poor reviews regarding the duck I will say as a seasoned foodie and duck lover that I quite liked mine. I am still waiting to try the foie gras though (I'm an evil kitten I know). But every time I seem to have dined here it was on a set menu (Though the set menus were good each time.) Honestly if it's an anniversary or if you're looking to get dressed up and have some champagne, this venue is ideal. I will be going back.
(4)Laura M.
not worth the money we spent.
(3)Tisha B.
I have to agree with Matt W. The dining room was freezing. I left my wrap on through the entire meal and was still cold. Not a fun way to dine. Maybe this is a COS tradition, eating with coats on, but I don't see the charm in it. The service was okay. Our server tried hard to be charming, but she was a bit too loud, trying a bit too hard -- like she thought everyone was hard of hearing. Maybe most of the clientele is generally older folks. Judging from the BLAND and BORING food I'd guess so. The description on the menu will be NOTHING like the food you will receive. You have been warned. Onto the food. The best part of the meal was the bread. The amuse bouche' - not amusing. Not creative, not especially tasty. A piece of cheese, a piece of crispy toast and some apricot. Okay.... already feeling that sinking feeling in my stomach now. Soup: Lobster bisque that has no lobster. Tasted canned or frozen, just had an odd texture. Not good. The entrees: Elk was apparently good. My husband ate all of it, but he will eat all of anything (usually). It was cooked appropriately, had a nice sauce. Was decent. The veggies were bland, barely cooked and the key to the food here again, they were boring and tasteless. Yes, there were a lot of veggies. But a huge plate of tasteless, bland, boring veggies is still crap, bad food that I will not eat. I ordered the duck. HUGE mistake. Do not order this dish. I got one duck leg which was tender and had a few bites of edible (though bland and tasteless) meat. This was accompanied by another chunk of duck breast (I think) that had the skin on. It was not crisped at all. It was rubbery like jello. Nasty. Absolutely no flavor. It was so dark I couldn't see to cut my meat. Probably better. I suspect I would have rejected or ejected the entire mess. The plate FULL of accompanying veggies were bland, tasteless, boring and some were inedible. Some so hard and undercooked I couldn't cut them. Mostly they just seemed pointless. I've ordered duck in many restaurants. This was by far the worst I've ever had. My duck came with NO SAUCE at all. Nothing. Just duck plopped on the plate and a pile of undercooked veggies. Oh and for color they threw in some kind of Asian squash (or something) that looked like a pear, but tasted like nothing. What was the point? To be trendy? I doubt this place has ever been trendy. And offering raspberry sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses doesn't make you trendy. Dessert: My creme brulee had LUMPS in it, actual lumps of flour or something. Gross. It watery and gooey at the bottom. Not creamy the way it should have been. It was no doubt old -- at least days old (I wouldn't be surprised if it was older than that). My husbands "chocolate truffle cake" was a tiny little thing about 3 bites worth. A bit of a joke. We were not offered after-dinner drinks or coffee. Major FAIL. The whole mess was pathetic. Thank goodness we had ordered a decent bottle of wine. The bread was good and served with butter and some nice raspberry jam. I couldn't recommend this place to anyone for any reason. Go down the street to Adams Mountain Cafe or Mona Lisa. Go anywhere else, but here. Just plain awful.
(1)Heidi W.
EXQUISITE in EVERY WAY: MAGICAL WEDDING Briarhurst Manor is one of the most gorgeous, magical, BEAUTIFUL, ROMANTIC places for a wedding. My husband and I were married there last month and couldn't have been more pleased. Janice, our event coordinator was SUPERB! She worked with us to give us our dream wedding and within our budget too! The Briarhurst is also the perfect place for wedding pictures! Not to mention their food is THE BEST we ever tasted. The Steak Diane was so tender...just everything is done to perfection. When we arrived from our ceremony, Jeremy and I were whisked to the Briarhurst front doors, the attendants parked for us, and we were attended to in every detail. I could go on and on about the Briarhurst. If you aren't getting married, then go to their restaurant for an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere and enjoy anything on the menu. Everything is 5 star. As a bride, I felt comforted in knowing every detail would be taken care of without my worrking about it. The conversatory is such a great place for a reception with the elegant bar, the fireplace, the coffee bar, the dance floor, the pearls strung from the ceiling. This day was so magical for us...the Briarhurst had a huge part in creating that atmosphere for us and our guests. I'd recommend the Briarhurst over any location in Colorado. It is Divine, romantic, lovely, and everything they do there is done with such care. WE LOOOOVE BRIARHUST MANOR!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Fred H.
Very swanky and beautiful setup near downtown Manitou Springs. Wish I could say the food, atmosphere and service was as nice as it looks on the outside. Kind of stuffy, almost like eating in a library. I understood what they were going for in presentation, but at the same time it just didn't seem like anyone was really enjoying themselves. The food wasn't as good as I thought it would be, especially for the price. I can't say I would recommend this to the wayward traveller.
(2)David G.
