We went there last night in spite of mixed reviews. Of course, we noticed that all the Vail restaurants had very mixed reviews. However, whoever posted anything negative about Up the Creek Bar & Grill is crazy! We had a lovely meal, received great service, and recommend this restaurant highly!
(4)
Kristin D.
I think a lot can be said of an establishment by how they treat their guests during specials. My husband and I went to Up the Creek this past weekend when they were still offering the preseason 3 course meal for $30. The staff was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. They offered their special menu along with a 30% discount on wine without you having to ask or feel cheap. All the food was delicious. I got the cheese plate, soup special, and the venison and my husband got the scallops, the chowder, and the rib eye. I would highly recommend going here while in Vail!
(5)
John L.
One of our favorite places to go in Vail on our annual ski vacation. The truffle fries are crispy and delicious and the short ribs are not to be missed, especially because they come with the some of the best gouda mac and cheese we've ever eaten. The service is friendly and attentive and the wine deals are great.
(4)
Michael E.
Heard lots about this place. I checked out the menu online and decided to go, since I'm a huge fan of a good Buffalo steak, and they have a "dry-aged" version that I thought I needed to try. A friend and I walked in without reservations and were promptly seated. We perused the menus and ordered pretty quickly - the service was attentive, if unpolished. Good for a ski-area. I ordered their newfangled "Old-Fashioned". Now, I'm a whisky fan, and I know the difference between Bulleit and Buffalo Trace. The menu specifies Bulleit, which I thought made the drink sound interesting. I watched as the bartender poured Buffalo Trace into the drink before the waitress brought it over to me. This isn't a huge deal, but they should have told me that they didn't have the whisky the menu claims is in this particular drink. They didn't say anything. The drink was Ok, but absolutely loaded with ice, to the point of overkill. And the bitters were not present in any noticeable way. Bulleit would have been far better - I understand why their recipe calls for it. (Buffalo Trace is still a very good bourbon - just smoother and milder, which I didn't want in this drink). Also ordered the tortilla soup, which was good - loaded with shredded chicken and tasty. I thought the presentation was a little overwrought considering the dish, but I got the point. They were trying to make it "fancy". Then came the buffalo steak. The waitress recommended that I get it medium rare, and I agreed. It was fine, but not as good as I hoped or expected it to be. It sat on a bed of cheesy, bacony pasta shells, which I believe I enjoyed more than the steak itself, unfortunately. It was a fatty piece of meat, which surprised me, as all of the buffalo I've had in the past has been lean and delicious. Given the whisky switcheroo, I honestly wondered if I was eating a beef steak. I've been able to discern the difference between buffalo and beef before, but maybe their rendition was just too convincing for the often pleasant differences to be apparent. I feel that this restaurant is over-rated on Yelp. It's not bad, by any means, but it doesn't live up to the hype either.
(3)
Tim L.
A little pricier than some of it's competition in Vail Village but well worth it. This is not pub grub or an overpriced bratwurst which are near by. So many great items on the lunch menu, it was a struggle deciding. Blackened fish tacos awesome. Rib eye sandwich on what is probably French bread baked locally and so crispy and fresh even more awesome. Indulge yourself at lunch when vacationing in Vail, worth every penny.
(4)
Lauren D.
Is it cheesy if we come here for dinner AND brunch in a weekend because the food is so damn good? Well so far, we've been for dinner. Scrumptious! The best mac&cheese I've ever had. With lobster & bacon. And we're talking huge pieces of lobster that make you smile every time you get a bite. I didn't want it to end. The scallops and truffle oil were delish as well. AND for whatever reason (summer?) they had 30% a bottle of wine. It's right on the creek and the service is fantastic. I will try to branch out and try a different restaurant in Vail for lunch but this place is awesome.
(5)
Joseph P.
Had a wonderful dinner while in town from NYC looking at colleges with my son . Highly recommended. Great wine list and inspired food. Foodie restaurant that can be enjoyed by all.
(5)
R B.
A favorite over the years, we were disappointed with our visit this winter. Food was okay but the prices had skyrocketed.
(3)
Amy F.
I didn't hear good things about this place for dinner, so I had my boyfriend take me here for lunch instead. We were immediately greeted upon entering and was able to get a table by the creek. The lemonade was awesome, very tart, but still good nonetheless. My boyfriend had the hamburger and me the blackened fish tacos. The fish tacos came with pita like chips that were awsomely good. Very thin yet oh so cripsy and the tacos came with a mango salsa. Though the salsa was more of a bluish/green tint to it, which made it that much more better. My bofriends hamburger looked good, didn't have a bite though he did offer me a french fry. Sorry to say, but I like mine a little more cooked. But other than the food was great and our server was great. Overall an excellent place lunch as it wasn't crowded even with the pro cycling stage 3 circuit going on. Would definitely go here again just for the fish tacos.
(4)
Ryan L.
I went here recently for dinner on a weeknight during a ski trip with 3 others in my group. It's a small place, but we were seated promptly. Service was efficient and friendly. The prices were not outrageous considering the location and busy season, but I was impressed that they offered a very reasonable fixed price, 3 course special for less than the price of most entrees. The wine list is respectable and they offer a full bar.
(4)
Archer D.
Great food, really enjoyed my boar sausage with penne, the tortilla soup was also excellent. The menu selection was fantastic, and I could see myself going to this restaurant dozens of times without getting bored, especially with the large and interesting specials menu. The ambiance has to be one of the best in Vail, right along the creek. We went there in the winter, but outdoor dining must be amazing in the summer.
(5)
Mr A.
3.5 stars rounded up due to location.....After 7 or 8 years of going to vail, i finally had the chance to try this place. My wife and I enjoyed a patio seat next to the stream on a fantastic evening. While the decor of the restaurant is quite basic, the restaurants location is really calming and enjoyable. The service was friendly, and the food good ( nothing to blow your socks off, but a nicely prepared meal w good flavor). My wife and i didnt care for the fruit cobbler for dessert, thought it was way too sweet. Would i rush back here, maybe not for the food, but to have a drink on the patio, absolutely.
(4)
amy m.
Maybe I need to give Up the Creek another chance, seeing all the rave reviews that this establishment has recieved. I don't know if it's because I've only had lunch there, but I've never had an exceptional meal there... and unfortunately because of the excessive prices, I have always been hesitant to go back. Now, I don't consider myself a cheapskate and I will absolutely pay good money for an exceptional meal, but for a spinach salad that has the same vegetables in it that I can buy at City Market is definitely not worth the $11 price tag... same goes for the $19 (I think it is) lobster mac and cheese. The deck is definitely the place to be on a warm summer day, because you are literally 4 feet from the creek. I would highly suggest grabbing a drink and saving your appetite for upstairs, and head to Sapphire for your dinner.
(2)
Paul A.
Great setting and atmosphere. This is one of our longtime favorite spots in Vail Village and I highly recommend it. They have a good wine list and very unique continental menu. Of course, Gore Creek provides the best setting anywhere.
(5)
Nichole H.
Once again, I wish there were 1/2 stars here because we think it's a 4 1/2. Really great food AND drinks....this is definitely a place to order a cocktail. The location is great, right on the creek and service was wonderful. Six of us ate lunch there and everyone loved what they had. Would love to check out dinner there some time.
(4)
Kirk G.
We came here for a family meal, not knowing what to expect and we were blown away. They were running an offseason deal - $30 for three courses. The scallop appetizer was delicious, a few of us got the ribeye for an entree, which was outstanding, and cooked really nicely, and the duck breast was AMAZING. The service was excellent - the staff was extremely patient with the two small children who were with us. By the way, the desserts were huge and awesome. This was a great find, and we'd go again in a heartbeat.
(5)
David G.
Had a good reasonably priced meal there with a group.
(4)
Nat K.
Loved it! We encountered their food at the Gourmet on Gore festival and decided to come in for dinner when we saw a sign advertising a tasting menu for two for $81.50. The chef came over and asked us what we liked and disliked (um, nothing?), and we ended up with an heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella salad and a cheese plate to start. Pretty good. Next course was fish -- opah for the hubs, and Japanese sea bass for me. Fish was perfectly cooked -- seared nicely, and paired with some veggies and a lovely almond-accented sauce that was probably loaded with butter. Meat was up next -- classic filet for him, and some a-MAZING lamb for me. I really don't eat much lamb, but this was superb -- rare, and extremely flavorful. The chef came by each course to tell us about the food and to get our reactions, which really made the experience for me. Turns out that this particular lamb is only sold to this restaurant, which is probably a good thing 'cause I'll never want to eat it elsewhere! Dessert was unique -- an ice cream sandwich made of Rice Krispie treats and Rocky Road ice cream. Take that, molten chocolate cake! Oh, and to cap it all off -- wine pairing for BOTH of us was just $30. Amazing deal made that much sweeter by fantastic food and service.
(5)
Teri S.
As I write this, I am still overly stuffed from all that I ate at this place! I went in for a late lunch. I was seated immediately in at a very nice table in front of the window where you can watch the Gore Creek rumbling by, just beautiful! The waitress was so friendly and layed back, you could tell she had pride in her place of employment. I ordered the short rib lunch that was served with smoked gouda mac and cheese. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the presentation was. The rib bone had been removed and it was just the right size for a lunch portion. It was so very tender and flavorful and the smokey mac & cheese was the perfect side to compliment the rib. It was all swimming in a veal demi-glaze which was rich, but not too rich to dip the beef and pasta in. For dessert, I ordered a pecan tart that was like pecan pie with a different crust. It was drizzeled with carmel and came with a scoop of cinnamon gelato. As I was finishing, I could see alot of locals who came there frequently. You could tell that they just loved the place and the staff knew them all by name. One guy said he goes there at least twice a week! I would be 300 lbs if I did that! This place is a MUST, I would say and stands apart from the many eateries in Vail Village, and they are many good places there!
(5)
Amanda L.
One of the few places we went for dinner when we were in Vail. I assumed that the food would be overpriced and not as good as anything I could find in SF and unfortunately, I was right. SF is a great place for food but ruins you for other places. They started us off with a small, complementary tasting of hot chocolate which was pretty good - chocolately, creamy, and really rich. I liked that they had fresh fish and game meats like Elk and African Antelope but the food was a little bland for my taste. It's true that good quality meat and fish shouldn't need to be overly flavored and mixed with a lot of garnishes but a little more sea salt and pepper wouldn't have hurt. They did give us a trio of sea salts on the table which was nice though. We also had the truffled frites - can't go wrong with truffles - tasty. We had dinner at 6:30pm on superbowl sunday so the place was empty. A couple friends ordered the trout which was recommended because it was especially fresh but they came back to say that they ran out - how do you run out of something when there's no one else in the restaurant? The barramundi was also strongly recommended so my friends got the barramundi instead. It turned out to be a little overcooked and dry for my taste (admittedly, I like things less cooked than more cooked, especially if it's fresh). My friend said she also thought it was overcooked but liked the sauce that went with it. I'd be weary of what the servers recommend - especially since it sounds like they're just trying to get rid of it. The entree prices range from $30-$50+ with fairly generous, but not huge portions. The food isn't spectacular but is definitely good quality. They have a policy of charging $6 to split food which was a little absurd. I understand charging people a split charge if they split an entree but when we questioned the policy, they said they charge a split charge for the appetizers and salads as well, even if we each ordered a separate entree. They ended up waiving the fee so maybe we were initially just misinformed or they were just being kind that day. Interestingly, a couple people split salads and one guy ordered a full salad to himself. The full salad was the same size as the split salads. Overall, it's not a bad place but it's also not a fantastic place, considering the price.
(3)
Mal O.
Order the braised short rib on smoked Gouda and bacon Mac and cheese. It is heavenly and rather light. Did not feel overstuffed afterwards. Service is attentive and friendly. Plus dog friendly patio!!!
(5)
Amy W.
My Husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere special and didn't mind spending more $$ than we usually do. Up the Creek was not only right down the street from where we were lodging but it was highly recommended! We ordered the calamari for the appetizer and we were underwhelmed. It didn't seem fresh and the sauce was pretty bland, so we were really hoping the entrees would be better. My husband ordered the elk and it was phenomenal! The presentation was beautiful and it was cooked to perfection. I ordered the halibut and it was pretty tasty and fresh but after trying my husbands, I wanted to trade! The service was pretty good, nothing to write home about and the atmosphere was casual and cozy. Overall it was a good night and we left satisfied but were wanting a little more for how much we paid. But hey it's Vail, so it was expected.
(4)
Marcia A.
I should have Yelped this before choosing to eat here. Lesson learned. I had the Huevos Rancheros off their brunch menu. It was very good. The Bloody Mary was the worst I've had. I sent it back and it was still terrible. I mean, awful! The server never followed up to see if it was ok or if we wanted something else. In fact, she never checked in on us period . That to me is the worst customer service. We left both drinks on the table. Too bad because there were a few other restaurants we wanted to try. Next time :)
(2)
Sandy W.
Service was great. Beautiful dining on the creek. I would highly recommend the Elk. They just need to get rid of the red umbrellas and use something more attractive.
(5)
Jessica H.
My boyfriend and I decided to dine lavishly (because, hey, we were in Vail!) at Up the Creek, located on the edge of Gore Creek. Up the Creek is Vail's only creekside restaurant and I highly recommend going there to dine- if not, at least to have cocktail. The dishes were exquisite and expensive, but delicious. I ordered the brunch special aka the crab cake benny and the crab cakes were out of this world, especially being that they were served to me in a landlocked state and not closer to the sea. For my drink, I was torn between the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the enticing Bloody Marytini because the server mentioned there was a green Bloody mix at the bar and a Bloody mixed with a dirty martini sounded eclectic and awesome. I ended up ordering the Bloody Marytini and my boyfriend made his own Bloody at the bar using the green mix. And man... was that green tomatillo Bloody mix gooood! It was full of spices (lots of different types of pepper) and had citrus notes. The end bite was spicy and there were hints of habanero. I would go back to Up the Creek to order my own green Bloody Mary. The only downside of the cocktail was that it cost a whopping $12.. but it is Vail! Check out my full review of Vail's Bloody Marytini here: bloodymarytour.org/2015/… Prices were a bit expensive, but as mentioned before we were in Vail. With tip, we probably spent about $35 a person. Service was decent-- not the best, not the worst. We had a table in the sun and did try to move under one with an umbrella at one point, but we were scolded by the old man working there. This would be my only complaint of the experience, that, maybe since we were people in our early 20s, we weren't treated with the service we would receive if we were wealthy, middle-aged tourists.
(4)
Brandy M.
We came here for dinner on a Friday and really wish would have gone elsewhere. The service was just horrid. The waitress came around literally 3x. To take our order, deliver food, then give the check. Never asked if we needed anything else (like more wine!) or to see if our food was good. That was the reason for the 2 stars vs 1 star- the food was good. We split the trout dish and it was amazing. We had a patio table by the river which was also nice. Ii feel like they just don't care that people choose to spend money and time there, which is sad, because even with the economy getting better, they should still attempt to win people over!
(2)
Kay M.
Beautiful outdoor seating, right by the creek. The food is amazing! They have great gluten free options. ..we started with the calamari which is not fried but is in a spicy tomato sauce with asparagus. I had the braised short rib and my sister had the trout, everything was delicious and well prepared, very tender. I didn't need a knife for my short rib at all. The cocktails are very inventive as well, I had the beet infused vodka martini and my sister had the Colorado cucumber martini and they added fresh jalapeños to make it spicy. But drinks were not sweet at all which is exactly what we were looking for.
(5)
Johanna G.
4 stars for the food , 1 star for the atmosphere. Very casual for the price. Too many kids. Will not return.
(3)
Laura J.
Up the Creek is our favorite restaurant in Vail. We have made it a must every trip we make here. Prices are reasonable for Vail, staff is super friendly and the food is excellent. Definitely make a reservation for the patio in summer. There is nothing like having an excellent meal within view of Gore Creek. We have been to many of the restaurants in Vail Village and Lionshead at Vail, Up the Creek remains at the top of the list with dishes like Colorado Lamb, Ruby Red Trout and local Goat Cheese and beet salads.
(5)
Bruce M.
Food and drinks were superb. Atmosphere along Gore Creek is terrific. Why only two stars? Service absolutely sucked. We waited forever to get our servers attention to order a drink. Drinks for them slow to come. We ordered soup and salad and you would think they had to grow the letters! We cancelled our salads, paid our bill and left
(2)
Lynn C.
Love, love this place. Have been coming here as a couple, with friends, and/or bringing business associates several times a year almost since they opened. Always a good meal at a reasonable price. Good wine list, great atmosphere - especially on the little patio when the weather is nice, good service. A place we always go whenever in the area.
(5)
Ty D.
An awesome small restaurant. My firm held its annual retreat in Vail, and we held our group dinner at Up the Creek. Every course I sampled was outstanding (the elk I had in particular was excellent), the service was very professional, and the whole restaurant is very cool in terms of location, ambiance, etc. As another reviewer correctly noted, it's classy without being stuffy, and a great special occasion restaurant.
(4)
Michael C.
The only real benefit to eat hear is the sound and view of the creek. Everything is in the $30-$45 range and really not worth it on comparison to all the outstanding restaurants in Vail. For me when I drop $200 for a family, I want to leave saying it was great or amazing. Not it was OK.
(3)
Kasia G.
the only place that sullied our vail trip. we had an awful experience just asking for a table, and we were promptly turned away with a bizarre "I've got nothing for you" and no explanation about a wait or closing time. we were so taken aback that even though we saw a table emptying, we just left for a friendlier place. go to 10th mountain whiskey instead!
(1)
Sue R.
Good was excellent, service got slow between courses, but would be repeat customer for sure!
(4)
Ryota H.
The experience was great! Both food and service were wonderful. Here's what we had for dinner: Started with truffle fries; shaved parmesan cheese, parsley and came with an aioli cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered NY Strip over fingerling potatoes and vegetables and also the braised short ribs over a mac&cheese and asparagus. To be honest, we were going there with the intention of having desert but ended up being too full to have any. I would recommend this place for sure!
(5)
Wes M.
Nice dinner. Lacking a little on attentiveness. My wife's 50th birthday, I made sure they knew this and no acknowledgement. We never saw the restaurant fill up. Odd for this restaurant.
(4)
Karen D.
I split the UTC burger and chicken tortilla soup with my mom. The burger was awesome, super juicy and cooked perfectly. The tortilla soup was good, but the burger was definitely the main event. They also have a great wine menu!
(4)
Beau R.
I love this place! It has such a great view of the creek and the illuminated ice sculptures. The elk was incredibly flavorful and delicious! I'm a concierge in Beaver Creek and I don't hesitate to recommend this establishment to my guests. I wish I could afford to dine here every night!
(5)
Jennifer S.
We have eaten here twice and can highly recommend it. It's a pretty little place on the creek, cozy and romantic. Reservations recommended but we quickly got a table for 2 on a Monday night. The service starts with the most perfect, warm crusty roll with butter. For starters, the organic beet salad was wonderful, with beets, fennel, red onion, hazelnuts, dried tomatoes with goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette. It was a very generous serving and would make a fine lunch. My husband had the arugula with pears and nuts. I had the pork chop with cheese grits and asparagus. Truly, this was one of the best meals I've had in Vail. We didn't have dessert. The large surrounding windows showed the falling snow. In summer it must be beautiful with the open windows on the creek.
(5)
Kunal M.
Fantastic food with a fantastic view! Vegetarians: try the veggie sandwich or enchiladas with red onions, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus. Delicious!
(5)
John R.
Very friendly service with some unique items on the menu. The Truffle Fries were a hit for the entire table. The New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good and the Braised Short Rib was very good for the main entree. The location itself is wonderful -- sitting outside at creek's side makes for a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience. I did try a sample of their bacon infused bourbon which is nice in a small sipping but a little over powering in the BOB drink on the menu.
(4)
Megan S.
I have nothing but good things to say about Up the Creek. My family has been coming here for years, and it has only gotten better. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, classy without being stuffy. They play great music, and the staff are always friendly and helpful- attentive without being overbearing. And the food: wow. There is such a good mix of options and flavors, you can't go wrong- no matter what you feel like eating, you will find something. The elk is definitely the highlight of the menu, but I also highly recommend the quinoa, it has such an amazing mix of flavors, and it a nice lighter alternative to the elk or the steak.
(5)
Christina A.
You need to try the truffle frites and their Rocky Mountain ELK! Everyone at our table really enjoyed all of their dishes, but I loved my elk dish so much I didn't have room in my stomach to try the other dishes. Sad, but not really. hah. Anyway, the Elk had a coffee rub and it was perfectly paired with farro risotto, mushrooms, asparagus, and huckleberry jus. You can't go wrong here!
(5)
Andrea K.
The view is beautiful but the food is nothing to write home about. We had lunch here and it was our only disappointing meal in Vail. I had the fish tacos which weren't memorable and it came with a side of chips that were also not memorable. The accompanying mango salsa tasted nothing like a salsa and was basically just mashed up mango. Hubs had the buffalo tri-tip sandwich which I thought was decent but he had to ask for a side of BBQ sauce and it did not compete with any other BBQ we've had elsewhere. People seem to rave about this place but frankly there are a lot better options in Vail.
(2)
Dustin C.
Staff was friendly, but service was very poor. Ordered a bottle of wine, 5 minutes later we were told they were out of that bottle. We decided on another bottle but the waitress was nowhere to be seen for 15 minutes. We just got up and left. At those prices I'm not sitting around waiting to order. That being said I probably will go back to try the food after the reviews and recommendations. Sitting out by the river on a hot summer night would be lovely, although the atmosphere inside was fairly loud and very congested.
(2)
Sol A.