Whenever I'm in the Colorado Springs area I try to stop by the Briarhurst for dinner. This unique restaurant is located in a converted 19th century mansion at the foot of Pike's Peak in the artsy village of Manitou Springs. The menu is described as "Rocky Mountain" and consists primarily of game dishes such as wild boar, bison, pheasant, and elk. (The "game" may in fact be farm-raised, but I didn't want to ask and spoil the mood.) The 2-foot thick granite walls and old carved-wood details make a meal at the Briarhurst feel more like dinner in Europe. Everything I have eaten there has been interesting and well prepared and complementary between-course palate-cleansers are a nice touch. The staff does tend to be on the formal side, but the clientele is anything but. They can also accommodate large groups, such as wedding receptions, on their extensive grounds.
(4)Barbara S.
Very disappointing. 45 minutes between the salad and main corse. Others tables that were sat after we had already ordered were served prior to us and they were having the 5 course meal as well. When we finally received our main corse the gnocchi appeared to have been under a heat lap for a long time. The sauce was soaked into the gnocchi and to top it off it tasted horrible. The waitress, had said that we had one course plated and were waiting on the other 3, that was about 15 minutes prior to us receiving our food. The rice in the risotto was hard. I understand that a dinner like this is paced to allow time to enjoy, but having the main corse come out 1 1/2 hours after ordering is just not acceptable. I decided to call back to discuss our experience. When I asked if the gentlemen that answered the phone was the manager, his response was "ya." For the surroundings and the cost I would expect I much more.
(1)Sibby S.
After years of driving by this beautiful building in Manitou, and hearing mixed reviews, I got together a small group, and we made reservations on a Friday night. We were initially seated in a very lovely and historic dining room, but asked to relocate outside on the beautiful patio, as it was a warm evening. Let me just say, that this is one of the most charming venues for dinner in the Springs. I can see why so many wedding receptions are booked here. I found the service to be good, but not 5-star as at some of their competitors. We all ordered something different, and then shared with each other, so I got a good sampling of their menu. The wild game dishes were good, but not great, but their fish entrees were fresh, and well-prepared, finished with excellent, but not over-powering sauces. they have a decent wine list as well. Overall, I was happy with my experience, and would recommend to others.
(4)Paul M.
We happened to be in the Manitou Springs area and decided to give Briarhurst a shot. It was a cool, beautiful summer evening and we chose to be seated outside on the porch. The setting was perfect. As dusk settled in deer approached on the lawn. There's something about eating elk in front of deer that appeals to me... My elk was very good--albeit heavy on the pepper--and the rest of the food was forgettable. We tasted the same lifeless veggies that other reviewers have complained about as well. Overall it was great atmosphere with hit and miss dining.
(3)L H.
This has some of the best food I have ever had in my life! I first tried their food at an event that had several restaurants with samplers. The sample was great, so my wife and I went. Again, it was amazing. There are layers of flavor in the food that just unfold as you eat it. My wife and I have been back many times and always loved it. We were there for a wedding one time and the food was not quite as good, but it was a large group meal.
(5)C B.
Attended a wedding here in late August and it was lovely; certainly kudos to the bride/groom, but the venue was beautifully done; nice set up for the ceremony as well as formal, seated dinner following. Overall ambiance extremely nice -- even the deer that they somehow managed to get to appear during the wedding ceremony!
(4)Kevin S.
Excellence is the best word to describe Briarhurst Manor, from the comfortable and yet elegant atmosphere to the amazing courses this place stands out as the jewel of Manitou. The prices are what would be expected with a truly 5 star dining experience but you will leave feeling that your money is well spent. I highly recommend this place for ANY special occasion.
(5)Justin L.
I don't know what the others were smoking. The steak was great as was everything else. Just expensive.
(4)Mysti A.
In a word disappointing. My Husband and I went to the Briarhurst for a romantic dinner for my husbands birthday. It was a waste in every way.. I truly am having a hard time finding the words to describe what happened. Even though it looks charming from the outside and the entrance is inviting that is where any hope for a lovely evening ended. the room we were sat in was cold and lofty. The waiter was shall I say "brief" with his explanation of the menu, and was blunt and matter of fact with all information and contributed nothing to the overall experience other than making the evening even more uncomfortable. We were required to ask for everything from refills of beverages to silverware. I have a feeling this place has made it appoint to pay more attention to the elderly lighter skinned clientele and that is as nice as I can put it for what we experienced. Moving on the the actual food. It is hard to describe cold, improperly prepared, weak in taste and texture and made without love, no "love" in food is a waste of food. Everything tasted as though it was made the night before. tiny portions of less than a mouth full bites of bland under dressed food items. My husband had the beef wellington, the beef was over cooked the pastry soggy, the sauce tasted like onion soup that comes from a package. More than half the food went back untouched and the waiter still handed us a hefty bill with out batting a eye lash, and appeared oblivious to the dislike of the food. I must agree whole heartily with Matt and Tisha one star is generous. It is a shame, the building is beautiful and the place would be wonderful with a new heater, new chef, new management..
(1)Todd N.
I ate Thanksgiving dinner here with family. The Butternut Squash Bisque was awesome. The cuts of prime rib were great even at the end of the night. My elk was tasty - but bacon wrapping anything makes that happen. I was amused to have the terms "Amuse Bouche" and "Intermezzo" explained to the table when each of those courses appeared. And I'm not sure how something that's dairy based can be used as palate cleanser, but it happened. If I'm back in Manitou, I might try this place again after hitting all the other restaurants in town.
(3)