This place gets 5 starts just for the simple fact they accommodated 5 people with different dietary restrictions! We ended up here on a friday night after having ski all day long and being exhausted (please note, making a reservation is highly recommended, at least on peak hours). We got seated right away. The menu is small but the chef is open to make variations to the entrees as our small witnessed: one of my friends couldn't have alcohol of any sort in his food, others couldn't eat meat, or pork and myself being a vegan/vegetarian was quite a challenge but between the waiter and the chef they accommodate all our tastes and restrictions and we got really tasty options. I got the pumpkin gnocchi in a wine sauce and it tasted amazing. My friends were also really happy with their plates. We finished with a hot steamy cup of tea and their assortment of sorbets/ice cream. Would definitively come back if Im back in Vail next year!
(5)
Brittany L.
This restaurant was so pretty and delicious! It's in Vail village and overlooks a creek. The food was very good and the menu is expansive. Good drinks too. The ambience is worth what may seem to be a bit pricey of a menu. Definitely a must if shopping around in vail!
(4)
Arlene P.
I don't eat lunch - except at Up The Creek! The BLT is a amazing!!!! I would not eat foe 3 days to eat this. Perfect bread - homemade mayo (at least it tastes like this) - perfect tomatoes - top with truffle fries- heaven.
(4)
Katie R.
Visited her while in Vail on business with about a dozen co-workers. We got seated outside by the creek and it was a very nice evening to be outside (July). Standard outdoor seating. The service was good, the drinks were fun and the food was tasty! Arugula salad was fresh and a great mix of ingredients. The seafood was fresh and well presented. There was a mix of the menu ordered throughout the group and I heard no complaints. The staff was friendly and made enough appearances to help out our large group. It was a little slow but we were a big group and I was in no rush, so no harm, no foul.
(4)
Collin R.
Good food. We both had fish tacos and they were exceptional. Service was average, but that may have been due to the over-privileged idiots treating the staff like garbage next to us. Definitely happy. Just thought the food was very slightly over priced.
(4)
John A.
Spectacular view of the creek from the outdoor seats. I recommend Up the Creek for an upscale meal in Vail. The Frites & cheese fondue and the tortilla soup were okay, but the calamari, crab cakes, bread, & trout were all very good. There aren't many choices for someone like myself who doesn't eat beef or pork, but through a combo of appetizers I was very satisfied with my meal. The staff was very friendly & the manager even went to another restaurant to borrow a high chair since all theirs were in use. Although this was yet again another expensive meal in Vail. It was worth stopping in.
(4)
Linda C.
We enjoyed a perfect lunch here. I sipped a Spicy Cucumber cocktail while watching the families and dogs play at the creekside. The truffle fries were wonderful as expected, as were the arugula pear salad and the turkey brie sandwich. This is a must-go place if you are in Vail.
(5)
Rick C.
August 2013, Vail, CO: time for dinner at Up the Creek Restaurant Good imaginative creations...... Crappy service.....The waitress gets 10% instead of 25%.... the restaurant gets my endorsement for food prep on YELP
(4)
Mariel J.
This is a really cute place right on the river in Vail - the biggest draw is the location, which is perfect - especially out on the patio on a nice day. The service was also good, and I loved my Reuben (with truffle fries!) and the chicken soup.
(4)
Michelle B.
Beautiful location, great view, delicious food! Visited this place on a day trip up to Vail and had the Turkey and Brie Sandwich and a Martini. Drinks are good and not too insanely priced for Vail. Sandwich was very tasty. My friend had the tacos and said they were also very good. Definitely a winner!
(4)
Abby G.
I was really excited to go to this restaurant, the food sounded great and the patio was lovely (except it started to rain). We ordered an app and a bottle of wine, but they were out of the wine so she gave us a "minute" to decide. The waitress never came back, it was cold, and inside looked a little too cramped for our style, so we just left. I'll be back though, but only if I get to sit outside.
(2)
Sarah G.
Up the Creek, how I loved thee... let me count the ways. 1. Came highly recommended by other bartenders in town for drinks. And wow were they right, even drinks that the guys had never heard of before (Negroni) they made like the pros they are. I had the pleasure of nursing a Spicy Cucumber almost all the way through dinner. Habanero Simple Syrup, you are a wonder. And finally some local beer offerings (Bonfire Brown Ale on tap!) We ended up here on the merit of the drinks alone a second night... probably right around that time when we should have called it quits... but didn't. Just to prove the point even further, a whole group of servers and bartenders frolicked into The Creek when we were at the bar doing a '12 bars of Christmas' tour and ordered 13 shots and miscellaneous drinks. Prost! 2. I apparently can't write a review without mentioning the creek and the location, so here it is. But in the dark it's not really a big selling point. Explaining where it is does lend itself to some Abbot & Costello 'Who's on First' type moments though. 3. The service was incredible. If I ever for whatever reason moved to Vail, these guys would be the first friends I made. Super friendly and down to earth without being too 'salesy' or uptight. You know the kind... 4. Bathrooms. Yes while some many Yelp lists have been made on the merit of restrooms alone (do a search... it's interesting), this isn't usually something worth mentioning for me. UNLESS they're especially awesome, as these are. It's a pretty small restaurant so there are only two. But they're unisex... like airplane bathrooms. Just cool. 5. Last but not least... the Food with a capital F. I so love finding places like this while on vacation because THIS is food to write home about (see when I get really excited and start using capital letters). I started with a spinach salad, moved on to a cup of the clam chowder and finished with the pork belly (on special). And like their website says, "Don't Forget to Try the Truffle Fries". Maytag Bleu Cheese fondue, shaved parmesan reggiano... oh yeah, and there were some perfectly cooked fried potatoes also with that glorious air of truffle. Erin was even nice enough to let me ooh and aah all over the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese that came with her Short Rib dinner when her guard was down. Back to #1, we drank our dessert... espresso for me. Fantastic creations like the baked grasshopper for others. This was my hands down favorite of all the places we got our grub on in Vail. And that's really saying something because nowhere we went was less than "Yay, I'm a fan!" status in terms of food.
(5)
Claire S.
5 stars for atmosphere, it's lovely to be by the water. The food was very average. Everything was heavily salted. Tastes were off. Trout was dry. I ordered a sangria which didn't look or taste like any sangria I've ever had. Tasted and looked like pink lemonade with some stale pieces of basil floating in it. Very odd. Service was acceptable. It's pricey but that's a given considering the location.
(3)
Kelsey S.
We dined at Up The Creek on New Years Eve and it was wonderful! I had the elk loin and my boyfriend had the new york strip. We loved the atmosphere, very cozy with a great view of gore creek. Dinner was served with a glass of champagne to celebrate the new year.. Thank you Up The Creek for making our evening so special! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to all.
(5)
Cam M.
Wow! I've had drinks on the patio of Up the Creek before, but this was my first dining experience. The first suprise was the calimari. If you're expecting a big dish of fried up squid, you'll be wrong. It was a grilled calamari, w/ marinara and vegetables. Very unique and absolutely sensational. I had the short rib which was incredibly tender, I could pull it apart with my fork. My wife had the tenderloin which was also had a great rich flavor. Our kids were happy too with the pasta. The location is ideal and the service was great. Highly recommended!
(5)
Patricia N.
We had a great dinner at Up The Creek last night. Both the trout and the sirloin steak were excellent. Our waiter, Eric, was very attentive and helped make the evening fun. We have been coming to Up The Creek for years and it never disappoints.
(4)
Soyoung P.
I had a Ruby Trout and a Farm salad for lunch and it is cooked perfectly! Pink colored skin was crispy and the meat was enough solid to chew. The guy server is very attentive and witty. I was afraid how crowded it would be based on the reviews, but we were sit right away in the patio on the creek side. The food came out quickly and fresh. I had ice cream and sorbet and it was yummy! A bit pricey for lunch, but it is the price in Vail. Nice lunch venue with a refreshing clean water stream view and sound.
(4)
Barry M.
While this was a very good meal in a fantastic location and I would certainly make a return visit if I were in the area, there are better meals to be had in Vail. Still, it is worth a visit if you have some extra time to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
(4)
John K.
Four of us had lunch here. Really nice place to eat right along the creek. The bison sliders were perfectly prepared. The soup and grilled cheese were really good too. I'd like to come back for dinner.
(4)
Denise N.
Rude... Rude.... Rude.... Don't expect great service or YOU will be "Up the Creek!" When we walked in for our New Year's Eve early dinner (we made the reservations for 3 pm several weeks ahead in order to accommodate my elderly dad and see the fireworks at 6:30) Peter greeted my family of 7.....all adults.... with a "hurry up attitude" because the chef had to begin preparing the New Year's Eve dinner menu. They had called us earlier to see if we could come in at 2:30....what tha? After we were seated and the waitress arrived at the table, we were advised what was NO LONGER available on the menu.... ok... that was 2 negatives in less than 10 minutes. After I saw the disappointment on my families faces, I pulled out a business card that Jeff from Alpenrose down the street had given me to make a reservation for the next day (we had dropped in for a round of cocktails there)....I immediately called him explained our situation, he stated that he could accommodate us immediately. We will take Goulash over Rudeness any day! I have read some of the food reviews and they may be favorable, however, inconsiderate treatment always leaves a BAD taste in my mouth.
Up The Creek has the most spectacular location....sitting on the outdoor patio is so enjoyable...the luncheon menu is reasonable and the food good....I have been there for dinner, and while the food was excellent, the service was slow, but the staff was friendly.... They were out of one of the main entrees....the prices are about $10 more than the surrounding restaurants, which were packed and the food comparable ...... There were only 7 people in the restaurant dining the evening our family was there...I think they need to rethink their pricing, in order to be competitive....I would think twice before having dinner there again....
(3)
Brittney M.
The patio is just amazing. I love it here. Great wine, food, and scenery.
(4)
Erika B.
This is currently my favorite restaurant in Vail. Conveniently situated in Vail Village near the children's fountain and overlooking Gore Creek, Up the Creek always offers lovely service and a completely delectable menu. The space is not my favorite, but the food and service make up for the lack of decor. I started with scallops with a corn salsa, chose a gnocchi with lavendar-honey sauce, duck confit, blue cheese, and chives as my main meal (yum?!) and finished off with an exceptionally well-made peach/bluberry cobbler. Oh, and I couldnt have been more excited that they offered gluhwein (hot spiced wine) for the holiday season. Other notable menu items included mountain favorites: venison, ostrich, lamb! The menu had an excellent fish selection including 5 or so tempting options. As you can tell, ordering was a difficult decision!
(5)
Tanya D.
I have no idea how people can rate this place so great. Went here for our anniversary dinner last month and we were very disappointed. I ordered the swordfish "special" which was supposed to be flown in fresh from HI. This was the worst fish I have ever had, it was dry and most likely 3-4 days old. Even if it was good the portion was so small for $40.00 about 4-6oz tops. The dining room is dated and our waiter was completely uneducated about the wine list. I felt like saying hey bro-ha maybe you should be a lifty for Vail instead. They should call this place UP THE CRAP! My husband and I left hungry and dissapointed with a $160 bill. -I am a local not a tourist and I am growing increasingly tired of being ripped off by medi ocre overpriced Vail restaurants!
(1)
Rick P.
Kudos to Up the Creek team for handling our large group so well. All had different fish entres, universally enjoyed. Specialty cocktails and desserts winners.
(4)
Aleksandra K.
Went here for lunch and had the fish tacos they were delicious. We sat out on the patio and I loved the view. Our server was very friendly as well. Overall, had a great experience. Would highly recommend for a laid back and relaxing lunch in Vail.
(4)
M M.
My mom and I stopped in here for a lunch date the last time we were in Vail. We were seated at a very central table in doors. It was bustling, but not insanely busy. I'm pretty sure we didn't have a waiter assigned to our table. We had to plead to get our order taken, and beg to get our check at the end. I'm actually surprised we got our food at all. No one came to check on us, no one refilled our water glasses, and even though the server who finally gave us our check realized how neglected we had been, no one apologized or tried to make it right. The food was decent, but I'm afraid I will go elsewhere the next time I visit.
(2)
Will G.
While on vacation with my family we stopped in for dinner and I have to say it was amazing! The short ribs are the best I've ever had. Even the meals for kids look top notch.
(4)
Sarah V.
Up the Creek is my favorite place to apres-ski. They have great beer and the truffle fries are AMAZING. The location on the creek is sensational, especially when you can sit outside on a sunny day. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and cozy and makes it a favorite for the occasional dinner date as well!
(5)
Zach C.
What a great little place, wonderful food, great service and an awesome view. If u come for lunch I highly recommend the chicken sandwich w truffle fries. Maybe start off w the crab cakes, very light and fluffy. My friend is in love w the red trout, one of the vest fishes he's tried in a while. So if u find yourself in Vail craving some food then come by
(5)
alex p.
This place was phenomenal. Great food (they were even able to accommodate my super picky wife), and service uncharacteristic of the snark that follows townies that typically man most places in vail. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Krisy P.
If you are looking for something nice and not pretentious, definitely head here. If its a weekend, make a reservation and try to get there early since they run out of the good stuff fast... like the short ribs. I had the arugula salad and small plate of diver scallops - the portions are surprisingly filling!
(4)
Jenna D.
loved sitting on the patio and hearing the creek rush by-- definitely a great leisurely lunch spot.... i had the cobb salad with chicken and balsamic vinaigrette- perfect after a long hike, filling but not too heavy; my girl had the turkey and brie sangy which she loved, and the bloody mary bar looked off the chain.... next time. great food and if the weather permits, perfect for outside seating
(4)
Amy B.
Always love this place! Their truffle fries are the best in Vail! Salads are good. Fish always cooked perfectly. They used to have a pasta with goat cheese on the dinner menu that was very good. We come back to this place year after year.
(5)
Adrian H.
A good place to go, but avoid the tempura - it's greasy. My wife and I headed up to Vail for a weekend of skiing. After getting the "Colorado Resident" deal at Vail Cascades (something I love), we hunted for some place for dinner, and settled for Up The Creek - opting for a 5:30pm reservation since everything from 6:30pm - 9:00pm was already booked at every single restaurant in town. This is a clean lined restaurant in the heart of Vail Village, having a prime spot just steps from the creek that passes through the village. The place was empty when we were sat, with the pleasant and attentive waiter providing additional details on the dinner specials. He went to pains to mention the 30% off bottles of wine. Since it was dead when we arrived, I don't know what sort of vibe this place has when its busy, but the background music indicates a quieter place. For appetizers, we ordered off the regular menu. I ordered the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, which is supplied with a Serrano Blueberry coulis, and the crab cakes arriving sitting on a micro green salad, dressed in a lemon vinaigrette. The seeano gave a hint of spice to the coulis, while the blueberries gave a little sweetness, resulting in a wonderfulyl balanced sauce. The crab cake was a little salty for my palate. I could have eaten the blueberry coulis all day. My wife ordered the Maine Diver Scallops, pan seared and served sitting on top of a cauliflower puree, and sweet corn medley. The star of this dish was the sweet corn medley - another thing I could have eaten all day. It had finely diced peppers and green onions mixed in. The scallops were nicely rare (not overdone, as is so easy to do). The cauliflower puree was a nice textural contrast to the rest of the dihs. Yes, we did lick the plates. People can deal. The place was dead. As a change from the norm, the bread course came between our appetizer and main courses. The bread was a yeasty - almost biscuity tasting - white dinner roll, served warm, with softened butter. This is one of the better bread courses I have come across. For the main course, I decided on a special - Seared Hawaiian Bluefin Ahi, with Wasabi mashed potatoes, tempura vegetable spears, and a drizzle of chive oil and balsamic around the dish. The ahi was seared with black sesame seeds and rare in the middle, then placed around a mound of the wasabi mashed potatoes, with the spears of vegetable tempura (carrot and zucchini) stuck into the mashed potatoes like sails. Taste wise, the wasabi mashed potatoes were exactly what you would expect - a kick from the wasabi, but creamy and delicious. The ahi needed a little more of a dipping sauce than the chive oil and balsamic provided, but was otherwise good. The vegetable spears, however, were dreadful. They were greasy and some of the vilest greasy food I've had in a while. Give these a miss. My wife ordered the Osterich Tenderloin with a port wine cherry polenta cake, baby carrots, and an apple-cider demi-glace. The osterich had a smoky grill taste - charcoal, perhaps? Since it is a leaner meat, we tookt he advice on getting it on the rarer side. The chef certainly knows how to cook to order, and the meat was right where we wanted it. The star of this dish, however, was the polenta cake. The cherries were mixed into a course polenta and then made into a cake and grilled. With the peppery notes of the polenta (and added pepper, I am sure) balancing the sweetness of the cherries, this was yet another thing I could have eaten a ton of. A quick note on the dish sizes. They aren't huge, but they don't skimp either. So you will still be able to enjoy dessert. Which we did. I'm a fan of cobblers, and the special of the night was a peach-blueberry cobbler, which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top, then drizzled with caramel and whipped cream running down the side (plus the obligatory useless fanned strawberry). Yes, it was hot (this is a good thing, and not common), and the sweet peaches paired nicely with the tart blueberries to make a delicous whole. Unfortunately, with the ice cream on top, the cobbler crust was a little soggy, although enough crunch remained to remind me why I like crumbles and cobblers so much. My wife ordered a trio of sorbets - mandarin orange, hibiscus lemon and strawberry basil. Each one was served in its own little dish. I was expectign the strawberry basil to be sweeter, but it had a distinct savory taste to it. The mandarin orange was really really sour. My favorite of the three was the hibiscus lemon, which was tart with a definite savory taste in the background. One nice thing is that our waiter did not bring the check until we were both finished. I've noticed this habit in lesser restaurants to bring the check when I've finished, but my wife is not. I was not rushed here, and that is a good thing. Overall, almost a five star experience, as you would expect when dropping almost $170.
(4)
Nicole K.
Amazing! Love this place! Delicious dinner! Fantastic service. Definitely a go-to place for dinner in Vail. I had the trout and my husband had the lamb chops, which were amazing! We had the carpaccio as an starter, which I would highly recommend. It melted in our mouths. The ambiance is great- right on the creek. We love this place!
(5)
Mason M.
Perfect. The restaurant is super nice. It's welcoming, and not stuffy. New Bar!! Just installed, good lookin bathrooms. Then there is the food. Off the charts. It doesn't matter what you order.... It's incredible. Great flavors, new ideas... Creativity and competency are coming together here. I'll will certainly return.
(5)
Hilary B.
OMG. Just had dinner here and everything was amazing. Started with the arugula salad with pears and vanilla vinaigrette which was incredible and then had the short ribs with the Gouda mac n cheese... So so so good. Finished it off with a St Bernard to drink. Delicious. Oh and definitely sit at the bar. Wes and the other gentleman (didn't catch his name) were so attentive, friendly, and helpful. Such a great experience and next time we're in Vail we'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Hu Lee A.
Food was good, reasonable for the price, especially for Vail. The service was great and turned good food into a fantastic experience.
(4)
Cousin D.
Went there for lunch with my wife, her friend and 2 boys. If you are in a hurry, DO NOT go here. If you want a relaxing lunch, which is hard to do with 2 twelve year old boys who cannot sit still, this is a decent pick. The food was OK, although I cannot remember what I had. Probably would not go again. Once was enough.
(3)
Erin R.
This meal is one of the best meals of my life. I would give Up the Creek 6 or 10 stars if I could. If you are reading this and in Vail and considering going to Up the Creek stop reading now and go. You will be very happy with your decision. Everything from the truffle fries and clam chowder appetizers to the pork belly and short ribs entrees to the inventive cocktails was amazing. My husband and I stopped in at the bar during our trip to Vail since it was highly rated on Yelp. We sat at the bar to have a few drinks and chatted with the bartender (Wes). He was wonderful. If you are in Vail make sure to stop in and have a drink with him. One of the best ever. He gave some great suggestions for other places in Vail and we decided to have dinner at Up the Creek a few nights later with friends (fellow reviewer Sarah). I'm so glad we did. Like I said above we started with some truffle fries and clam chowder. The truffle fries were topped with blue cheese and shaved parmesan reggiano. Simply delicious. The clam chowder was the best clam chowder I have had outside of New England. It is a must try. My husband had the pork belly special and I had the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese. Both were melt in your mouth delicious. We drank our desert (Espresso Martini and Grasshopper Martini) both suggestions by Wes. We returned a 3rd time for drinks because we loved it so much. While we were there a group of bartenders and servers from around Vail stopped in during their "12 bars of Christmas". Hilarious. The prices are pretty decent especially for Vail. Apps are in the $12-$18 range and entrees in the $25-$40 range. It isn't quite white tablecloth dining but they have great ingredients (i.e. pork belly, etc) and you won't be disappointed. The day after we ate at Up the Creek we ate at Sweet Basil and it was not nearly as good and twice the price. If you are thinking of going to Sweet Basil instead try Up the Creek for lunch and dinner and I think you will be happy. Service was very attentive and helpful. Upscale but not stuffy. It has a great looking patio that would be fun in the summer time. In the dark it may be a bit difficult to find as it is down some stairs by the creek in Vail Village, but DO NOT miss this if you are in Vail. I think I may drive out here even when visiting Keystone and Breck as I love it that much.
(5)
Todd N.
Really good food, a little pricey but worth it. Try the halibut.
(5)
Roman B.
Great spot. Ask for an outside table. Food is great too!
(5)
Linda J.
We first had a lovely dinner on their patio. The wine special offered was perfect as was the melt in your mouth beef tenderloin, and our service and view was great, making us along with our Yorkie feel appreciated (we always ask first if she is allowed). We spent $99 before tip and were happy. We returned two days later to have lunch-there was a salad with crab I was dying to try,but were promptly informed no dogs were allowed on the patio. This was very embarrassing and after explaining we had just been there with her we quickly left and will not return. This restaurant needs to set a dog policy and stick to it.
Really good food! Rack of lamb was awesome. Try the Mac n cheese! Only thing is price advertised is off. Dinner for 2 was $150 with tip app, entree, dessert. Highly recommend
(5)
Eric M.
After a drive out from Denver, we were ready for both some fresh air, sunshine and some food. We found all three at Up the Creek. It's got a really good location right by the creek (surprise). The calamari was particularly good, and so were the scallops that I had. Better than the food was the location, which was outstanding. Can't miss with this one.
(4)
Wendy C.
Excellent food being recommended to you by non-overbearing but extremely knowledgeable service staff. This exceeds my expectation for a touristy spot. Went with a large group, everyone enjoyed his/her dish. The game meat was seasoned perfectly, fish done right not overcooked, sides are innovative and delightful.
(5)
Dana S.
Very good experience, lovely creekside setting, delicious food and great service.
(4)
Alannah M.
We went here based on the previous reviews, and omg were they right!! In fact, the food was so good, we went back a second night. The food was amazing and the service was awesome. Our waitress, Oriana, had excellent recommendations, including my yummy cocktail, a pear martini. We wish we were here for a third night so we could go back and try something else! And if the food and service isn't good enough, the view of the creek topped it off!
(5)
Kirsten O.
Ate there for lunch yesterday. Beautiful view of the creek. We sat outside which was perfect. I had the Philly Cheese steak sandwich $8 sandwich which was very good. French fries were those skinny greasy ones. Not sure i am a fan. Sandwich was very good. My friend had a BLAT that came without mayo. We had too wait for 10 minutes for the waiter to come back to get mayo and ketchup which was kind of a bummer for my friend for I was almost done eating. More of a restaurant than a bar. But again with the nice outdoor seating a great summer place to eat.
(4)
Zoe M.
Best location in Vail! The food is fantastic, by far my favorite! Love the spicy cucumber drink and the mixed greens salad!
(5)
Anna S.
We have enjoyed a few delicious meals here while skiing Vail. The service is always excellent and the food is great. I highly recommend the risotto, but I think I would return just for the rolls and the salted caramel gelato!
(4)
Darika S.
Giving it a three and half for the breakfast burrito and four stars for the crab cake benedict. The green chile on the burrito us nothing to get excited about. The crab cakes themselves were fantastic with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Definitely used real crab, pair with a mimosa and you'll have your tummy happy for the rest of the day. The outdoor seating is right by the creek, great view.
(4)
Angelique B.
My scallops were cooked perfectly. I didn't like the corn or cream sauce that came with my dish, but overall the meal was ok. My friend liked her beef short rib with pasta. The brownie sundae was also good. 3 stars for the ambiance... it's in a quiet part of the village next to the creek. Restaurant is nice and so is the service. We were outside taking pictures before we went inside and a waiter comes outside and offers to take our picture. That was nice of him.
(3)
SillyMango P.
4.5 stars if possible! Probably the food snob in me, but I was not expecting amazing things from this place... Good, yes.. Amazing, no. This was a pleasant surprise! Very nice location next to the creek - especially beautiful when it is snowing! Started with cheese and charcuterie board which was delicious! Especially a fan of their honeyed almonds... Spinach salad was also remarkably good... Bacon was plentiful and I could have even afforded less (which is amazing cause I LOVE bacon...) I absolutely love the braised short rib. I giggle when I meet a piece of meat that can fall apart with a nudge of my fork. Flavoring was amazing and it was perfectly paired with gouda mac and cheese. Husband went with the colorado rack of lamb, and we might have embarrassed ourselves trying to get every single last morsel off the bone. The potato puree accompaniment was awesome. Sadly (or happily?), we were too stuffed to order dessert (and we almost ALWAYS order dessert). Would gladly return here.
(4)
Vail I.
Great food. Beautiful restaurant on Gore Creek. They serve drinks, but not really a bar.
(4)
Aleksei H.
I've been here only a few times in my life, but as a local I think it is worthwhile posting a review of this nice little place by the river. First off, the food is FANTASTIC. Although the menu is somewhat limited, there seems to be something for everyone to choose from. I especially like the beef carpaccio and roasted beet salad. But for those on a budget do be warned; it is vary expensive and the amount of food is fairly small to make it a full meal. My family and I visited on Mother's Day before seeing a movie, and we were running a little tight on time. We asked if it was at all possible to get out food and leave within about 30 minutes, which the staff seemed to doubt. Nevertheless, we were in and out in about 25 minutes, which is phenomenal! No food quality or wait service was lost in that short time frame. I am truly impressed, well done! Location is also pretty nice. We didn't sit outside, but I would think that the outdoor patio in the summer evenings is great since it is right by the river.
(4)
Tim M.
Solidly good place. You will not be disappointed. Nice food and wine selection. While not a great place for kids, ours (4 & 6) LOVED the penne alfredo and were treated well. The buffalo with a veal reduction was very tasty and the short ribs were nothing short of divine!!
(4)
Sarah F.
Much of the draw of this place is illustrated in the name "Up the Creek". As the old expression goes "Location, Location, Location", and this place has got it in spades. Up the Creek is one of the only restaurants in the Vail Valley that places you directly next to the gorgeous Gore Creek. Yep, you can sit and eat delicious food and have the sound of cold, rushing, mountain water streaming past you. And you don't even have to hike to it. The cuisine is fantastic. There are vegetarian options-- but most people prefer their seafood and roasted meats. I've been coming here since I was a kid. Up the Creek is unpretentious, consistent in quality, and the ambiance is unbeatable. There is a reason this place has been in business for so long. If you're ever in Vail, it is a must.
(5)
Missy D.
As we spend every weekend in Vail, for some strange reason we rarely eat here! Thankfully we had cocktails on the patio over looking the Gore Creek July 4th weekend as this lead us to have dinner there this last weekend. The space is quaint and they have one of the best patios in the village. Their view over looking the creek in the heart of the village is awesome! My husband and I had spent 7 hours riding bikes Saturday and were looking forward to a fantastic dinner for our reward. Up the Creek did not disappoint! We both went in thinking we would try one of the fish specials, yet ended up with the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda MAc-n-Cheese.... simply fabulous! The service was prompt, knowledgable, and gave us plenty of space to take our time with dinner. We both enoyed a great cocktail, followed with wine with our entrees. (they are offering 30% off on bottles of wine right now). If you get there, you must try a dessert! The special on Saturday night was a wild blueberry/peach cobbler.... WOW! A perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience! We will be back sooner than later this Summer!
(5)
M F.
Situated on the beautiful Gore Creek, it's a picturesque spot with patio seating. If you don't want to fight the weather, the indoor seating is just as beautiful with lots of windows. It's a small place but it packs a punch. We love the off-season dining and we've even spied the chef walking around, chatting with the guests. I normally get the seafood and the scallops are always tender and sweet. It's a relaxed combination of upscale fare and casual attitude. Good wine suggestions and great staff. What more could you want? Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Shelby P.
My absolute favorite sandwich of all time. Roasted Turkey and Brie with Orange Cranberry Relish on Sourdough. Every time I'm in town, I have to have that sandwich. It probably helps to be sitting in one of the best towns in America and right by the creek, no less.
(4)
Dani L.
The service was very good, but the food was just so-so at this very expensive (some may say overpriced) Vail Village restaurant. I ordered a $40 Halibut dish and the fish came completely uncooked. My sister ordered a mushroom pasta that was, in her words, "absolutely average and probably too creamy." The ambiance has nothing special to it. The waitress was very attentive and apologized profusely for the mess up with the fish, but that is not what I would expect for a restaurant at this price level.
(2)
Darika S.
Giving it a three and half for the breakfast burrito and four stars for the crab cake benedict. The green chile on the burrito us nothing to get excited about. The crab cakes themselves were fantastic with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Definitely used real crab, pair with a mimosa and you'll have your tummy happy for the rest of the day. The outdoor seating is right by the creek, great view.
(4)
Angelique B.
My scallops were cooked perfectly. I didn't like the corn or cream sauce that came with my dish, but overall the meal was ok. My friend liked her beef short rib with pasta. The brownie sundae was also good. 3 stars for the ambiance... it's in a quiet part of the village next to the creek. Restaurant is nice and so is the service. We were outside taking pictures before we went inside and a waiter comes outside and offers to take our picture. That was nice of him.
(3)
SillyMango P.
4.5 stars if possible! Probably the food snob in me, but I was not expecting amazing things from this place... Good, yes.. Amazing, no. This was a pleasant surprise! Very nice location next to the creek - especially beautiful when it is snowing! Started with cheese and charcuterie board which was delicious! Especially a fan of their honeyed almonds... Spinach salad was also remarkably good... Bacon was plentiful and I could have even afforded less (which is amazing cause I LOVE bacon...) I absolutely love the braised short rib. I giggle when I meet a piece of meat that can fall apart with a nudge of my fork. Flavoring was amazing and it was perfectly paired with gouda mac and cheese. Husband went with the colorado rack of lamb, and we might have embarrassed ourselves trying to get every single last morsel off the bone. The potato puree accompaniment was awesome. Sadly (or happily?), we were too stuffed to order dessert (and we almost ALWAYS order dessert). Would gladly return here.
(4)
Vail I.
Great food. Beautiful restaurant on Gore Creek. They serve drinks, but not really a bar.
(4)
Aleksei H.
I've been here only a few times in my life, but as a local I think it is worthwhile posting a review of this nice little place by the river. First off, the food is FANTASTIC. Although the menu is somewhat limited, there seems to be something for everyone to choose from. I especially like the beef carpaccio and roasted beet salad. But for those on a budget do be warned; it is vary expensive and the amount of food is fairly small to make it a full meal. My family and I visited on Mother's Day before seeing a movie, and we were running a little tight on time. We asked if it was at all possible to get out food and leave within about 30 minutes, which the staff seemed to doubt. Nevertheless, we were in and out in about 25 minutes, which is phenomenal! No food quality or wait service was lost in that short time frame. I am truly impressed, well done! Location is also pretty nice. We didn't sit outside, but I would think that the outdoor patio in the summer evenings is great since it is right by the river.
(4)
Tim M.
Solidly good place. You will not be disappointed. Nice food and wine selection. While not a great place for kids, ours (4 & 6) LOVED the penne alfredo and were treated well. The buffalo with a veal reduction was very tasty and the short ribs were nothing short of divine!!
(4)
Sarah F.
Much of the draw of this place is illustrated in the name "Up the Creek". As the old expression goes "Location, Location, Location", and this place has got it in spades. Up the Creek is one of the only restaurants in the Vail Valley that places you directly next to the gorgeous Gore Creek. Yep, you can sit and eat delicious food and have the sound of cold, rushing, mountain water streaming past you. And you don't even have to hike to it. The cuisine is fantastic. There are vegetarian options-- but most people prefer their seafood and roasted meats. I've been coming here since I was a kid. Up the Creek is unpretentious, consistent in quality, and the ambiance is unbeatable. There is a reason this place has been in business for so long. If you're ever in Vail, it is a must.
(5)
Missy D.
As we spend every weekend in Vail, for some strange reason we rarely eat here! Thankfully we had cocktails on the patio over looking the Gore Creek July 4th weekend as this lead us to have dinner there this last weekend. The space is quaint and they have one of the best patios in the village. Their view over looking the creek in the heart of the village is awesome! My husband and I had spent 7 hours riding bikes Saturday and were looking forward to a fantastic dinner for our reward. Up the Creek did not disappoint! We both went in thinking we would try one of the fish specials, yet ended up with the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda MAc-n-Cheese.... simply fabulous! The service was prompt, knowledgable, and gave us plenty of space to take our time with dinner. We both enoyed a great cocktail, followed with wine with our entrees. (they are offering 30% off on bottles of wine right now). If you get there, you must try a dessert! The special on Saturday night was a wild blueberry/peach cobbler.... WOW! A perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience! We will be back sooner than later this Summer!
(5)
M F.
Situated on the beautiful Gore Creek, it's a picturesque spot with patio seating. If you don't want to fight the weather, the indoor seating is just as beautiful with lots of windows. It's a small place but it packs a punch. We love the off-season dining and we've even spied the chef walking around, chatting with the guests. I normally get the seafood and the scallops are always tender and sweet. It's a relaxed combination of upscale fare and casual attitude. Good wine suggestions and great staff. What more could you want? Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Shelby P.
My absolute favorite sandwich of all time. Roasted Turkey and Brie with Orange Cranberry Relish on Sourdough. Every time I'm in town, I have to have that sandwich. It probably helps to be sitting in one of the best towns in America and right by the creek, no less.
(4)
Dani L.
The service was very good, but the food was just so-so at this very expensive (some may say overpriced) Vail Village restaurant. I ordered a $40 Halibut dish and the fish came completely uncooked. My sister ordered a mushroom pasta that was, in her words, "absolutely average and probably too creamy." The ambiance has nothing special to it. The waitress was very attentive and apologized profusely for the mess up with the fish, but that is not what I would expect for a restaurant at this price level.
(2)
Straker C.
We went there last night in spite of mixed reviews. Of course, we noticed that all the Vail restaurants had very mixed reviews. However, whoever posted anything negative about Up the Creek Bar & Grill is crazy! We had a lovely meal, received great service, and recommend this restaurant highly!
(4)
Kristin D.
I think a lot can be said of an establishment by how they treat their guests during specials. My husband and I went to Up the Creek this past weekend when they were still offering the preseason 3 course meal for $30. The staff was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. They offered their special menu along with a 30% discount on wine without you having to ask or feel cheap. All the food was delicious. I got the cheese plate, soup special, and the venison and my husband got the scallops, the chowder, and the rib eye. I would highly recommend going here while in Vail!
(5)
John L.
One of our favorite places to go in Vail on our annual ski vacation. The truffle fries are crispy and delicious and the short ribs are not to be missed, especially because they come with the some of the best gouda mac and cheese we've ever eaten. The service is friendly and attentive and the wine deals are great.
(4)
Michael E.
Heard lots about this place. I checked out the menu online and decided to go, since I'm a huge fan of a good Buffalo steak, and they have a "dry-aged" version that I thought I needed to try. A friend and I walked in without reservations and were promptly seated. We perused the menus and ordered pretty quickly - the service was attentive, if unpolished. Good for a ski-area. I ordered their newfangled "Old-Fashioned". Now, I'm a whisky fan, and I know the difference between Bulleit and Buffalo Trace. The menu specifies Bulleit, which I thought made the drink sound interesting. I watched as the bartender poured Buffalo Trace into the drink before the waitress brought it over to me. This isn't a huge deal, but they should have told me that they didn't have the whisky the menu claims is in this particular drink. They didn't say anything. The drink was Ok, but absolutely loaded with ice, to the point of overkill. And the bitters were not present in any noticeable way. Bulleit would have been far better - I understand why their recipe calls for it. (Buffalo Trace is still a very good bourbon - just smoother and milder, which I didn't want in this drink). Also ordered the tortilla soup, which was good - loaded with shredded chicken and tasty. I thought the presentation was a little overwrought considering the dish, but I got the point. They were trying to make it "fancy". Then came the buffalo steak. The waitress recommended that I get it medium rare, and I agreed. It was fine, but not as good as I hoped or expected it to be. It sat on a bed of cheesy, bacony pasta shells, which I believe I enjoyed more than the steak itself, unfortunately. It was a fatty piece of meat, which surprised me, as all of the buffalo I've had in the past has been lean and delicious. Given the whisky switcheroo, I honestly wondered if I was eating a beef steak. I've been able to discern the difference between buffalo and beef before, but maybe their rendition was just too convincing for the often pleasant differences to be apparent. I feel that this restaurant is over-rated on Yelp. It's not bad, by any means, but it doesn't live up to the hype either.
(3)
Tim L.
A little pricier than some of it's competition in Vail Village but well worth it. This is not pub grub or an overpriced bratwurst which are near by. So many great items on the lunch menu, it was a struggle deciding. Blackened fish tacos awesome. Rib eye sandwich on what is probably French bread baked locally and so crispy and fresh even more awesome. Indulge yourself at lunch when vacationing in Vail, worth every penny.
(4)
Lauren D.
Is it cheesy if we come here for dinner AND brunch in a weekend because the food is so damn good? Well so far, we've been for dinner. Scrumptious! The best mac&cheese I've ever had. With lobster & bacon. And we're talking huge pieces of lobster that make you smile every time you get a bite. I didn't want it to end. The scallops and truffle oil were delish as well. AND for whatever reason (summer?) they had 30% a bottle of wine. It's right on the creek and the service is fantastic. I will try to branch out and try a different restaurant in Vail for lunch but this place is awesome.
(5)
Joseph P.
Had a wonderful dinner while in town from NYC looking at colleges with my son . Highly recommended. Great wine list and inspired food. Foodie restaurant that can be enjoyed by all.
(5)
R B.
A favorite over the years, we were disappointed with our visit this winter. Food was okay but the prices had skyrocketed.
(3)
Amy F.
I didn't hear good things about this place for dinner, so I had my boyfriend take me here for lunch instead. We were immediately greeted upon entering and was able to get a table by the creek. The lemonade was awesome, very tart, but still good nonetheless. My boyfriend had the hamburger and me the blackened fish tacos. The fish tacos came with pita like chips that were awsomely good. Very thin yet oh so cripsy and the tacos came with a mango salsa. Though the salsa was more of a bluish/green tint to it, which made it that much more better. My bofriends hamburger looked good, didn't have a bite though he did offer me a french fry. Sorry to say, but I like mine a little more cooked. But other than the food was great and our server was great. Overall an excellent place lunch as it wasn't crowded even with the pro cycling stage 3 circuit going on. Would definitely go here again just for the fish tacos.
(4)
Ryan L.
I went here recently for dinner on a weeknight during a ski trip with 3 others in my group. It's a small place, but we were seated promptly. Service was efficient and friendly. The prices were not outrageous considering the location and busy season, but I was impressed that they offered a very reasonable fixed price, 3 course special for less than the price of most entrees. The wine list is respectable and they offer a full bar.
(4)
Archer D.
Great food, really enjoyed my boar sausage with penne, the tortilla soup was also excellent. The menu selection was fantastic, and I could see myself going to this restaurant dozens of times without getting bored, especially with the large and interesting specials menu. The ambiance has to be one of the best in Vail, right along the creek. We went there in the winter, but outdoor dining must be amazing in the summer.
(5)
Mr A.
3.5 stars rounded up due to location.....After 7 or 8 years of going to vail, i finally had the chance to try this place. My wife and I enjoyed a patio seat next to the stream on a fantastic evening. While the decor of the restaurant is quite basic, the restaurants location is really calming and enjoyable. The service was friendly, and the food good ( nothing to blow your socks off, but a nicely prepared meal w good flavor). My wife and i didnt care for the fruit cobbler for dessert, thought it was way too sweet. Would i rush back here, maybe not for the food, but to have a drink on the patio, absolutely.
(4)
amy m.
Maybe I need to give Up the Creek another chance, seeing all the rave reviews that this establishment has recieved. I don't know if it's because I've only had lunch there, but I've never had an exceptional meal there... and unfortunately because of the excessive prices, I have always been hesitant to go back. Now, I don't consider myself a cheapskate and I will absolutely pay good money for an exceptional meal, but for a spinach salad that has the same vegetables in it that I can buy at City Market is definitely not worth the $11 price tag... same goes for the $19 (I think it is) lobster mac and cheese. The deck is definitely the place to be on a warm summer day, because you are literally 4 feet from the creek. I would highly suggest grabbing a drink and saving your appetite for upstairs, and head to Sapphire for your dinner.
(2)
Paul A.
Great setting and atmosphere. This is one of our longtime favorite spots in Vail Village and I highly recommend it. They have a good wine list and very unique continental menu. Of course, Gore Creek provides the best setting anywhere.
(5)
Nichole H.
Once again, I wish there were 1/2 stars here because we think it's a 4 1/2. Really great food AND drinks....this is definitely a place to order a cocktail. The location is great, right on the creek and service was wonderful. Six of us ate lunch there and everyone loved what they had. Would love to check out dinner there some time.
(4)
Kirk G.
We came here for a family meal, not knowing what to expect and we were blown away. They were running an offseason deal - $30 for three courses. The scallop appetizer was delicious, a few of us got the ribeye for an entree, which was outstanding, and cooked really nicely, and the duck breast was AMAZING. The service was excellent - the staff was extremely patient with the two small children who were with us. By the way, the desserts were huge and awesome. This was a great find, and we'd go again in a heartbeat.
(5)
David G.
Had a good reasonably priced meal there with a group.
(4)
Nat K.
Loved it! We encountered their food at the Gourmet on Gore festival and decided to come in for dinner when we saw a sign advertising a tasting menu for two for $81.50. The chef came over and asked us what we liked and disliked (um, nothing?), and we ended up with an heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella salad and a cheese plate to start. Pretty good. Next course was fish -- opah for the hubs, and Japanese sea bass for me. Fish was perfectly cooked -- seared nicely, and paired with some veggies and a lovely almond-accented sauce that was probably loaded with butter. Meat was up next -- classic filet for him, and some a-MAZING lamb for me. I really don't eat much lamb, but this was superb -- rare, and extremely flavorful. The chef came by each course to tell us about the food and to get our reactions, which really made the experience for me. Turns out that this particular lamb is only sold to this restaurant, which is probably a good thing 'cause I'll never want to eat it elsewhere! Dessert was unique -- an ice cream sandwich made of Rice Krispie treats and Rocky Road ice cream. Take that, molten chocolate cake! Oh, and to cap it all off -- wine pairing for BOTH of us was just $30. Amazing deal made that much sweeter by fantastic food and service.
(5)
Teri S.
As I write this, I am still overly stuffed from all that I ate at this place! I went in for a late lunch. I was seated immediately in at a very nice table in front of the window where you can watch the Gore Creek rumbling by, just beautiful! The waitress was so friendly and layed back, you could tell she had pride in her place of employment. I ordered the short rib lunch that was served with smoked gouda mac and cheese. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the presentation was. The rib bone had been removed and it was just the right size for a lunch portion. It was so very tender and flavorful and the smokey mac & cheese was the perfect side to compliment the rib. It was all swimming in a veal demi-glaze which was rich, but not too rich to dip the beef and pasta in. For dessert, I ordered a pecan tart that was like pecan pie with a different crust. It was drizzeled with carmel and came with a scoop of cinnamon gelato. As I was finishing, I could see alot of locals who came there frequently. You could tell that they just loved the place and the staff knew them all by name. One guy said he goes there at least twice a week! I would be 300 lbs if I did that! This place is a MUST, I would say and stands apart from the many eateries in Vail Village, and they are many good places there!
(5)
Amanda L.
One of the few places we went for dinner when we were in Vail. I assumed that the food would be overpriced and not as good as anything I could find in SF and unfortunately, I was right. SF is a great place for food but ruins you for other places. They started us off with a small, complementary tasting of hot chocolate which was pretty good - chocolately, creamy, and really rich. I liked that they had fresh fish and game meats like Elk and African Antelope but the food was a little bland for my taste. It's true that good quality meat and fish shouldn't need to be overly flavored and mixed with a lot of garnishes but a little more sea salt and pepper wouldn't have hurt. They did give us a trio of sea salts on the table which was nice though. We also had the truffled frites - can't go wrong with truffles - tasty. We had dinner at 6:30pm on superbowl sunday so the place was empty. A couple friends ordered the trout which was recommended because it was especially fresh but they came back to say that they ran out - how do you run out of something when there's no one else in the restaurant? The barramundi was also strongly recommended so my friends got the barramundi instead. It turned out to be a little overcooked and dry for my taste (admittedly, I like things less cooked than more cooked, especially if it's fresh). My friend said she also thought it was overcooked but liked the sauce that went with it. I'd be weary of what the servers recommend - especially since it sounds like they're just trying to get rid of it. The entree prices range from $30-$50+ with fairly generous, but not huge portions. The food isn't spectacular but is definitely good quality. They have a policy of charging $6 to split food which was a little absurd. I understand charging people a split charge if they split an entree but when we questioned the policy, they said they charge a split charge for the appetizers and salads as well, even if we each ordered a separate entree. They ended up waiving the fee so maybe we were initially just misinformed or they were just being kind that day. Interestingly, a couple people split salads and one guy ordered a full salad to himself. The full salad was the same size as the split salads. Overall, it's not a bad place but it's also not a fantastic place, considering the price.
(3)
Mal O.
Order the braised short rib on smoked Gouda and bacon Mac and cheese. It is heavenly and rather light. Did not feel overstuffed afterwards. Service is attentive and friendly. Plus dog friendly patio!!!
(5)
Amy W.
My Husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere special and didn't mind spending more $$ than we usually do. Up the Creek was not only right down the street from where we were lodging but it was highly recommended! We ordered the calamari for the appetizer and we were underwhelmed. It didn't seem fresh and the sauce was pretty bland, so we were really hoping the entrees would be better. My husband ordered the elk and it was phenomenal! The presentation was beautiful and it was cooked to perfection. I ordered the halibut and it was pretty tasty and fresh but after trying my husbands, I wanted to trade! The service was pretty good, nothing to write home about and the atmosphere was casual and cozy. Overall it was a good night and we left satisfied but were wanting a little more for how much we paid. But hey it's Vail, so it was expected.
(4)
Jessica H.
My boyfriend and I decided to dine lavishly (because, hey, we were in Vail!) at Up the Creek, located on the edge of Gore Creek. Up the Creek is Vail's only creekside restaurant and I highly recommend going there to dine- if not, at least to have cocktail. The dishes were exquisite and expensive, but delicious. I ordered the brunch special aka the crab cake benny and the crab cakes were out of this world, especially being that they were served to me in a landlocked state and not closer to the sea. For my drink, I was torn between the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the enticing Bloody Marytini because the server mentioned there was a green Bloody mix at the bar and a Bloody mixed with a dirty martini sounded eclectic and awesome. I ended up ordering the Bloody Marytini and my boyfriend made his own Bloody at the bar using the green mix. And man... was that green tomatillo Bloody mix gooood! It was full of spices (lots of different types of pepper) and had citrus notes. The end bite was spicy and there were hints of habanero. I would go back to Up the Creek to order my own green Bloody Mary. The only downside of the cocktail was that it cost a whopping $12.. but it is Vail! Check out my full review of Vail's Bloody Marytini here: bloodymarytour.org/2015/… Prices were a bit expensive, but as mentioned before we were in Vail. With tip, we probably spent about $35 a person. Service was decent-- not the best, not the worst. We had a table in the sun and did try to move under one with an umbrella at one point, but we were scolded by the old man working there. This would be my only complaint of the experience, that, maybe since we were people in our early 20s, we weren't treated with the service we would receive if we were wealthy, middle-aged tourists.
(4)
Brandy M.
We came here for dinner on a Friday and really wish would have gone elsewhere. The service was just horrid. The waitress came around literally 3x. To take our order, deliver food, then give the check. Never asked if we needed anything else (like more wine!) or to see if our food was good. That was the reason for the 2 stars vs 1 star- the food was good. We split the trout dish and it was amazing. We had a patio table by the river which was also nice. Ii feel like they just don't care that people choose to spend money and time there, which is sad, because even with the economy getting better, they should still attempt to win people over!
(2)
Kay M.
Beautiful outdoor seating, right by the creek. The food is amazing! They have great gluten free options. ..we started with the calamari which is not fried but is in a spicy tomato sauce with asparagus. I had the braised short rib and my sister had the trout, everything was delicious and well prepared, very tender. I didn't need a knife for my short rib at all. The cocktails are very inventive as well, I had the beet infused vodka martini and my sister had the Colorado cucumber martini and they added fresh jalapeños to make it spicy. But drinks were not sweet at all which is exactly what we were looking for.
(5)
Johanna G.
4 stars for the food , 1 star for the atmosphere. Very casual for the price. Too many kids. Will not return.
(3)
Marcia A.
I should have Yelped this before choosing to eat here. Lesson learned. I had the Huevos Rancheros off their brunch menu. It was very good. The Bloody Mary was the worst I've had. I sent it back and it was still terrible. I mean, awful! The server never followed up to see if it was ok or if we wanted something else. In fact, she never checked in on us period . That to me is the worst customer service. We left both drinks on the table. Too bad because there were a few other restaurants we wanted to try. Next time :)
(2)
Sandy W.
Service was great. Beautiful dining on the creek. I would highly recommend the Elk. They just need to get rid of the red umbrellas and use something more attractive.
(5)
Laura J.
Up the Creek is our favorite restaurant in Vail. We have made it a must every trip we make here. Prices are reasonable for Vail, staff is super friendly and the food is excellent. Definitely make a reservation for the patio in summer. There is nothing like having an excellent meal within view of Gore Creek. We have been to many of the restaurants in Vail Village and Lionshead at Vail, Up the Creek remains at the top of the list with dishes like Colorado Lamb, Ruby Red Trout and local Goat Cheese and beet salads.
(5)
Bruce M.
Food and drinks were superb. Atmosphere along Gore Creek is terrific. Why only two stars? Service absolutely sucked. We waited forever to get our servers attention to order a drink. Drinks for them slow to come. We ordered soup and salad and you would think they had to grow the letters! We cancelled our salads, paid our bill and left
(2)
Lynn C.
Love, love this place. Have been coming here as a couple, with friends, and/or bringing business associates several times a year almost since they opened. Always a good meal at a reasonable price. Good wine list, great atmosphere - especially on the little patio when the weather is nice, good service. A place we always go whenever in the area.
(5)
Ty D.
An awesome small restaurant. My firm held its annual retreat in Vail, and we held our group dinner at Up the Creek. Every course I sampled was outstanding (the elk I had in particular was excellent), the service was very professional, and the whole restaurant is very cool in terms of location, ambiance, etc. As another reviewer correctly noted, it's classy without being stuffy, and a great special occasion restaurant.
(4)
Michael C.
The only real benefit to eat hear is the sound and view of the creek. Everything is in the $30-$45 range and really not worth it on comparison to all the outstanding restaurants in Vail. For me when I drop $200 for a family, I want to leave saying it was great or amazing. Not it was OK.
(3)
Kasia G.
the only place that sullied our vail trip. we had an awful experience just asking for a table, and we were promptly turned away with a bizarre "I've got nothing for you" and no explanation about a wait or closing time. we were so taken aback that even though we saw a table emptying, we just left for a friendlier place. go to 10th mountain whiskey instead!
(1)
Sue R.
Good was excellent, service got slow between courses, but would be repeat customer for sure!
(4)
Ryota H.
The experience was great! Both food and service were wonderful. Here's what we had for dinner: Started with truffle fries; shaved parmesan cheese, parsley and came with an aioli cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered NY Strip over fingerling potatoes and vegetables and also the braised short ribs over a mac&cheese and asparagus. To be honest, we were going there with the intention of having desert but ended up being too full to have any. I would recommend this place for sure!
(5)
Wes M.
Nice dinner. Lacking a little on attentiveness. My wife's 50th birthday, I made sure they knew this and no acknowledgement. We never saw the restaurant fill up. Odd for this restaurant.
(4)
Karen D.
I split the UTC burger and chicken tortilla soup with my mom. The burger was awesome, super juicy and cooked perfectly. The tortilla soup was good, but the burger was definitely the main event. They also have a great wine menu!
(4)
Beau R.
I love this place! It has such a great view of the creek and the illuminated ice sculptures. The elk was incredibly flavorful and delicious! I'm a concierge in Beaver Creek and I don't hesitate to recommend this establishment to my guests. I wish I could afford to dine here every night!
(5)
Jennifer S.
We have eaten here twice and can highly recommend it. It's a pretty little place on the creek, cozy and romantic. Reservations recommended but we quickly got a table for 2 on a Monday night. The service starts with the most perfect, warm crusty roll with butter. For starters, the organic beet salad was wonderful, with beets, fennel, red onion, hazelnuts, dried tomatoes with goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette. It was a very generous serving and would make a fine lunch. My husband had the arugula with pears and nuts. I had the pork chop with cheese grits and asparagus. Truly, this was one of the best meals I've had in Vail. We didn't have dessert. The large surrounding windows showed the falling snow. In summer it must be beautiful with the open windows on the creek.
(5)
Kunal M.
Fantastic food with a fantastic view! Vegetarians: try the veggie sandwich or enchiladas with red onions, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus. Delicious!
(5)
John R.
Very friendly service with some unique items on the menu. The Truffle Fries were a hit for the entire table. The New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good and the Braised Short Rib was very good for the main entree. The location itself is wonderful -- sitting outside at creek's side makes for a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience. I did try a sample of their bacon infused bourbon which is nice in a small sipping but a little over powering in the BOB drink on the menu.
(4)
Megan S.
I have nothing but good things to say about Up the Creek. My family has been coming here for years, and it has only gotten better. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, classy without being stuffy. They play great music, and the staff are always friendly and helpful- attentive without being overbearing. And the food: wow. There is such a good mix of options and flavors, you can't go wrong- no matter what you feel like eating, you will find something. The elk is definitely the highlight of the menu, but I also highly recommend the quinoa, it has such an amazing mix of flavors, and it a nice lighter alternative to the elk or the steak.
(5)
Christina A.
You need to try the truffle frites and their Rocky Mountain ELK! Everyone at our table really enjoyed all of their dishes, but I loved my elk dish so much I didn't have room in my stomach to try the other dishes. Sad, but not really. hah. Anyway, the Elk had a coffee rub and it was perfectly paired with farro risotto, mushrooms, asparagus, and huckleberry jus. You can't go wrong here!
(5)
Andrea K.
The view is beautiful but the food is nothing to write home about. We had lunch here and it was our only disappointing meal in Vail. I had the fish tacos which weren't memorable and it came with a side of chips that were also not memorable. The accompanying mango salsa tasted nothing like a salsa and was basically just mashed up mango. Hubs had the buffalo tri-tip sandwich which I thought was decent but he had to ask for a side of BBQ sauce and it did not compete with any other BBQ we've had elsewhere. People seem to rave about this place but frankly there are a lot better options in Vail.
(2)
Dustin C.
Staff was friendly, but service was very poor. Ordered a bottle of wine, 5 minutes later we were told they were out of that bottle. We decided on another bottle but the waitress was nowhere to be seen for 15 minutes. We just got up and left. At those prices I'm not sitting around waiting to order. That being said I probably will go back to try the food after the reviews and recommendations. Sitting out by the river on a hot summer night would be lovely, although the atmosphere inside was fairly loud and very congested.
(2)
Sol A.
This place gets 5 starts just for the simple fact they accommodated 5 people with different dietary restrictions! We ended up here on a friday night after having ski all day long and being exhausted (please note, making a reservation is highly recommended, at least on peak hours). We got seated right away. The menu is small but the chef is open to make variations to the entrees as our small witnessed: one of my friends couldn't have alcohol of any sort in his food, others couldn't eat meat, or pork and myself being a vegan/vegetarian was quite a challenge but between the waiter and the chef they accommodate all our tastes and restrictions and we got really tasty options. I got the pumpkin gnocchi in a wine sauce and it tasted amazing. My friends were also really happy with their plates. We finished with a hot steamy cup of tea and their assortment of sorbets/ice cream. Would definitively come back if Im back in Vail next year!
(5)
Brittany L.
This restaurant was so pretty and delicious! It's in Vail village and overlooks a creek. The food was very good and the menu is expansive. Good drinks too. The ambience is worth what may seem to be a bit pricey of a menu. Definitely a must if shopping around in vail!
(4)
Arlene P.
I don't eat lunch - except at Up The Creek! The BLT is a amazing!!!! I would not eat foe 3 days to eat this. Perfect bread - homemade mayo (at least it tastes like this) - perfect tomatoes - top with truffle fries- heaven.
(4)
Katie R.
Visited her while in Vail on business with about a dozen co-workers. We got seated outside by the creek and it was a very nice evening to be outside (July). Standard outdoor seating. The service was good, the drinks were fun and the food was tasty! Arugula salad was fresh and a great mix of ingredients. The seafood was fresh and well presented. There was a mix of the menu ordered throughout the group and I heard no complaints. The staff was friendly and made enough appearances to help out our large group. It was a little slow but we were a big group and I was in no rush, so no harm, no foul.
(4)
Collin R.
Good food. We both had fish tacos and they were exceptional. Service was average, but that may have been due to the over-privileged idiots treating the staff like garbage next to us. Definitely happy. Just thought the food was very slightly over priced.
(4)
John A.
Spectacular view of the creek from the outdoor seats. I recommend Up the Creek for an upscale meal in Vail. The Frites & cheese fondue and the tortilla soup were okay, but the calamari, crab cakes, bread, & trout were all very good. There aren't many choices for someone like myself who doesn't eat beef or pork, but through a combo of appetizers I was very satisfied with my meal. The staff was very friendly & the manager even went to another restaurant to borrow a high chair since all theirs were in use. Although this was yet again another expensive meal in Vail. It was worth stopping in.
(4)
Linda C.
We enjoyed a perfect lunch here. I sipped a Spicy Cucumber cocktail while watching the families and dogs play at the creekside. The truffle fries were wonderful as expected, as were the arugula pear salad and the turkey brie sandwich. This is a must-go place if you are in Vail.
(5)
Rick C.
August 2013, Vail, CO: time for dinner at Up the Creek Restaurant Good imaginative creations...... Crappy service.....The waitress gets 10% instead of 25%.... the restaurant gets my endorsement for food prep on YELP
(4)
Mariel J.
This is a really cute place right on the river in Vail - the biggest draw is the location, which is perfect - especially out on the patio on a nice day. The service was also good, and I loved my Reuben (with truffle fries!) and the chicken soup.
(4)
Michelle B.
Beautiful location, great view, delicious food! Visited this place on a day trip up to Vail and had the Turkey and Brie Sandwich and a Martini. Drinks are good and not too insanely priced for Vail. Sandwich was very tasty. My friend had the tacos and said they were also very good. Definitely a winner!
(4)
Abby G.
I was really excited to go to this restaurant, the food sounded great and the patio was lovely (except it started to rain). We ordered an app and a bottle of wine, but they were out of the wine so she gave us a "minute" to decide. The waitress never came back, it was cold, and inside looked a little too cramped for our style, so we just left. I'll be back though, but only if I get to sit outside.
(2)
Sarah G.
Up the Creek, how I loved thee... let me count the ways. 1. Came highly recommended by other bartenders in town for drinks. And wow were they right, even drinks that the guys had never heard of before (Negroni) they made like the pros they are. I had the pleasure of nursing a Spicy Cucumber almost all the way through dinner. Habanero Simple Syrup, you are a wonder. And finally some local beer offerings (Bonfire Brown Ale on tap!) We ended up here on the merit of the drinks alone a second night... probably right around that time when we should have called it quits... but didn't. Just to prove the point even further, a whole group of servers and bartenders frolicked into The Creek when we were at the bar doing a '12 bars of Christmas' tour and ordered 13 shots and miscellaneous drinks. Prost! 2. I apparently can't write a review without mentioning the creek and the location, so here it is. But in the dark it's not really a big selling point. Explaining where it is does lend itself to some Abbot & Costello 'Who's on First' type moments though. 3. The service was incredible. If I ever for whatever reason moved to Vail, these guys would be the first friends I made. Super friendly and down to earth without being too 'salesy' or uptight. You know the kind... 4. Bathrooms. Yes while some many Yelp lists have been made on the merit of restrooms alone (do a search... it's interesting), this isn't usually something worth mentioning for me. UNLESS they're especially awesome, as these are. It's a pretty small restaurant so there are only two. But they're unisex... like airplane bathrooms. Just cool. 5. Last but not least... the Food with a capital F. I so love finding places like this while on vacation because THIS is food to write home about (see when I get really excited and start using capital letters). I started with a spinach salad, moved on to a cup of the clam chowder and finished with the pork belly (on special). And like their website says, "Don't Forget to Try the Truffle Fries". Maytag Bleu Cheese fondue, shaved parmesan reggiano... oh yeah, and there were some perfectly cooked fried potatoes also with that glorious air of truffle. Erin was even nice enough to let me ooh and aah all over the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese that came with her Short Rib dinner when her guard was down. Back to #1, we drank our dessert... espresso for me. Fantastic creations like the baked grasshopper for others. This was my hands down favorite of all the places we got our grub on in Vail. And that's really saying something because nowhere we went was less than "Yay, I'm a fan!" status in terms of food.
(5)
Claire S.
5 stars for atmosphere, it's lovely to be by the water. The food was very average. Everything was heavily salted. Tastes were off. Trout was dry. I ordered a sangria which didn't look or taste like any sangria I've ever had. Tasted and looked like pink lemonade with some stale pieces of basil floating in it. Very odd. Service was acceptable. It's pricey but that's a given considering the location.
(3)
Kelsey S.
We dined at Up The Creek on New Years Eve and it was wonderful! I had the elk loin and my boyfriend had the new york strip. We loved the atmosphere, very cozy with a great view of gore creek. Dinner was served with a glass of champagne to celebrate the new year.. Thank you Up The Creek for making our evening so special! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to all.
(5)
Soyoung P.
I had a Ruby Trout and a Farm salad for lunch and it is cooked perfectly! Pink colored skin was crispy and the meat was enough solid to chew. The guy server is very attentive and witty. I was afraid how crowded it would be based on the reviews, but we were sit right away in the patio on the creek side. The food came out quickly and fresh. I had ice cream and sorbet and it was yummy! A bit pricey for lunch, but it is the price in Vail. Nice lunch venue with a refreshing clean water stream view and sound.
(4)
Denise N.
Rude... Rude.... Rude.... Don't expect great service or YOU will be "Up the Creek!" When we walked in for our New Year's Eve early dinner (we made the reservations for 3 pm several weeks ahead in order to accommodate my elderly dad and see the fireworks at 6:30) Peter greeted my family of 7.....all adults.... with a "hurry up attitude" because the chef had to begin preparing the New Year's Eve dinner menu. They had called us earlier to see if we could come in at 2:30....what tha? After we were seated and the waitress arrived at the table, we were advised what was NO LONGER available on the menu.... ok... that was 2 negatives in less than 10 minutes. After I saw the disappointment on my families faces, I pulled out a business card that Jeff from Alpenrose down the street had given me to make a reservation for the next day (we had dropped in for a round of cocktails there)....I immediately called him explained our situation, he stated that he could accommodate us immediately. We will take Goulash over Rudeness any day! I have read some of the food reviews and they may be favorable, however, inconsiderate treatment always leaves a BAD taste in my mouth.
Up The Creek has the most spectacular location....sitting on the outdoor patio is so enjoyable...the luncheon menu is reasonable and the food good....I have been there for dinner, and while the food was excellent, the service was slow, but the staff was friendly.... They were out of one of the main entrees....the prices are about $10 more than the surrounding restaurants, which were packed and the food comparable ...... There were only 7 people in the restaurant dining the evening our family was there...I think they need to rethink their pricing, in order to be competitive....I would think twice before having dinner there again....
(3)
Brittney M.
The patio is just amazing. I love it here. Great wine, food, and scenery.
(4)
Erika B.
This is currently my favorite restaurant in Vail. Conveniently situated in Vail Village near the children's fountain and overlooking Gore Creek, Up the Creek always offers lovely service and a completely delectable menu. The space is not my favorite, but the food and service make up for the lack of decor. I started with scallops with a corn salsa, chose a gnocchi with lavendar-honey sauce, duck confit, blue cheese, and chives as my main meal (yum?!) and finished off with an exceptionally well-made peach/bluberry cobbler. Oh, and I couldnt have been more excited that they offered gluhwein (hot spiced wine) for the holiday season. Other notable menu items included mountain favorites: venison, ostrich, lamb! The menu had an excellent fish selection including 5 or so tempting options. As you can tell, ordering was a difficult decision!
(5)
Tanya D.
I have no idea how people can rate this place so great. Went here for our anniversary dinner last month and we were very disappointed. I ordered the swordfish "special" which was supposed to be flown in fresh from HI. This was the worst fish I have ever had, it was dry and most likely 3-4 days old. Even if it was good the portion was so small for $40.00 about 4-6oz tops. The dining room is dated and our waiter was completely uneducated about the wine list. I felt like saying hey bro-ha maybe you should be a lifty for Vail instead. They should call this place UP THE CRAP! My husband and I left hungry and dissapointed with a $160 bill. -I am a local not a tourist and I am growing increasingly tired of being ripped off by medi ocre overpriced Vail restaurants!
(1)
Rick P.
Kudos to Up the Creek team for handling our large group so well. All had different fish entres, universally enjoyed. Specialty cocktails and desserts winners.
(4)
Aleksandra K.
Went here for lunch and had the fish tacos they were delicious. We sat out on the patio and I loved the view. Our server was very friendly as well. Overall, had a great experience. Would highly recommend for a laid back and relaxing lunch in Vail.
(4)
M M.
My mom and I stopped in here for a lunch date the last time we were in Vail. We were seated at a very central table in doors. It was bustling, but not insanely busy. I'm pretty sure we didn't have a waiter assigned to our table. We had to plead to get our order taken, and beg to get our check at the end. I'm actually surprised we got our food at all. No one came to check on us, no one refilled our water glasses, and even though the server who finally gave us our check realized how neglected we had been, no one apologized or tried to make it right. The food was decent, but I'm afraid I will go elsewhere the next time I visit.
(2)
Will G.
While on vacation with my family we stopped in for dinner and I have to say it was amazing! The short ribs are the best I've ever had. Even the meals for kids look top notch.
(4)
Sarah V.
Up the Creek is my favorite place to apres-ski. They have great beer and the truffle fries are AMAZING. The location on the creek is sensational, especially when you can sit outside on a sunny day. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and cozy and makes it a favorite for the occasional dinner date as well!
(5)
Zach C.
What a great little place, wonderful food, great service and an awesome view. If u come for lunch I highly recommend the chicken sandwich w truffle fries. Maybe start off w the crab cakes, very light and fluffy. My friend is in love w the red trout, one of the vest fishes he's tried in a while. So if u find yourself in Vail craving some food then come by
(5)
Cam M.
Wow! I've had drinks on the patio of Up the Creek before, but this was my first dining experience. The first suprise was the calimari. If you're expecting a big dish of fried up squid, you'll be wrong. It was a grilled calamari, w/ marinara and vegetables. Very unique and absolutely sensational. I had the short rib which was incredibly tender, I could pull it apart with my fork. My wife had the tenderloin which was also had a great rich flavor. Our kids were happy too with the pasta. The location is ideal and the service was great. Highly recommended!
(5)
Patricia N.
We had a great dinner at Up The Creek last night. Both the trout and the sirloin steak were excellent. Our waiter, Eric, was very attentive and helped make the evening fun. We have been coming to Up The Creek for years and it never disappoints.
(4)
Barry M.
While this was a very good meal in a fantastic location and I would certainly make a return visit if I were in the area, there are better meals to be had in Vail. Still, it is worth a visit if you have some extra time to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
(4)
John K.
Four of us had lunch here. Really nice place to eat right along the creek. The bison sliders were perfectly prepared. The soup and grilled cheese were really good too. I'd like to come back for dinner.
(4)
alex p.
This place was phenomenal. Great food (they were even able to accommodate my super picky wife), and service uncharacteristic of the snark that follows townies that typically man most places in vail. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Krisy P.
If you are looking for something nice and not pretentious, definitely head here. If its a weekend, make a reservation and try to get there early since they run out of the good stuff fast... like the short ribs. I had the arugula salad and small plate of diver scallops - the portions are surprisingly filling!
(4)
Jenna D.
loved sitting on the patio and hearing the creek rush by-- definitely a great leisurely lunch spot.... i had the cobb salad with chicken and balsamic vinaigrette- perfect after a long hike, filling but not too heavy; my girl had the turkey and brie sangy which she loved, and the bloody mary bar looked off the chain.... next time. great food and if the weather permits, perfect for outside seating
(4)
Amy B.
Always love this place! Their truffle fries are the best in Vail! Salads are good. Fish always cooked perfectly. They used to have a pasta with goat cheese on the dinner menu that was very good. We come back to this place year after year.
(5)
Adrian H.
A good place to go, but avoid the tempura - it's greasy. My wife and I headed up to Vail for a weekend of skiing. After getting the "Colorado Resident" deal at Vail Cascades (something I love), we hunted for some place for dinner, and settled for Up The Creek - opting for a 5:30pm reservation since everything from 6:30pm - 9:00pm was already booked at every single restaurant in town. This is a clean lined restaurant in the heart of Vail Village, having a prime spot just steps from the creek that passes through the village. The place was empty when we were sat, with the pleasant and attentive waiter providing additional details on the dinner specials. He went to pains to mention the 30% off bottles of wine. Since it was dead when we arrived, I don't know what sort of vibe this place has when its busy, but the background music indicates a quieter place. For appetizers, we ordered off the regular menu. I ordered the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, which is supplied with a Serrano Blueberry coulis, and the crab cakes arriving sitting on a micro green salad, dressed in a lemon vinaigrette. The seeano gave a hint of spice to the coulis, while the blueberries gave a little sweetness, resulting in a wonderfulyl balanced sauce. The crab cake was a little salty for my palate. I could have eaten the blueberry coulis all day. My wife ordered the Maine Diver Scallops, pan seared and served sitting on top of a cauliflower puree, and sweet corn medley. The star of this dish was the sweet corn medley - another thing I could have eaten all day. It had finely diced peppers and green onions mixed in. The scallops were nicely rare (not overdone, as is so easy to do). The cauliflower puree was a nice textural contrast to the rest of the dihs. Yes, we did lick the plates. People can deal. The place was dead. As a change from the norm, the bread course came between our appetizer and main courses. The bread was a yeasty - almost biscuity tasting - white dinner roll, served warm, with softened butter. This is one of the better bread courses I have come across. For the main course, I decided on a special - Seared Hawaiian Bluefin Ahi, with Wasabi mashed potatoes, tempura vegetable spears, and a drizzle of chive oil and balsamic around the dish. The ahi was seared with black sesame seeds and rare in the middle, then placed around a mound of the wasabi mashed potatoes, with the spears of vegetable tempura (carrot and zucchini) stuck into the mashed potatoes like sails. Taste wise, the wasabi mashed potatoes were exactly what you would expect - a kick from the wasabi, but creamy and delicious. The ahi needed a little more of a dipping sauce than the chive oil and balsamic provided, but was otherwise good. The vegetable spears, however, were dreadful. They were greasy and some of the vilest greasy food I've had in a while. Give these a miss. My wife ordered the Osterich Tenderloin with a port wine cherry polenta cake, baby carrots, and an apple-cider demi-glace. The osterich had a smoky grill taste - charcoal, perhaps? Since it is a leaner meat, we tookt he advice on getting it on the rarer side. The chef certainly knows how to cook to order, and the meat was right where we wanted it. The star of this dish, however, was the polenta cake. The cherries were mixed into a course polenta and then made into a cake and grilled. With the peppery notes of the polenta (and added pepper, I am sure) balancing the sweetness of the cherries, this was yet another thing I could have eaten a ton of. A quick note on the dish sizes. They aren't huge, but they don't skimp either. So you will still be able to enjoy dessert. Which we did. I'm a fan of cobblers, and the special of the night was a peach-blueberry cobbler, which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top, then drizzled with caramel and whipped cream running down the side (plus the obligatory useless fanned strawberry). Yes, it was hot (this is a good thing, and not common), and the sweet peaches paired nicely with the tart blueberries to make a delicous whole. Unfortunately, with the ice cream on top, the cobbler crust was a little soggy, although enough crunch remained to remind me why I like crumbles and cobblers so much. My wife ordered a trio of sorbets - mandarin orange, hibiscus lemon and strawberry basil. Each one was served in its own little dish. I was expectign the strawberry basil to be sweeter, but it had a distinct savory taste to it. The mandarin orange was really really sour. My favorite of the three was the hibiscus lemon, which was tart with a definite savory taste in the background. One nice thing is that our waiter did not bring the check until we were both finished. I've noticed this habit in lesser restaurants to bring the check when I've finished, but my wife is not. I was not rushed here, and that is a good thing. Overall, almost a five star experience, as you would expect when dropping almost $170.
(4)
Nicole K.
Amazing! Love this place! Delicious dinner! Fantastic service. Definitely a go-to place for dinner in Vail. I had the trout and my husband had the lamb chops, which were amazing! We had the carpaccio as an starter, which I would highly recommend. It melted in our mouths. The ambiance is great- right on the creek. We love this place!
(5)
Mason M.
Perfect. The restaurant is super nice. It's welcoming, and not stuffy. New Bar!! Just installed, good lookin bathrooms. Then there is the food. Off the charts. It doesn't matter what you order.... It's incredible. Great flavors, new ideas... Creativity and competency are coming together here. I'll will certainly return.
(5)
Hilary B.
OMG. Just had dinner here and everything was amazing. Started with the arugula salad with pears and vanilla vinaigrette which was incredible and then had the short ribs with the Gouda mac n cheese... So so so good. Finished it off with a St Bernard to drink. Delicious. Oh and definitely sit at the bar. Wes and the other gentleman (didn't catch his name) were so attentive, friendly, and helpful. Such a great experience and next time we're in Vail we'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Hu Lee A.
Food was good, reasonable for the price, especially for Vail. The service was great and turned good food into a fantastic experience.
(4)
Cousin D.
Went there for lunch with my wife, her friend and 2 boys. If you are in a hurry, DO NOT go here. If you want a relaxing lunch, which is hard to do with 2 twelve year old boys who cannot sit still, this is a decent pick. The food was OK, although I cannot remember what I had. Probably would not go again. Once was enough.
(3)
Erin R.
This meal is one of the best meals of my life. I would give Up the Creek 6 or 10 stars if I could. If you are reading this and in Vail and considering going to Up the Creek stop reading now and go. You will be very happy with your decision. Everything from the truffle fries and clam chowder appetizers to the pork belly and short ribs entrees to the inventive cocktails was amazing. My husband and I stopped in at the bar during our trip to Vail since it was highly rated on Yelp. We sat at the bar to have a few drinks and chatted with the bartender (Wes). He was wonderful. If you are in Vail make sure to stop in and have a drink with him. One of the best ever. He gave some great suggestions for other places in Vail and we decided to have dinner at Up the Creek a few nights later with friends (fellow reviewer Sarah). I'm so glad we did. Like I said above we started with some truffle fries and clam chowder. The truffle fries were topped with blue cheese and shaved parmesan reggiano. Simply delicious. The clam chowder was the best clam chowder I have had outside of New England. It is a must try. My husband had the pork belly special and I had the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese. Both were melt in your mouth delicious. We drank our desert (Espresso Martini and Grasshopper Martini) both suggestions by Wes. We returned a 3rd time for drinks because we loved it so much. While we were there a group of bartenders and servers from around Vail stopped in during their "12 bars of Christmas". Hilarious. The prices are pretty decent especially for Vail. Apps are in the $12-$18 range and entrees in the $25-$40 range. It isn't quite white tablecloth dining but they have great ingredients (i.e. pork belly, etc) and you won't be disappointed. The day after we ate at Up the Creek we ate at Sweet Basil and it was not nearly as good and twice the price. If you are thinking of going to Sweet Basil instead try Up the Creek for lunch and dinner and I think you will be happy. Service was very attentive and helpful. Upscale but not stuffy. It has a great looking patio that would be fun in the summer time. In the dark it may be a bit difficult to find as it is down some stairs by the creek in Vail Village, but DO NOT miss this if you are in Vail. I think I may drive out here even when visiting Keystone and Breck as I love it that much.
(5)
Todd N.
Really good food, a little pricey but worth it. Try the halibut.
(5)
Roman B.
Great spot. Ask for an outside table. Food is great too!
(5)
Linda J.
We first had a lovely dinner on their patio. The wine special offered was perfect as was the melt in your mouth beef tenderloin, and our service and view was great, making us along with our Yorkie feel appreciated (we always ask first if she is allowed). We spent $99 before tip and were happy. We returned two days later to have lunch-there was a salad with crab I was dying to try,but were promptly informed no dogs were allowed on the patio. This was very embarrassing and after explaining we had just been there with her we quickly left and will not return. This restaurant needs to set a dog policy and stick to it.
Really good food! Rack of lamb was awesome. Try the Mac n cheese! Only thing is price advertised is off. Dinner for 2 was $150 with tip app, entree, dessert. Highly recommend
(5)
Eric M.
After a drive out from Denver, we were ready for both some fresh air, sunshine and some food. We found all three at Up the Creek. It's got a really good location right by the creek (surprise). The calamari was particularly good, and so were the scallops that I had. Better than the food was the location, which was outstanding. Can't miss with this one.
(4)
Wendy C.
Excellent food being recommended to you by non-overbearing but extremely knowledgeable service staff. This exceeds my expectation for a touristy spot. Went with a large group, everyone enjoyed his/her dish. The game meat was seasoned perfectly, fish done right not overcooked, sides are innovative and delightful.
(5)
Dana S.
Very good experience, lovely creekside setting, delicious food and great service.
(4)
Alannah M.
We went here based on the previous reviews, and omg were they right!! In fact, the food was so good, we went back a second night. The food was amazing and the service was awesome. Our waitress, Oriana, had excellent recommendations, including my yummy cocktail, a pear martini. We wish we were here for a third night so we could go back and try something else! And if the food and service isn't good enough, the view of the creek topped it off!
(5)
Kirsten O.
Ate there for lunch yesterday. Beautiful view of the creek. We sat outside which was perfect. I had the Philly Cheese steak sandwich $8 sandwich which was very good. French fries were those skinny greasy ones. Not sure i am a fan. Sandwich was very good. My friend had a BLAT that came without mayo. We had too wait for 10 minutes for the waiter to come back to get mayo and ketchup which was kind of a bummer for my friend for I was almost done eating. More of a restaurant than a bar. But again with the nice outdoor seating a great summer place to eat.
(4)
Zoe M.
Best location in Vail! The food is fantastic, by far my favorite! Love the spicy cucumber drink and the mixed greens salad!
(5)
Anna S.
We have enjoyed a few delicious meals here while skiing Vail. The service is always excellent and the food is great. I highly recommend the risotto, but I think I would return just for the rolls and the salted caramel gelato!
(4)
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Address :223 Gore Creek Dr,Ste 103
Vail, CO, 81657
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Straker C.
We went there last night in spite of mixed reviews. Of course, we noticed that all the Vail restaurants had very mixed reviews. However, whoever posted anything negative about Up the Creek Bar & Grill is crazy! We had a lovely meal, received great service, and recommend this restaurant highly!
(4)Kristin D.
I think a lot can be said of an establishment by how they treat their guests during specials. My husband and I went to Up the Creek this past weekend when they were still offering the preseason 3 course meal for $30. The staff was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. They offered their special menu along with a 30% discount on wine without you having to ask or feel cheap. All the food was delicious. I got the cheese plate, soup special, and the venison and my husband got the scallops, the chowder, and the rib eye. I would highly recommend going here while in Vail!
(5)John L.
One of our favorite places to go in Vail on our annual ski vacation. The truffle fries are crispy and delicious and the short ribs are not to be missed, especially because they come with the some of the best gouda mac and cheese we've ever eaten. The service is friendly and attentive and the wine deals are great.
(4)Michael E.
Heard lots about this place. I checked out the menu online and decided to go, since I'm a huge fan of a good Buffalo steak, and they have a "dry-aged" version that I thought I needed to try. A friend and I walked in without reservations and were promptly seated. We perused the menus and ordered pretty quickly - the service was attentive, if unpolished. Good for a ski-area. I ordered their newfangled "Old-Fashioned". Now, I'm a whisky fan, and I know the difference between Bulleit and Buffalo Trace. The menu specifies Bulleit, which I thought made the drink sound interesting. I watched as the bartender poured Buffalo Trace into the drink before the waitress brought it over to me. This isn't a huge deal, but they should have told me that they didn't have the whisky the menu claims is in this particular drink. They didn't say anything. The drink was Ok, but absolutely loaded with ice, to the point of overkill. And the bitters were not present in any noticeable way. Bulleit would have been far better - I understand why their recipe calls for it. (Buffalo Trace is still a very good bourbon - just smoother and milder, which I didn't want in this drink). Also ordered the tortilla soup, which was good - loaded with shredded chicken and tasty. I thought the presentation was a little overwrought considering the dish, but I got the point. They were trying to make it "fancy". Then came the buffalo steak. The waitress recommended that I get it medium rare, and I agreed. It was fine, but not as good as I hoped or expected it to be. It sat on a bed of cheesy, bacony pasta shells, which I believe I enjoyed more than the steak itself, unfortunately. It was a fatty piece of meat, which surprised me, as all of the buffalo I've had in the past has been lean and delicious. Given the whisky switcheroo, I honestly wondered if I was eating a beef steak. I've been able to discern the difference between buffalo and beef before, but maybe their rendition was just too convincing for the often pleasant differences to be apparent. I feel that this restaurant is over-rated on Yelp. It's not bad, by any means, but it doesn't live up to the hype either.
(3)Tim L.
A little pricier than some of it's competition in Vail Village but well worth it. This is not pub grub or an overpriced bratwurst which are near by. So many great items on the lunch menu, it was a struggle deciding. Blackened fish tacos awesome. Rib eye sandwich on what is probably French bread baked locally and so crispy and fresh even more awesome. Indulge yourself at lunch when vacationing in Vail, worth every penny.
(4)Lauren D.
Is it cheesy if we come here for dinner AND brunch in a weekend because the food is so damn good? Well so far, we've been for dinner. Scrumptious! The best mac&cheese I've ever had. With lobster & bacon. And we're talking huge pieces of lobster that make you smile every time you get a bite. I didn't want it to end. The scallops and truffle oil were delish as well. AND for whatever reason (summer?) they had 30% a bottle of wine. It's right on the creek and the service is fantastic. I will try to branch out and try a different restaurant in Vail for lunch but this place is awesome.
(5)Joseph P.
Had a wonderful dinner while in town from NYC looking at colleges with my son . Highly recommended. Great wine list and inspired food. Foodie restaurant that can be enjoyed by all.
(5)R B.
A favorite over the years, we were disappointed with our visit this winter. Food was okay but the prices had skyrocketed.
(3)Amy F.
I didn't hear good things about this place for dinner, so I had my boyfriend take me here for lunch instead. We were immediately greeted upon entering and was able to get a table by the creek. The lemonade was awesome, very tart, but still good nonetheless. My boyfriend had the hamburger and me the blackened fish tacos. The fish tacos came with pita like chips that were awsomely good. Very thin yet oh so cripsy and the tacos came with a mango salsa. Though the salsa was more of a bluish/green tint to it, which made it that much more better. My bofriends hamburger looked good, didn't have a bite though he did offer me a french fry. Sorry to say, but I like mine a little more cooked. But other than the food was great and our server was great. Overall an excellent place lunch as it wasn't crowded even with the pro cycling stage 3 circuit going on. Would definitely go here again just for the fish tacos.
(4)Ryan L.
I went here recently for dinner on a weeknight during a ski trip with 3 others in my group. It's a small place, but we were seated promptly. Service was efficient and friendly. The prices were not outrageous considering the location and busy season, but I was impressed that they offered a very reasonable fixed price, 3 course special for less than the price of most entrees. The wine list is respectable and they offer a full bar.
(4)Archer D.
Great food, really enjoyed my boar sausage with penne, the tortilla soup was also excellent. The menu selection was fantastic, and I could see myself going to this restaurant dozens of times without getting bored, especially with the large and interesting specials menu. The ambiance has to be one of the best in Vail, right along the creek. We went there in the winter, but outdoor dining must be amazing in the summer.
(5)Mr A.
3.5 stars rounded up due to location.....After 7 or 8 years of going to vail, i finally had the chance to try this place. My wife and I enjoyed a patio seat next to the stream on a fantastic evening. While the decor of the restaurant is quite basic, the restaurants location is really calming and enjoyable. The service was friendly, and the food good ( nothing to blow your socks off, but a nicely prepared meal w good flavor). My wife and i didnt care for the fruit cobbler for dessert, thought it was way too sweet. Would i rush back here, maybe not for the food, but to have a drink on the patio, absolutely.
(4)amy m.
Maybe I need to give Up the Creek another chance, seeing all the rave reviews that this establishment has recieved. I don't know if it's because I've only had lunch there, but I've never had an exceptional meal there... and unfortunately because of the excessive prices, I have always been hesitant to go back. Now, I don't consider myself a cheapskate and I will absolutely pay good money for an exceptional meal, but for a spinach salad that has the same vegetables in it that I can buy at City Market is definitely not worth the $11 price tag... same goes for the $19 (I think it is) lobster mac and cheese. The deck is definitely the place to be on a warm summer day, because you are literally 4 feet from the creek. I would highly suggest grabbing a drink and saving your appetite for upstairs, and head to Sapphire for your dinner.
(2)Paul A.
Great setting and atmosphere. This is one of our longtime favorite spots in Vail Village and I highly recommend it. They have a good wine list and very unique continental menu. Of course, Gore Creek provides the best setting anywhere.
(5)Nichole H.
Once again, I wish there were 1/2 stars here because we think it's a 4 1/2. Really great food AND drinks....this is definitely a place to order a cocktail. The location is great, right on the creek and service was wonderful. Six of us ate lunch there and everyone loved what they had. Would love to check out dinner there some time.
(4)Kirk G.
We came here for a family meal, not knowing what to expect and we were blown away. They were running an offseason deal - $30 for three courses. The scallop appetizer was delicious, a few of us got the ribeye for an entree, which was outstanding, and cooked really nicely, and the duck breast was AMAZING. The service was excellent - the staff was extremely patient with the two small children who were with us. By the way, the desserts were huge and awesome. This was a great find, and we'd go again in a heartbeat.
(5)David G.
Had a good reasonably priced meal there with a group.
(4)Nat K.
Loved it! We encountered their food at the Gourmet on Gore festival and decided to come in for dinner when we saw a sign advertising a tasting menu for two for $81.50. The chef came over and asked us what we liked and disliked (um, nothing?), and we ended up with an heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella salad and a cheese plate to start. Pretty good. Next course was fish -- opah for the hubs, and Japanese sea bass for me. Fish was perfectly cooked -- seared nicely, and paired with some veggies and a lovely almond-accented sauce that was probably loaded with butter. Meat was up next -- classic filet for him, and some a-MAZING lamb for me. I really don't eat much lamb, but this was superb -- rare, and extremely flavorful. The chef came by each course to tell us about the food and to get our reactions, which really made the experience for me. Turns out that this particular lamb is only sold to this restaurant, which is probably a good thing 'cause I'll never want to eat it elsewhere! Dessert was unique -- an ice cream sandwich made of Rice Krispie treats and Rocky Road ice cream. Take that, molten chocolate cake! Oh, and to cap it all off -- wine pairing for BOTH of us was just $30. Amazing deal made that much sweeter by fantastic food and service.
(5)Teri S.
As I write this, I am still overly stuffed from all that I ate at this place! I went in for a late lunch. I was seated immediately in at a very nice table in front of the window where you can watch the Gore Creek rumbling by, just beautiful! The waitress was so friendly and layed back, you could tell she had pride in her place of employment. I ordered the short rib lunch that was served with smoked gouda mac and cheese. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the presentation was. The rib bone had been removed and it was just the right size for a lunch portion. It was so very tender and flavorful and the smokey mac & cheese was the perfect side to compliment the rib. It was all swimming in a veal demi-glaze which was rich, but not too rich to dip the beef and pasta in. For dessert, I ordered a pecan tart that was like pecan pie with a different crust. It was drizzeled with carmel and came with a scoop of cinnamon gelato. As I was finishing, I could see alot of locals who came there frequently. You could tell that they just loved the place and the staff knew them all by name. One guy said he goes there at least twice a week! I would be 300 lbs if I did that! This place is a MUST, I would say and stands apart from the many eateries in Vail Village, and they are many good places there!
(5)Amanda L.
One of the few places we went for dinner when we were in Vail. I assumed that the food would be overpriced and not as good as anything I could find in SF and unfortunately, I was right. SF is a great place for food but ruins you for other places. They started us off with a small, complementary tasting of hot chocolate which was pretty good - chocolately, creamy, and really rich. I liked that they had fresh fish and game meats like Elk and African Antelope but the food was a little bland for my taste. It's true that good quality meat and fish shouldn't need to be overly flavored and mixed with a lot of garnishes but a little more sea salt and pepper wouldn't have hurt. They did give us a trio of sea salts on the table which was nice though. We also had the truffled frites - can't go wrong with truffles - tasty. We had dinner at 6:30pm on superbowl sunday so the place was empty. A couple friends ordered the trout which was recommended because it was especially fresh but they came back to say that they ran out - how do you run out of something when there's no one else in the restaurant? The barramundi was also strongly recommended so my friends got the barramundi instead. It turned out to be a little overcooked and dry for my taste (admittedly, I like things less cooked than more cooked, especially if it's fresh). My friend said she also thought it was overcooked but liked the sauce that went with it. I'd be weary of what the servers recommend - especially since it sounds like they're just trying to get rid of it. The entree prices range from $30-$50+ with fairly generous, but not huge portions. The food isn't spectacular but is definitely good quality. They have a policy of charging $6 to split food which was a little absurd. I understand charging people a split charge if they split an entree but when we questioned the policy, they said they charge a split charge for the appetizers and salads as well, even if we each ordered a separate entree. They ended up waiving the fee so maybe we were initially just misinformed or they were just being kind that day. Interestingly, a couple people split salads and one guy ordered a full salad to himself. The full salad was the same size as the split salads. Overall, it's not a bad place but it's also not a fantastic place, considering the price.
(3)Mal O.
Order the braised short rib on smoked Gouda and bacon Mac and cheese. It is heavenly and rather light. Did not feel overstuffed afterwards. Service is attentive and friendly. Plus dog friendly patio!!!
(5)Amy W.
My Husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere special and didn't mind spending more $$ than we usually do. Up the Creek was not only right down the street from where we were lodging but it was highly recommended! We ordered the calamari for the appetizer and we were underwhelmed. It didn't seem fresh and the sauce was pretty bland, so we were really hoping the entrees would be better. My husband ordered the elk and it was phenomenal! The presentation was beautiful and it was cooked to perfection. I ordered the halibut and it was pretty tasty and fresh but after trying my husbands, I wanted to trade! The service was pretty good, nothing to write home about and the atmosphere was casual and cozy. Overall it was a good night and we left satisfied but were wanting a little more for how much we paid. But hey it's Vail, so it was expected.
(4)Marcia A.
I should have Yelped this before choosing to eat here. Lesson learned. I had the Huevos Rancheros off their brunch menu. It was very good. The Bloody Mary was the worst I've had. I sent it back and it was still terrible. I mean, awful! The server never followed up to see if it was ok or if we wanted something else. In fact, she never checked in on us period . That to me is the worst customer service. We left both drinks on the table. Too bad because there were a few other restaurants we wanted to try. Next time :)
(2)Sandy W.
Service was great. Beautiful dining on the creek. I would highly recommend the Elk. They just need to get rid of the red umbrellas and use something more attractive.
(5)Jessica H.
My boyfriend and I decided to dine lavishly (because, hey, we were in Vail!) at Up the Creek, located on the edge of Gore Creek. Up the Creek is Vail's only creekside restaurant and I highly recommend going there to dine- if not, at least to have cocktail. The dishes were exquisite and expensive, but delicious. I ordered the brunch special aka the crab cake benny and the crab cakes were out of this world, especially being that they were served to me in a landlocked state and not closer to the sea. For my drink, I was torn between the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the enticing Bloody Marytini because the server mentioned there was a green Bloody mix at the bar and a Bloody mixed with a dirty martini sounded eclectic and awesome. I ended up ordering the Bloody Marytini and my boyfriend made his own Bloody at the bar using the green mix. And man... was that green tomatillo Bloody mix gooood! It was full of spices (lots of different types of pepper) and had citrus notes. The end bite was spicy and there were hints of habanero. I would go back to Up the Creek to order my own green Bloody Mary. The only downside of the cocktail was that it cost a whopping $12.. but it is Vail! Check out my full review of Vail's Bloody Marytini here: bloodymarytour.org/2015/… Prices were a bit expensive, but as mentioned before we were in Vail. With tip, we probably spent about $35 a person. Service was decent-- not the best, not the worst. We had a table in the sun and did try to move under one with an umbrella at one point, but we were scolded by the old man working there. This would be my only complaint of the experience, that, maybe since we were people in our early 20s, we weren't treated with the service we would receive if we were wealthy, middle-aged tourists.
(4)Brandy M.
We came here for dinner on a Friday and really wish would have gone elsewhere. The service was just horrid. The waitress came around literally 3x. To take our order, deliver food, then give the check. Never asked if we needed anything else (like more wine!) or to see if our food was good. That was the reason for the 2 stars vs 1 star- the food was good. We split the trout dish and it was amazing. We had a patio table by the river which was also nice. Ii feel like they just don't care that people choose to spend money and time there, which is sad, because even with the economy getting better, they should still attempt to win people over!
(2)Kay M.
Beautiful outdoor seating, right by the creek. The food is amazing! They have great gluten free options. ..we started with the calamari which is not fried but is in a spicy tomato sauce with asparagus. I had the braised short rib and my sister had the trout, everything was delicious and well prepared, very tender. I didn't need a knife for my short rib at all. The cocktails are very inventive as well, I had the beet infused vodka martini and my sister had the Colorado cucumber martini and they added fresh jalapeños to make it spicy. But drinks were not sweet at all which is exactly what we were looking for.
(5)Johanna G.
4 stars for the food , 1 star for the atmosphere. Very casual for the price. Too many kids. Will not return.
(3)Laura J.
Up the Creek is our favorite restaurant in Vail. We have made it a must every trip we make here. Prices are reasonable for Vail, staff is super friendly and the food is excellent. Definitely make a reservation for the patio in summer. There is nothing like having an excellent meal within view of Gore Creek. We have been to many of the restaurants in Vail Village and Lionshead at Vail, Up the Creek remains at the top of the list with dishes like Colorado Lamb, Ruby Red Trout and local Goat Cheese and beet salads.
(5)Bruce M.
Food and drinks were superb. Atmosphere along Gore Creek is terrific. Why only two stars? Service absolutely sucked. We waited forever to get our servers attention to order a drink. Drinks for them slow to come. We ordered soup and salad and you would think they had to grow the letters! We cancelled our salads, paid our bill and left
(2)Lynn C.
Love, love this place. Have been coming here as a couple, with friends, and/or bringing business associates several times a year almost since they opened. Always a good meal at a reasonable price. Good wine list, great atmosphere - especially on the little patio when the weather is nice, good service. A place we always go whenever in the area.
(5)Ty D.
An awesome small restaurant. My firm held its annual retreat in Vail, and we held our group dinner at Up the Creek. Every course I sampled was outstanding (the elk I had in particular was excellent), the service was very professional, and the whole restaurant is very cool in terms of location, ambiance, etc. As another reviewer correctly noted, it's classy without being stuffy, and a great special occasion restaurant.
(4)Michael C.
The only real benefit to eat hear is the sound and view of the creek. Everything is in the $30-$45 range and really not worth it on comparison to all the outstanding restaurants in Vail. For me when I drop $200 for a family, I want to leave saying it was great or amazing. Not it was OK.
(3)Kasia G.
the only place that sullied our vail trip. we had an awful experience just asking for a table, and we were promptly turned away with a bizarre "I've got nothing for you" and no explanation about a wait or closing time. we were so taken aback that even though we saw a table emptying, we just left for a friendlier place. go to 10th mountain whiskey instead!
(1)Sue R.
Good was excellent, service got slow between courses, but would be repeat customer for sure!
(4)Ryota H.
The experience was great! Both food and service were wonderful. Here's what we had for dinner: Started with truffle fries; shaved parmesan cheese, parsley and came with an aioli cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered NY Strip over fingerling potatoes and vegetables and also the braised short ribs over a mac&cheese and asparagus. To be honest, we were going there with the intention of having desert but ended up being too full to have any. I would recommend this place for sure!
(5)Wes M.
Nice dinner. Lacking a little on attentiveness. My wife's 50th birthday, I made sure they knew this and no acknowledgement. We never saw the restaurant fill up. Odd for this restaurant.
(4)Karen D.
I split the UTC burger and chicken tortilla soup with my mom. The burger was awesome, super juicy and cooked perfectly. The tortilla soup was good, but the burger was definitely the main event. They also have a great wine menu!
(4)Beau R.
I love this place! It has such a great view of the creek and the illuminated ice sculptures. The elk was incredibly flavorful and delicious! I'm a concierge in Beaver Creek and I don't hesitate to recommend this establishment to my guests. I wish I could afford to dine here every night!
(5)Jennifer S.
We have eaten here twice and can highly recommend it. It's a pretty little place on the creek, cozy and romantic. Reservations recommended but we quickly got a table for 2 on a Monday night. The service starts with the most perfect, warm crusty roll with butter. For starters, the organic beet salad was wonderful, with beets, fennel, red onion, hazelnuts, dried tomatoes with goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette. It was a very generous serving and would make a fine lunch. My husband had the arugula with pears and nuts. I had the pork chop with cheese grits and asparagus. Truly, this was one of the best meals I've had in Vail. We didn't have dessert. The large surrounding windows showed the falling snow. In summer it must be beautiful with the open windows on the creek.
(5)Kunal M.
Fantastic food with a fantastic view! Vegetarians: try the veggie sandwich or enchiladas with red onions, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus. Delicious!
(5)John R.
Very friendly service with some unique items on the menu. The Truffle Fries were a hit for the entire table. The New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good and the Braised Short Rib was very good for the main entree. The location itself is wonderful -- sitting outside at creek's side makes for a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience. I did try a sample of their bacon infused bourbon which is nice in a small sipping but a little over powering in the BOB drink on the menu.
(4)Megan S.
I have nothing but good things to say about Up the Creek. My family has been coming here for years, and it has only gotten better. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, classy without being stuffy. They play great music, and the staff are always friendly and helpful- attentive without being overbearing. And the food: wow. There is such a good mix of options and flavors, you can't go wrong- no matter what you feel like eating, you will find something. The elk is definitely the highlight of the menu, but I also highly recommend the quinoa, it has such an amazing mix of flavors, and it a nice lighter alternative to the elk or the steak.
(5)Christina A.
You need to try the truffle frites and their Rocky Mountain ELK! Everyone at our table really enjoyed all of their dishes, but I loved my elk dish so much I didn't have room in my stomach to try the other dishes. Sad, but not really. hah. Anyway, the Elk had a coffee rub and it was perfectly paired with farro risotto, mushrooms, asparagus, and huckleberry jus. You can't go wrong here!
(5)Andrea K.
The view is beautiful but the food is nothing to write home about. We had lunch here and it was our only disappointing meal in Vail. I had the fish tacos which weren't memorable and it came with a side of chips that were also not memorable. The accompanying mango salsa tasted nothing like a salsa and was basically just mashed up mango. Hubs had the buffalo tri-tip sandwich which I thought was decent but he had to ask for a side of BBQ sauce and it did not compete with any other BBQ we've had elsewhere. People seem to rave about this place but frankly there are a lot better options in Vail.
(2)Dustin C.
Staff was friendly, but service was very poor. Ordered a bottle of wine, 5 minutes later we were told they were out of that bottle. We decided on another bottle but the waitress was nowhere to be seen for 15 minutes. We just got up and left. At those prices I'm not sitting around waiting to order. That being said I probably will go back to try the food after the reviews and recommendations. Sitting out by the river on a hot summer night would be lovely, although the atmosphere inside was fairly loud and very congested.
(2)Sol A.
This place gets 5 starts just for the simple fact they accommodated 5 people with different dietary restrictions! We ended up here on a friday night after having ski all day long and being exhausted (please note, making a reservation is highly recommended, at least on peak hours). We got seated right away. The menu is small but the chef is open to make variations to the entrees as our small witnessed: one of my friends couldn't have alcohol of any sort in his food, others couldn't eat meat, or pork and myself being a vegan/vegetarian was quite a challenge but between the waiter and the chef they accommodate all our tastes and restrictions and we got really tasty options. I got the pumpkin gnocchi in a wine sauce and it tasted amazing. My friends were also really happy with their plates. We finished with a hot steamy cup of tea and their assortment of sorbets/ice cream. Would definitively come back if Im back in Vail next year!
(5)Brittany L.
This restaurant was so pretty and delicious! It's in Vail village and overlooks a creek. The food was very good and the menu is expansive. Good drinks too. The ambience is worth what may seem to be a bit pricey of a menu. Definitely a must if shopping around in vail!
(4)Arlene P.
I don't eat lunch - except at Up The Creek! The BLT is a amazing!!!! I would not eat foe 3 days to eat this. Perfect bread - homemade mayo (at least it tastes like this) - perfect tomatoes - top with truffle fries- heaven.
(4)Katie R.
Visited her while in Vail on business with about a dozen co-workers. We got seated outside by the creek and it was a very nice evening to be outside (July). Standard outdoor seating. The service was good, the drinks were fun and the food was tasty! Arugula salad was fresh and a great mix of ingredients. The seafood was fresh and well presented. There was a mix of the menu ordered throughout the group and I heard no complaints. The staff was friendly and made enough appearances to help out our large group. It was a little slow but we were a big group and I was in no rush, so no harm, no foul.
(4)Collin R.
Good food. We both had fish tacos and they were exceptional. Service was average, but that may have been due to the over-privileged idiots treating the staff like garbage next to us. Definitely happy. Just thought the food was very slightly over priced.
(4)John A.
Spectacular view of the creek from the outdoor seats. I recommend Up the Creek for an upscale meal in Vail. The Frites & cheese fondue and the tortilla soup were okay, but the calamari, crab cakes, bread, & trout were all very good. There aren't many choices for someone like myself who doesn't eat beef or pork, but through a combo of appetizers I was very satisfied with my meal. The staff was very friendly & the manager even went to another restaurant to borrow a high chair since all theirs were in use. Although this was yet again another expensive meal in Vail. It was worth stopping in.
(4)Linda C.
We enjoyed a perfect lunch here. I sipped a Spicy Cucumber cocktail while watching the families and dogs play at the creekside. The truffle fries were wonderful as expected, as were the arugula pear salad and the turkey brie sandwich. This is a must-go place if you are in Vail.
(5)Rick C.
August 2013, Vail, CO: time for dinner at Up the Creek Restaurant Good imaginative creations...... Crappy service.....The waitress gets 10% instead of 25%.... the restaurant gets my endorsement for food prep on YELP
(4)Mariel J.
This is a really cute place right on the river in Vail - the biggest draw is the location, which is perfect - especially out on the patio on a nice day. The service was also good, and I loved my Reuben (with truffle fries!) and the chicken soup.
(4)Michelle B.
Beautiful location, great view, delicious food! Visited this place on a day trip up to Vail and had the Turkey and Brie Sandwich and a Martini. Drinks are good and not too insanely priced for Vail. Sandwich was very tasty. My friend had the tacos and said they were also very good. Definitely a winner!
(4)Abby G.
I was really excited to go to this restaurant, the food sounded great and the patio was lovely (except it started to rain). We ordered an app and a bottle of wine, but they were out of the wine so she gave us a "minute" to decide. The waitress never came back, it was cold, and inside looked a little too cramped for our style, so we just left. I'll be back though, but only if I get to sit outside.
(2)Sarah G.
Up the Creek, how I loved thee... let me count the ways. 1. Came highly recommended by other bartenders in town for drinks. And wow were they right, even drinks that the guys had never heard of before (Negroni) they made like the pros they are. I had the pleasure of nursing a Spicy Cucumber almost all the way through dinner. Habanero Simple Syrup, you are a wonder. And finally some local beer offerings (Bonfire Brown Ale on tap!) We ended up here on the merit of the drinks alone a second night... probably right around that time when we should have called it quits... but didn't. Just to prove the point even further, a whole group of servers and bartenders frolicked into The Creek when we were at the bar doing a '12 bars of Christmas' tour and ordered 13 shots and miscellaneous drinks. Prost! 2. I apparently can't write a review without mentioning the creek and the location, so here it is. But in the dark it's not really a big selling point. Explaining where it is does lend itself to some Abbot & Costello 'Who's on First' type moments though. 3. The service was incredible. If I ever for whatever reason moved to Vail, these guys would be the first friends I made. Super friendly and down to earth without being too 'salesy' or uptight. You know the kind... 4. Bathrooms. Yes while some many Yelp lists have been made on the merit of restrooms alone (do a search... it's interesting), this isn't usually something worth mentioning for me. UNLESS they're especially awesome, as these are. It's a pretty small restaurant so there are only two. But they're unisex... like airplane bathrooms. Just cool. 5. Last but not least... the Food with a capital F. I so love finding places like this while on vacation because THIS is food to write home about (see when I get really excited and start using capital letters). I started with a spinach salad, moved on to a cup of the clam chowder and finished with the pork belly (on special). And like their website says, "Don't Forget to Try the Truffle Fries". Maytag Bleu Cheese fondue, shaved parmesan reggiano... oh yeah, and there were some perfectly cooked fried potatoes also with that glorious air of truffle. Erin was even nice enough to let me ooh and aah all over the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese that came with her Short Rib dinner when her guard was down. Back to #1, we drank our dessert... espresso for me. Fantastic creations like the baked grasshopper for others. This was my hands down favorite of all the places we got our grub on in Vail. And that's really saying something because nowhere we went was less than "Yay, I'm a fan!" status in terms of food.
(5)Claire S.
5 stars for atmosphere, it's lovely to be by the water. The food was very average. Everything was heavily salted. Tastes were off. Trout was dry. I ordered a sangria which didn't look or taste like any sangria I've ever had. Tasted and looked like pink lemonade with some stale pieces of basil floating in it. Very odd. Service was acceptable. It's pricey but that's a given considering the location.
(3)Kelsey S.
We dined at Up The Creek on New Years Eve and it was wonderful! I had the elk loin and my boyfriend had the new york strip. We loved the atmosphere, very cozy with a great view of gore creek. Dinner was served with a glass of champagne to celebrate the new year.. Thank you Up The Creek for making our evening so special! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to all.
(5)Cam M.
Wow! I've had drinks on the patio of Up the Creek before, but this was my first dining experience. The first suprise was the calimari. If you're expecting a big dish of fried up squid, you'll be wrong. It was a grilled calamari, w/ marinara and vegetables. Very unique and absolutely sensational. I had the short rib which was incredibly tender, I could pull it apart with my fork. My wife had the tenderloin which was also had a great rich flavor. Our kids were happy too with the pasta. The location is ideal and the service was great. Highly recommended!
(5)Patricia N.
We had a great dinner at Up The Creek last night. Both the trout and the sirloin steak were excellent. Our waiter, Eric, was very attentive and helped make the evening fun. We have been coming to Up The Creek for years and it never disappoints.
(4)Soyoung P.
I had a Ruby Trout and a Farm salad for lunch and it is cooked perfectly! Pink colored skin was crispy and the meat was enough solid to chew. The guy server is very attentive and witty. I was afraid how crowded it would be based on the reviews, but we were sit right away in the patio on the creek side. The food came out quickly and fresh. I had ice cream and sorbet and it was yummy! A bit pricey for lunch, but it is the price in Vail. Nice lunch venue with a refreshing clean water stream view and sound.
(4)Barry M.
While this was a very good meal in a fantastic location and I would certainly make a return visit if I were in the area, there are better meals to be had in Vail. Still, it is worth a visit if you have some extra time to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
(4)John K.
Four of us had lunch here. Really nice place to eat right along the creek. The bison sliders were perfectly prepared. The soup and grilled cheese were really good too. I'd like to come back for dinner.
(4)Denise N.
Rude... Rude.... Rude.... Don't expect great service or YOU will be "Up the Creek!" When we walked in for our New Year's Eve early dinner (we made the reservations for 3 pm several weeks ahead in order to accommodate my elderly dad and see the fireworks at 6:30) Peter greeted my family of 7.....all adults.... with a "hurry up attitude" because the chef had to begin preparing the New Year's Eve dinner menu. They had called us earlier to see if we could come in at 2:30....what tha? After we were seated and the waitress arrived at the table, we were advised what was NO LONGER available on the menu.... ok... that was 2 negatives in less than 10 minutes. After I saw the disappointment on my families faces, I pulled out a business card that Jeff from Alpenrose down the street had given me to make a reservation for the next day (we had dropped in for a round of cocktails there)....I immediately called him explained our situation, he stated that he could accommodate us immediately. We will take Goulash over Rudeness any day! I have read some of the food reviews and they may be favorable, however, inconsiderate treatment always leaves a BAD taste in my mouth.
(1)Andy S.
Best dining experience I've had in a while. You know, in Denver we have creeks and rivers but there isn't a place to go eat or drink by them. It's a wasted opportunity if you ask me. Up The Creek has excellent food, drinks, and you can sit there and look at the river!!! The entrées were half off for some reason which was awesome. Everything about this place is good. Being near water is a human instinct that people in mid-America tend to ignore because they can't help it. Vail has it figured out.
(5)Shirley R.
Up The Creek has the most spectacular location....sitting on the outdoor patio is so enjoyable...the luncheon menu is reasonable and the food good....I have been there for dinner, and while the food was excellent, the service was slow, but the staff was friendly.... They were out of one of the main entrees....the prices are about $10 more than the surrounding restaurants, which were packed and the food comparable ...... There were only 7 people in the restaurant dining the evening our family was there...I think they need to rethink their pricing, in order to be competitive....I would think twice before having dinner there again....
(3)Brittney M.
The patio is just amazing. I love it here. Great wine, food, and scenery.
(4)Erika B.
This is currently my favorite restaurant in Vail. Conveniently situated in Vail Village near the children's fountain and overlooking Gore Creek, Up the Creek always offers lovely service and a completely delectable menu. The space is not my favorite, but the food and service make up for the lack of decor. I started with scallops with a corn salsa, chose a gnocchi with lavendar-honey sauce, duck confit, blue cheese, and chives as my main meal (yum?!) and finished off with an exceptionally well-made peach/bluberry cobbler. Oh, and I couldnt have been more excited that they offered gluhwein (hot spiced wine) for the holiday season. Other notable menu items included mountain favorites: venison, ostrich, lamb! The menu had an excellent fish selection including 5 or so tempting options. As you can tell, ordering was a difficult decision!
(5)Tanya D.
I have no idea how people can rate this place so great. Went here for our anniversary dinner last month and we were very disappointed. I ordered the swordfish "special" which was supposed to be flown in fresh from HI. This was the worst fish I have ever had, it was dry and most likely 3-4 days old. Even if it was good the portion was so small for $40.00 about 4-6oz tops. The dining room is dated and our waiter was completely uneducated about the wine list. I felt like saying hey bro-ha maybe you should be a lifty for Vail instead. They should call this place UP THE CRAP! My husband and I left hungry and dissapointed with a $160 bill. -I am a local not a tourist and I am growing increasingly tired of being ripped off by medi ocre overpriced Vail restaurants!
(1)Rick P.
Kudos to Up the Creek team for handling our large group so well. All had different fish entres, universally enjoyed. Specialty cocktails and desserts winners.
(4)Aleksandra K.
Went here for lunch and had the fish tacos they were delicious. We sat out on the patio and I loved the view. Our server was very friendly as well. Overall, had a great experience. Would highly recommend for a laid back and relaxing lunch in Vail.
(4)M M.
My mom and I stopped in here for a lunch date the last time we were in Vail. We were seated at a very central table in doors. It was bustling, but not insanely busy. I'm pretty sure we didn't have a waiter assigned to our table. We had to plead to get our order taken, and beg to get our check at the end. I'm actually surprised we got our food at all. No one came to check on us, no one refilled our water glasses, and even though the server who finally gave us our check realized how neglected we had been, no one apologized or tried to make it right. The food was decent, but I'm afraid I will go elsewhere the next time I visit.
(2)Will G.
While on vacation with my family we stopped in for dinner and I have to say it was amazing! The short ribs are the best I've ever had. Even the meals for kids look top notch.
(4)Sarah V.
Up the Creek is my favorite place to apres-ski. They have great beer and the truffle fries are AMAZING. The location on the creek is sensational, especially when you can sit outside on a sunny day. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and cozy and makes it a favorite for the occasional dinner date as well!
(5)Zach C.
What a great little place, wonderful food, great service and an awesome view. If u come for lunch I highly recommend the chicken sandwich w truffle fries. Maybe start off w the crab cakes, very light and fluffy. My friend is in love w the red trout, one of the vest fishes he's tried in a while. So if u find yourself in Vail craving some food then come by
(5)alex p.
This place was phenomenal. Great food (they were even able to accommodate my super picky wife), and service uncharacteristic of the snark that follows townies that typically man most places in vail. Definitely coming back.
(5)Krisy P.
If you are looking for something nice and not pretentious, definitely head here. If its a weekend, make a reservation and try to get there early since they run out of the good stuff fast... like the short ribs. I had the arugula salad and small plate of diver scallops - the portions are surprisingly filling!
(4)Jenna D.
loved sitting on the patio and hearing the creek rush by-- definitely a great leisurely lunch spot.... i had the cobb salad with chicken and balsamic vinaigrette- perfect after a long hike, filling but not too heavy; my girl had the turkey and brie sangy which she loved, and the bloody mary bar looked off the chain.... next time. great food and if the weather permits, perfect for outside seating
(4)Amy B.
Always love this place! Their truffle fries are the best in Vail! Salads are good. Fish always cooked perfectly. They used to have a pasta with goat cheese on the dinner menu that was very good. We come back to this place year after year.
(5)Adrian H.
A good place to go, but avoid the tempura - it's greasy. My wife and I headed up to Vail for a weekend of skiing. After getting the "Colorado Resident" deal at Vail Cascades (something I love), we hunted for some place for dinner, and settled for Up The Creek - opting for a 5:30pm reservation since everything from 6:30pm - 9:00pm was already booked at every single restaurant in town. This is a clean lined restaurant in the heart of Vail Village, having a prime spot just steps from the creek that passes through the village. The place was empty when we were sat, with the pleasant and attentive waiter providing additional details on the dinner specials. He went to pains to mention the 30% off bottles of wine. Since it was dead when we arrived, I don't know what sort of vibe this place has when its busy, but the background music indicates a quieter place. For appetizers, we ordered off the regular menu. I ordered the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, which is supplied with a Serrano Blueberry coulis, and the crab cakes arriving sitting on a micro green salad, dressed in a lemon vinaigrette. The seeano gave a hint of spice to the coulis, while the blueberries gave a little sweetness, resulting in a wonderfulyl balanced sauce. The crab cake was a little salty for my palate. I could have eaten the blueberry coulis all day. My wife ordered the Maine Diver Scallops, pan seared and served sitting on top of a cauliflower puree, and sweet corn medley. The star of this dish was the sweet corn medley - another thing I could have eaten all day. It had finely diced peppers and green onions mixed in. The scallops were nicely rare (not overdone, as is so easy to do). The cauliflower puree was a nice textural contrast to the rest of the dihs. Yes, we did lick the plates. People can deal. The place was dead. As a change from the norm, the bread course came between our appetizer and main courses. The bread was a yeasty - almost biscuity tasting - white dinner roll, served warm, with softened butter. This is one of the better bread courses I have come across. For the main course, I decided on a special - Seared Hawaiian Bluefin Ahi, with Wasabi mashed potatoes, tempura vegetable spears, and a drizzle of chive oil and balsamic around the dish. The ahi was seared with black sesame seeds and rare in the middle, then placed around a mound of the wasabi mashed potatoes, with the spears of vegetable tempura (carrot and zucchini) stuck into the mashed potatoes like sails. Taste wise, the wasabi mashed potatoes were exactly what you would expect - a kick from the wasabi, but creamy and delicious. The ahi needed a little more of a dipping sauce than the chive oil and balsamic provided, but was otherwise good. The vegetable spears, however, were dreadful. They were greasy and some of the vilest greasy food I've had in a while. Give these a miss. My wife ordered the Osterich Tenderloin with a port wine cherry polenta cake, baby carrots, and an apple-cider demi-glace. The osterich had a smoky grill taste - charcoal, perhaps? Since it is a leaner meat, we tookt he advice on getting it on the rarer side. The chef certainly knows how to cook to order, and the meat was right where we wanted it. The star of this dish, however, was the polenta cake. The cherries were mixed into a course polenta and then made into a cake and grilled. With the peppery notes of the polenta (and added pepper, I am sure) balancing the sweetness of the cherries, this was yet another thing I could have eaten a ton of. A quick note on the dish sizes. They aren't huge, but they don't skimp either. So you will still be able to enjoy dessert. Which we did. I'm a fan of cobblers, and the special of the night was a peach-blueberry cobbler, which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top, then drizzled with caramel and whipped cream running down the side (plus the obligatory useless fanned strawberry). Yes, it was hot (this is a good thing, and not common), and the sweet peaches paired nicely with the tart blueberries to make a delicous whole. Unfortunately, with the ice cream on top, the cobbler crust was a little soggy, although enough crunch remained to remind me why I like crumbles and cobblers so much. My wife ordered a trio of sorbets - mandarin orange, hibiscus lemon and strawberry basil. Each one was served in its own little dish. I was expectign the strawberry basil to be sweeter, but it had a distinct savory taste to it. The mandarin orange was really really sour. My favorite of the three was the hibiscus lemon, which was tart with a definite savory taste in the background. One nice thing is that our waiter did not bring the check until we were both finished. I've noticed this habit in lesser restaurants to bring the check when I've finished, but my wife is not. I was not rushed here, and that is a good thing. Overall, almost a five star experience, as you would expect when dropping almost $170.
(4)Nicole K.
Amazing! Love this place! Delicious dinner! Fantastic service. Definitely a go-to place for dinner in Vail. I had the trout and my husband had the lamb chops, which were amazing! We had the carpaccio as an starter, which I would highly recommend. It melted in our mouths. The ambiance is great- right on the creek. We love this place!
(5)Mason M.
Perfect. The restaurant is super nice. It's welcoming, and not stuffy. New Bar!! Just installed, good lookin bathrooms. Then there is the food. Off the charts. It doesn't matter what you order.... It's incredible. Great flavors, new ideas... Creativity and competency are coming together here. I'll will certainly return.
(5)Hilary B.
OMG. Just had dinner here and everything was amazing. Started with the arugula salad with pears and vanilla vinaigrette which was incredible and then had the short ribs with the Gouda mac n cheese... So so so good. Finished it off with a St Bernard to drink. Delicious. Oh and definitely sit at the bar. Wes and the other gentleman (didn't catch his name) were so attentive, friendly, and helpful. Such a great experience and next time we're in Vail we'll definitely be back!!
(5)Hu Lee A.
Food was good, reasonable for the price, especially for Vail. The service was great and turned good food into a fantastic experience.
(4)Cousin D.
Went there for lunch with my wife, her friend and 2 boys. If you are in a hurry, DO NOT go here. If you want a relaxing lunch, which is hard to do with 2 twelve year old boys who cannot sit still, this is a decent pick. The food was OK, although I cannot remember what I had. Probably would not go again. Once was enough.
(3)Erin R.
This meal is one of the best meals of my life. I would give Up the Creek 6 or 10 stars if I could. If you are reading this and in Vail and considering going to Up the Creek stop reading now and go. You will be very happy with your decision. Everything from the truffle fries and clam chowder appetizers to the pork belly and short ribs entrees to the inventive cocktails was amazing. My husband and I stopped in at the bar during our trip to Vail since it was highly rated on Yelp. We sat at the bar to have a few drinks and chatted with the bartender (Wes). He was wonderful. If you are in Vail make sure to stop in and have a drink with him. One of the best ever. He gave some great suggestions for other places in Vail and we decided to have dinner at Up the Creek a few nights later with friends (fellow reviewer Sarah). I'm so glad we did. Like I said above we started with some truffle fries and clam chowder. The truffle fries were topped with blue cheese and shaved parmesan reggiano. Simply delicious. The clam chowder was the best clam chowder I have had outside of New England. It is a must try. My husband had the pork belly special and I had the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese. Both were melt in your mouth delicious. We drank our desert (Espresso Martini and Grasshopper Martini) both suggestions by Wes. We returned a 3rd time for drinks because we loved it so much. While we were there a group of bartenders and servers from around Vail stopped in during their "12 bars of Christmas". Hilarious. The prices are pretty decent especially for Vail. Apps are in the $12-$18 range and entrees in the $25-$40 range. It isn't quite white tablecloth dining but they have great ingredients (i.e. pork belly, etc) and you won't be disappointed. The day after we ate at Up the Creek we ate at Sweet Basil and it was not nearly as good and twice the price. If you are thinking of going to Sweet Basil instead try Up the Creek for lunch and dinner and I think you will be happy. Service was very attentive and helpful. Upscale but not stuffy. It has a great looking patio that would be fun in the summer time. In the dark it may be a bit difficult to find as it is down some stairs by the creek in Vail Village, but DO NOT miss this if you are in Vail. I think I may drive out here even when visiting Keystone and Breck as I love it that much.
(5)Todd N.
Really good food, a little pricey but worth it. Try the halibut.
(5)Roman B.
Great spot. Ask for an outside table. Food is great too!
(5)Linda J.
We first had a lovely dinner on their patio. The wine special offered was perfect as was the melt in your mouth beef tenderloin, and our service and view was great, making us along with our Yorkie feel appreciated (we always ask first if she is allowed). We spent $99 before tip and were happy. We returned two days later to have lunch-there was a salad with crab I was dying to try,but were promptly informed no dogs were allowed on the patio. This was very embarrassing and after explaining we had just been there with her we quickly left and will not return. This restaurant needs to set a dog policy and stick to it.
(3)Vista R.
Great creek view. A bit slow service. Got gelato, cream brûlée and brittle walnut - all good. Portions size: for 1 hungry person. Get appetizers plus entree to share. Appetizers: tried roast beet and buffalo carpacio - both very good. Entree: tried ruby trout - good.
(5)John A.
Really good food! Rack of lamb was awesome. Try the Mac n cheese! Only thing is price advertised is off. Dinner for 2 was $150 with tip app, entree, dessert. Highly recommend
(5)Eric M.
After a drive out from Denver, we were ready for both some fresh air, sunshine and some food. We found all three at Up the Creek. It's got a really good location right by the creek (surprise). The calamari was particularly good, and so were the scallops that I had. Better than the food was the location, which was outstanding. Can't miss with this one.
(4)Wendy C.
Excellent food being recommended to you by non-overbearing but extremely knowledgeable service staff. This exceeds my expectation for a touristy spot. Went with a large group, everyone enjoyed his/her dish. The game meat was seasoned perfectly, fish done right not overcooked, sides are innovative and delightful.
(5)Dana S.
Very good experience, lovely creekside setting, delicious food and great service.
(4)Alannah M.
We went here based on the previous reviews, and omg were they right!! In fact, the food was so good, we went back a second night. The food was amazing and the service was awesome. Our waitress, Oriana, had excellent recommendations, including my yummy cocktail, a pear martini. We wish we were here for a third night so we could go back and try something else! And if the food and service isn't good enough, the view of the creek topped it off!
(5)Kirsten O.
Ate there for lunch yesterday. Beautiful view of the creek. We sat outside which was perfect. I had the Philly Cheese steak sandwich $8 sandwich which was very good. French fries were those skinny greasy ones. Not sure i am a fan. Sandwich was very good. My friend had a BLAT that came without mayo. We had too wait for 10 minutes for the waiter to come back to get mayo and ketchup which was kind of a bummer for my friend for I was almost done eating. More of a restaurant than a bar. But again with the nice outdoor seating a great summer place to eat.
(4)Zoe M.
Best location in Vail! The food is fantastic, by far my favorite! Love the spicy cucumber drink and the mixed greens salad!
(5)Anna S.
We have enjoyed a few delicious meals here while skiing Vail. The service is always excellent and the food is great. I highly recommend the risotto, but I think I would return just for the rolls and the salted caramel gelato!
(4)Darika S.
Giving it a three and half for the breakfast burrito and four stars for the crab cake benedict. The green chile on the burrito us nothing to get excited about. The crab cakes themselves were fantastic with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Definitely used real crab, pair with a mimosa and you'll have your tummy happy for the rest of the day. The outdoor seating is right by the creek, great view.
(4)Angelique B.
My scallops were cooked perfectly. I didn't like the corn or cream sauce that came with my dish, but overall the meal was ok. My friend liked her beef short rib with pasta. The brownie sundae was also good. 3 stars for the ambiance... it's in a quiet part of the village next to the creek. Restaurant is nice and so is the service. We were outside taking pictures before we went inside and a waiter comes outside and offers to take our picture. That was nice of him.
(3)SillyMango P.
4.5 stars if possible! Probably the food snob in me, but I was not expecting amazing things from this place... Good, yes.. Amazing, no. This was a pleasant surprise! Very nice location next to the creek - especially beautiful when it is snowing! Started with cheese and charcuterie board which was delicious! Especially a fan of their honeyed almonds... Spinach salad was also remarkably good... Bacon was plentiful and I could have even afforded less (which is amazing cause I LOVE bacon...) I absolutely love the braised short rib. I giggle when I meet a piece of meat that can fall apart with a nudge of my fork. Flavoring was amazing and it was perfectly paired with gouda mac and cheese. Husband went with the colorado rack of lamb, and we might have embarrassed ourselves trying to get every single last morsel off the bone. The potato puree accompaniment was awesome. Sadly (or happily?), we were too stuffed to order dessert (and we almost ALWAYS order dessert). Would gladly return here.
(4)Vail I.
Great food. Beautiful restaurant on Gore Creek. They serve drinks, but not really a bar.
(4)Aleksei H.
I've been here only a few times in my life, but as a local I think it is worthwhile posting a review of this nice little place by the river. First off, the food is FANTASTIC. Although the menu is somewhat limited, there seems to be something for everyone to choose from. I especially like the beef carpaccio and roasted beet salad. But for those on a budget do be warned; it is vary expensive and the amount of food is fairly small to make it a full meal. My family and I visited on Mother's Day before seeing a movie, and we were running a little tight on time. We asked if it was at all possible to get out food and leave within about 30 minutes, which the staff seemed to doubt. Nevertheless, we were in and out in about 25 minutes, which is phenomenal! No food quality or wait service was lost in that short time frame. I am truly impressed, well done! Location is also pretty nice. We didn't sit outside, but I would think that the outdoor patio in the summer evenings is great since it is right by the river.
(4)Tim M.
Solidly good place. You will not be disappointed. Nice food and wine selection. While not a great place for kids, ours (4 & 6) LOVED the penne alfredo and were treated well. The buffalo with a veal reduction was very tasty and the short ribs were nothing short of divine!!
(4)Sarah F.
Much of the draw of this place is illustrated in the name "Up the Creek". As the old expression goes "Location, Location, Location", and this place has got it in spades. Up the Creek is one of the only restaurants in the Vail Valley that places you directly next to the gorgeous Gore Creek. Yep, you can sit and eat delicious food and have the sound of cold, rushing, mountain water streaming past you. And you don't even have to hike to it. The cuisine is fantastic. There are vegetarian options-- but most people prefer their seafood and roasted meats. I've been coming here since I was a kid. Up the Creek is unpretentious, consistent in quality, and the ambiance is unbeatable. There is a reason this place has been in business for so long. If you're ever in Vail, it is a must.
(5)Missy D.
As we spend every weekend in Vail, for some strange reason we rarely eat here! Thankfully we had cocktails on the patio over looking the Gore Creek July 4th weekend as this lead us to have dinner there this last weekend. The space is quaint and they have one of the best patios in the village. Their view over looking the creek in the heart of the village is awesome! My husband and I had spent 7 hours riding bikes Saturday and were looking forward to a fantastic dinner for our reward. Up the Creek did not disappoint! We both went in thinking we would try one of the fish specials, yet ended up with the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda MAc-n-Cheese.... simply fabulous! The service was prompt, knowledgable, and gave us plenty of space to take our time with dinner. We both enoyed a great cocktail, followed with wine with our entrees. (they are offering 30% off on bottles of wine right now). If you get there, you must try a dessert! The special on Saturday night was a wild blueberry/peach cobbler.... WOW! A perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience! We will be back sooner than later this Summer!
(5)M F.
Situated on the beautiful Gore Creek, it's a picturesque spot with patio seating. If you don't want to fight the weather, the indoor seating is just as beautiful with lots of windows. It's a small place but it packs a punch. We love the off-season dining and we've even spied the chef walking around, chatting with the guests. I normally get the seafood and the scallops are always tender and sweet. It's a relaxed combination of upscale fare and casual attitude. Good wine suggestions and great staff. What more could you want? Can't wait to go back!
(5)Shelby P.
My absolute favorite sandwich of all time. Roasted Turkey and Brie with Orange Cranberry Relish on Sourdough. Every time I'm in town, I have to have that sandwich. It probably helps to be sitting in one of the best towns in America and right by the creek, no less.
(4)Dani L.
The service was very good, but the food was just so-so at this very expensive (some may say overpriced) Vail Village restaurant. I ordered a $40 Halibut dish and the fish came completely uncooked. My sister ordered a mushroom pasta that was, in her words, "absolutely average and probably too creamy." The ambiance has nothing special to it. The waitress was very attentive and apologized profusely for the mess up with the fish, but that is not what I would expect for a restaurant at this price level.
(2)Darika S.
Giving it a three and half for the breakfast burrito and four stars for the crab cake benedict. The green chile on the burrito us nothing to get excited about. The crab cakes themselves were fantastic with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Definitely used real crab, pair with a mimosa and you'll have your tummy happy for the rest of the day. The outdoor seating is right by the creek, great view.
(4)Angelique B.
My scallops were cooked perfectly. I didn't like the corn or cream sauce that came with my dish, but overall the meal was ok. My friend liked her beef short rib with pasta. The brownie sundae was also good. 3 stars for the ambiance... it's in a quiet part of the village next to the creek. Restaurant is nice and so is the service. We were outside taking pictures before we went inside and a waiter comes outside and offers to take our picture. That was nice of him.
(3)SillyMango P.
4.5 stars if possible! Probably the food snob in me, but I was not expecting amazing things from this place... Good, yes.. Amazing, no. This was a pleasant surprise! Very nice location next to the creek - especially beautiful when it is snowing! Started with cheese and charcuterie board which was delicious! Especially a fan of their honeyed almonds... Spinach salad was also remarkably good... Bacon was plentiful and I could have even afforded less (which is amazing cause I LOVE bacon...) I absolutely love the braised short rib. I giggle when I meet a piece of meat that can fall apart with a nudge of my fork. Flavoring was amazing and it was perfectly paired with gouda mac and cheese. Husband went with the colorado rack of lamb, and we might have embarrassed ourselves trying to get every single last morsel off the bone. The potato puree accompaniment was awesome. Sadly (or happily?), we were too stuffed to order dessert (and we almost ALWAYS order dessert). Would gladly return here.
(4)Vail I.
Great food. Beautiful restaurant on Gore Creek. They serve drinks, but not really a bar.
(4)Aleksei H.
I've been here only a few times in my life, but as a local I think it is worthwhile posting a review of this nice little place by the river. First off, the food is FANTASTIC. Although the menu is somewhat limited, there seems to be something for everyone to choose from. I especially like the beef carpaccio and roasted beet salad. But for those on a budget do be warned; it is vary expensive and the amount of food is fairly small to make it a full meal. My family and I visited on Mother's Day before seeing a movie, and we were running a little tight on time. We asked if it was at all possible to get out food and leave within about 30 minutes, which the staff seemed to doubt. Nevertheless, we were in and out in about 25 minutes, which is phenomenal! No food quality or wait service was lost in that short time frame. I am truly impressed, well done! Location is also pretty nice. We didn't sit outside, but I would think that the outdoor patio in the summer evenings is great since it is right by the river.
(4)Tim M.
Solidly good place. You will not be disappointed. Nice food and wine selection. While not a great place for kids, ours (4 & 6) LOVED the penne alfredo and were treated well. The buffalo with a veal reduction was very tasty and the short ribs were nothing short of divine!!
(4)Sarah F.
Much of the draw of this place is illustrated in the name "Up the Creek". As the old expression goes "Location, Location, Location", and this place has got it in spades. Up the Creek is one of the only restaurants in the Vail Valley that places you directly next to the gorgeous Gore Creek. Yep, you can sit and eat delicious food and have the sound of cold, rushing, mountain water streaming past you. And you don't even have to hike to it. The cuisine is fantastic. There are vegetarian options-- but most people prefer their seafood and roasted meats. I've been coming here since I was a kid. Up the Creek is unpretentious, consistent in quality, and the ambiance is unbeatable. There is a reason this place has been in business for so long. If you're ever in Vail, it is a must.
(5)Missy D.
As we spend every weekend in Vail, for some strange reason we rarely eat here! Thankfully we had cocktails on the patio over looking the Gore Creek July 4th weekend as this lead us to have dinner there this last weekend. The space is quaint and they have one of the best patios in the village. Their view over looking the creek in the heart of the village is awesome! My husband and I had spent 7 hours riding bikes Saturday and were looking forward to a fantastic dinner for our reward. Up the Creek did not disappoint! We both went in thinking we would try one of the fish specials, yet ended up with the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda MAc-n-Cheese.... simply fabulous! The service was prompt, knowledgable, and gave us plenty of space to take our time with dinner. We both enoyed a great cocktail, followed with wine with our entrees. (they are offering 30% off on bottles of wine right now). If you get there, you must try a dessert! The special on Saturday night was a wild blueberry/peach cobbler.... WOW! A perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience! We will be back sooner than later this Summer!
(5)M F.
Situated on the beautiful Gore Creek, it's a picturesque spot with patio seating. If you don't want to fight the weather, the indoor seating is just as beautiful with lots of windows. It's a small place but it packs a punch. We love the off-season dining and we've even spied the chef walking around, chatting with the guests. I normally get the seafood and the scallops are always tender and sweet. It's a relaxed combination of upscale fare and casual attitude. Good wine suggestions and great staff. What more could you want? Can't wait to go back!
(5)Shelby P.
My absolute favorite sandwich of all time. Roasted Turkey and Brie with Orange Cranberry Relish on Sourdough. Every time I'm in town, I have to have that sandwich. It probably helps to be sitting in one of the best towns in America and right by the creek, no less.
(4)Dani L.
The service was very good, but the food was just so-so at this very expensive (some may say overpriced) Vail Village restaurant. I ordered a $40 Halibut dish and the fish came completely uncooked. My sister ordered a mushroom pasta that was, in her words, "absolutely average and probably too creamy." The ambiance has nothing special to it. The waitress was very attentive and apologized profusely for the mess up with the fish, but that is not what I would expect for a restaurant at this price level.
(2)Straker C.
We went there last night in spite of mixed reviews. Of course, we noticed that all the Vail restaurants had very mixed reviews. However, whoever posted anything negative about Up the Creek Bar & Grill is crazy! We had a lovely meal, received great service, and recommend this restaurant highly!
(4)Kristin D.
I think a lot can be said of an establishment by how they treat their guests during specials. My husband and I went to Up the Creek this past weekend when they were still offering the preseason 3 course meal for $30. The staff was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. They offered their special menu along with a 30% discount on wine without you having to ask or feel cheap. All the food was delicious. I got the cheese plate, soup special, and the venison and my husband got the scallops, the chowder, and the rib eye. I would highly recommend going here while in Vail!
(5)John L.
One of our favorite places to go in Vail on our annual ski vacation. The truffle fries are crispy and delicious and the short ribs are not to be missed, especially because they come with the some of the best gouda mac and cheese we've ever eaten. The service is friendly and attentive and the wine deals are great.
(4)Michael E.
Heard lots about this place. I checked out the menu online and decided to go, since I'm a huge fan of a good Buffalo steak, and they have a "dry-aged" version that I thought I needed to try. A friend and I walked in without reservations and were promptly seated. We perused the menus and ordered pretty quickly - the service was attentive, if unpolished. Good for a ski-area. I ordered their newfangled "Old-Fashioned". Now, I'm a whisky fan, and I know the difference between Bulleit and Buffalo Trace. The menu specifies Bulleit, which I thought made the drink sound interesting. I watched as the bartender poured Buffalo Trace into the drink before the waitress brought it over to me. This isn't a huge deal, but they should have told me that they didn't have the whisky the menu claims is in this particular drink. They didn't say anything. The drink was Ok, but absolutely loaded with ice, to the point of overkill. And the bitters were not present in any noticeable way. Bulleit would have been far better - I understand why their recipe calls for it. (Buffalo Trace is still a very good bourbon - just smoother and milder, which I didn't want in this drink). Also ordered the tortilla soup, which was good - loaded with shredded chicken and tasty. I thought the presentation was a little overwrought considering the dish, but I got the point. They were trying to make it "fancy". Then came the buffalo steak. The waitress recommended that I get it medium rare, and I agreed. It was fine, but not as good as I hoped or expected it to be. It sat on a bed of cheesy, bacony pasta shells, which I believe I enjoyed more than the steak itself, unfortunately. It was a fatty piece of meat, which surprised me, as all of the buffalo I've had in the past has been lean and delicious. Given the whisky switcheroo, I honestly wondered if I was eating a beef steak. I've been able to discern the difference between buffalo and beef before, but maybe their rendition was just too convincing for the often pleasant differences to be apparent. I feel that this restaurant is over-rated on Yelp. It's not bad, by any means, but it doesn't live up to the hype either.
(3)Tim L.
A little pricier than some of it's competition in Vail Village but well worth it. This is not pub grub or an overpriced bratwurst which are near by. So many great items on the lunch menu, it was a struggle deciding. Blackened fish tacos awesome. Rib eye sandwich on what is probably French bread baked locally and so crispy and fresh even more awesome. Indulge yourself at lunch when vacationing in Vail, worth every penny.
(4)Lauren D.
Is it cheesy if we come here for dinner AND brunch in a weekend because the food is so damn good? Well so far, we've been for dinner. Scrumptious! The best mac&cheese I've ever had. With lobster & bacon. And we're talking huge pieces of lobster that make you smile every time you get a bite. I didn't want it to end. The scallops and truffle oil were delish as well. AND for whatever reason (summer?) they had 30% a bottle of wine. It's right on the creek and the service is fantastic. I will try to branch out and try a different restaurant in Vail for lunch but this place is awesome.
(5)Joseph P.
Had a wonderful dinner while in town from NYC looking at colleges with my son . Highly recommended. Great wine list and inspired food. Foodie restaurant that can be enjoyed by all.
(5)R B.
A favorite over the years, we were disappointed with our visit this winter. Food was okay but the prices had skyrocketed.
(3)Amy F.
I didn't hear good things about this place for dinner, so I had my boyfriend take me here for lunch instead. We were immediately greeted upon entering and was able to get a table by the creek. The lemonade was awesome, very tart, but still good nonetheless. My boyfriend had the hamburger and me the blackened fish tacos. The fish tacos came with pita like chips that were awsomely good. Very thin yet oh so cripsy and the tacos came with a mango salsa. Though the salsa was more of a bluish/green tint to it, which made it that much more better. My bofriends hamburger looked good, didn't have a bite though he did offer me a french fry. Sorry to say, but I like mine a little more cooked. But other than the food was great and our server was great. Overall an excellent place lunch as it wasn't crowded even with the pro cycling stage 3 circuit going on. Would definitely go here again just for the fish tacos.
(4)Ryan L.
I went here recently for dinner on a weeknight during a ski trip with 3 others in my group. It's a small place, but we were seated promptly. Service was efficient and friendly. The prices were not outrageous considering the location and busy season, but I was impressed that they offered a very reasonable fixed price, 3 course special for less than the price of most entrees. The wine list is respectable and they offer a full bar.
(4)Archer D.
Great food, really enjoyed my boar sausage with penne, the tortilla soup was also excellent. The menu selection was fantastic, and I could see myself going to this restaurant dozens of times without getting bored, especially with the large and interesting specials menu. The ambiance has to be one of the best in Vail, right along the creek. We went there in the winter, but outdoor dining must be amazing in the summer.
(5)Mr A.
3.5 stars rounded up due to location.....After 7 or 8 years of going to vail, i finally had the chance to try this place. My wife and I enjoyed a patio seat next to the stream on a fantastic evening. While the decor of the restaurant is quite basic, the restaurants location is really calming and enjoyable. The service was friendly, and the food good ( nothing to blow your socks off, but a nicely prepared meal w good flavor). My wife and i didnt care for the fruit cobbler for dessert, thought it was way too sweet. Would i rush back here, maybe not for the food, but to have a drink on the patio, absolutely.
(4)amy m.
Maybe I need to give Up the Creek another chance, seeing all the rave reviews that this establishment has recieved. I don't know if it's because I've only had lunch there, but I've never had an exceptional meal there... and unfortunately because of the excessive prices, I have always been hesitant to go back. Now, I don't consider myself a cheapskate and I will absolutely pay good money for an exceptional meal, but for a spinach salad that has the same vegetables in it that I can buy at City Market is definitely not worth the $11 price tag... same goes for the $19 (I think it is) lobster mac and cheese. The deck is definitely the place to be on a warm summer day, because you are literally 4 feet from the creek. I would highly suggest grabbing a drink and saving your appetite for upstairs, and head to Sapphire for your dinner.
(2)Paul A.
Great setting and atmosphere. This is one of our longtime favorite spots in Vail Village and I highly recommend it. They have a good wine list and very unique continental menu. Of course, Gore Creek provides the best setting anywhere.
(5)Nichole H.
Once again, I wish there were 1/2 stars here because we think it's a 4 1/2. Really great food AND drinks....this is definitely a place to order a cocktail. The location is great, right on the creek and service was wonderful. Six of us ate lunch there and everyone loved what they had. Would love to check out dinner there some time.
(4)Kirk G.
We came here for a family meal, not knowing what to expect and we were blown away. They were running an offseason deal - $30 for three courses. The scallop appetizer was delicious, a few of us got the ribeye for an entree, which was outstanding, and cooked really nicely, and the duck breast was AMAZING. The service was excellent - the staff was extremely patient with the two small children who were with us. By the way, the desserts were huge and awesome. This was a great find, and we'd go again in a heartbeat.
(5)David G.
Had a good reasonably priced meal there with a group.
(4)Nat K.
Loved it! We encountered their food at the Gourmet on Gore festival and decided to come in for dinner when we saw a sign advertising a tasting menu for two for $81.50. The chef came over and asked us what we liked and disliked (um, nothing?), and we ended up with an heirloom tomato and fresh mozzarella salad and a cheese plate to start. Pretty good. Next course was fish -- opah for the hubs, and Japanese sea bass for me. Fish was perfectly cooked -- seared nicely, and paired with some veggies and a lovely almond-accented sauce that was probably loaded with butter. Meat was up next -- classic filet for him, and some a-MAZING lamb for me. I really don't eat much lamb, but this was superb -- rare, and extremely flavorful. The chef came by each course to tell us about the food and to get our reactions, which really made the experience for me. Turns out that this particular lamb is only sold to this restaurant, which is probably a good thing 'cause I'll never want to eat it elsewhere! Dessert was unique -- an ice cream sandwich made of Rice Krispie treats and Rocky Road ice cream. Take that, molten chocolate cake! Oh, and to cap it all off -- wine pairing for BOTH of us was just $30. Amazing deal made that much sweeter by fantastic food and service.
(5)Teri S.
As I write this, I am still overly stuffed from all that I ate at this place! I went in for a late lunch. I was seated immediately in at a very nice table in front of the window where you can watch the Gore Creek rumbling by, just beautiful! The waitress was so friendly and layed back, you could tell she had pride in her place of employment. I ordered the short rib lunch that was served with smoked gouda mac and cheese. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the presentation was. The rib bone had been removed and it was just the right size for a lunch portion. It was so very tender and flavorful and the smokey mac & cheese was the perfect side to compliment the rib. It was all swimming in a veal demi-glaze which was rich, but not too rich to dip the beef and pasta in. For dessert, I ordered a pecan tart that was like pecan pie with a different crust. It was drizzeled with carmel and came with a scoop of cinnamon gelato. As I was finishing, I could see alot of locals who came there frequently. You could tell that they just loved the place and the staff knew them all by name. One guy said he goes there at least twice a week! I would be 300 lbs if I did that! This place is a MUST, I would say and stands apart from the many eateries in Vail Village, and they are many good places there!
(5)Amanda L.
One of the few places we went for dinner when we were in Vail. I assumed that the food would be overpriced and not as good as anything I could find in SF and unfortunately, I was right. SF is a great place for food but ruins you for other places. They started us off with a small, complementary tasting of hot chocolate which was pretty good - chocolately, creamy, and really rich. I liked that they had fresh fish and game meats like Elk and African Antelope but the food was a little bland for my taste. It's true that good quality meat and fish shouldn't need to be overly flavored and mixed with a lot of garnishes but a little more sea salt and pepper wouldn't have hurt. They did give us a trio of sea salts on the table which was nice though. We also had the truffled frites - can't go wrong with truffles - tasty. We had dinner at 6:30pm on superbowl sunday so the place was empty. A couple friends ordered the trout which was recommended because it was especially fresh but they came back to say that they ran out - how do you run out of something when there's no one else in the restaurant? The barramundi was also strongly recommended so my friends got the barramundi instead. It turned out to be a little overcooked and dry for my taste (admittedly, I like things less cooked than more cooked, especially if it's fresh). My friend said she also thought it was overcooked but liked the sauce that went with it. I'd be weary of what the servers recommend - especially since it sounds like they're just trying to get rid of it. The entree prices range from $30-$50+ with fairly generous, but not huge portions. The food isn't spectacular but is definitely good quality. They have a policy of charging $6 to split food which was a little absurd. I understand charging people a split charge if they split an entree but when we questioned the policy, they said they charge a split charge for the appetizers and salads as well, even if we each ordered a separate entree. They ended up waiving the fee so maybe we were initially just misinformed or they were just being kind that day. Interestingly, a couple people split salads and one guy ordered a full salad to himself. The full salad was the same size as the split salads. Overall, it's not a bad place but it's also not a fantastic place, considering the price.
(3)Mal O.
Order the braised short rib on smoked Gouda and bacon Mac and cheese. It is heavenly and rather light. Did not feel overstuffed afterwards. Service is attentive and friendly. Plus dog friendly patio!!!
(5)Amy W.
My Husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere special and didn't mind spending more $$ than we usually do. Up the Creek was not only right down the street from where we were lodging but it was highly recommended! We ordered the calamari for the appetizer and we were underwhelmed. It didn't seem fresh and the sauce was pretty bland, so we were really hoping the entrees would be better. My husband ordered the elk and it was phenomenal! The presentation was beautiful and it was cooked to perfection. I ordered the halibut and it was pretty tasty and fresh but after trying my husbands, I wanted to trade! The service was pretty good, nothing to write home about and the atmosphere was casual and cozy. Overall it was a good night and we left satisfied but were wanting a little more for how much we paid. But hey it's Vail, so it was expected.
(4)Jessica H.
My boyfriend and I decided to dine lavishly (because, hey, we were in Vail!) at Up the Creek, located on the edge of Gore Creek. Up the Creek is Vail's only creekside restaurant and I highly recommend going there to dine- if not, at least to have cocktail. The dishes were exquisite and expensive, but delicious. I ordered the brunch special aka the crab cake benny and the crab cakes were out of this world, especially being that they were served to me in a landlocked state and not closer to the sea. For my drink, I was torn between the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and the enticing Bloody Marytini because the server mentioned there was a green Bloody mix at the bar and a Bloody mixed with a dirty martini sounded eclectic and awesome. I ended up ordering the Bloody Marytini and my boyfriend made his own Bloody at the bar using the green mix. And man... was that green tomatillo Bloody mix gooood! It was full of spices (lots of different types of pepper) and had citrus notes. The end bite was spicy and there were hints of habanero. I would go back to Up the Creek to order my own green Bloody Mary. The only downside of the cocktail was that it cost a whopping $12.. but it is Vail! Check out my full review of Vail's Bloody Marytini here: bloodymarytour.org/2015/… Prices were a bit expensive, but as mentioned before we were in Vail. With tip, we probably spent about $35 a person. Service was decent-- not the best, not the worst. We had a table in the sun and did try to move under one with an umbrella at one point, but we were scolded by the old man working there. This would be my only complaint of the experience, that, maybe since we were people in our early 20s, we weren't treated with the service we would receive if we were wealthy, middle-aged tourists.
(4)Brandy M.
We came here for dinner on a Friday and really wish would have gone elsewhere. The service was just horrid. The waitress came around literally 3x. To take our order, deliver food, then give the check. Never asked if we needed anything else (like more wine!) or to see if our food was good. That was the reason for the 2 stars vs 1 star- the food was good. We split the trout dish and it was amazing. We had a patio table by the river which was also nice. Ii feel like they just don't care that people choose to spend money and time there, which is sad, because even with the economy getting better, they should still attempt to win people over!
(2)Kay M.
Beautiful outdoor seating, right by the creek. The food is amazing! They have great gluten free options. ..we started with the calamari which is not fried but is in a spicy tomato sauce with asparagus. I had the braised short rib and my sister had the trout, everything was delicious and well prepared, very tender. I didn't need a knife for my short rib at all. The cocktails are very inventive as well, I had the beet infused vodka martini and my sister had the Colorado cucumber martini and they added fresh jalapeños to make it spicy. But drinks were not sweet at all which is exactly what we were looking for.
(5)Johanna G.
4 stars for the food , 1 star for the atmosphere. Very casual for the price. Too many kids. Will not return.
(3)Marcia A.
I should have Yelped this before choosing to eat here. Lesson learned. I had the Huevos Rancheros off their brunch menu. It was very good. The Bloody Mary was the worst I've had. I sent it back and it was still terrible. I mean, awful! The server never followed up to see if it was ok or if we wanted something else. In fact, she never checked in on us period . That to me is the worst customer service. We left both drinks on the table. Too bad because there were a few other restaurants we wanted to try. Next time :)
(2)Sandy W.
Service was great. Beautiful dining on the creek. I would highly recommend the Elk. They just need to get rid of the red umbrellas and use something more attractive.
(5)Laura J.
Up the Creek is our favorite restaurant in Vail. We have made it a must every trip we make here. Prices are reasonable for Vail, staff is super friendly and the food is excellent. Definitely make a reservation for the patio in summer. There is nothing like having an excellent meal within view of Gore Creek. We have been to many of the restaurants in Vail Village and Lionshead at Vail, Up the Creek remains at the top of the list with dishes like Colorado Lamb, Ruby Red Trout and local Goat Cheese and beet salads.
(5)Bruce M.
Food and drinks were superb. Atmosphere along Gore Creek is terrific. Why only two stars? Service absolutely sucked. We waited forever to get our servers attention to order a drink. Drinks for them slow to come. We ordered soup and salad and you would think they had to grow the letters! We cancelled our salads, paid our bill and left
(2)Lynn C.
Love, love this place. Have been coming here as a couple, with friends, and/or bringing business associates several times a year almost since they opened. Always a good meal at a reasonable price. Good wine list, great atmosphere - especially on the little patio when the weather is nice, good service. A place we always go whenever in the area.
(5)Ty D.
An awesome small restaurant. My firm held its annual retreat in Vail, and we held our group dinner at Up the Creek. Every course I sampled was outstanding (the elk I had in particular was excellent), the service was very professional, and the whole restaurant is very cool in terms of location, ambiance, etc. As another reviewer correctly noted, it's classy without being stuffy, and a great special occasion restaurant.
(4)Michael C.
The only real benefit to eat hear is the sound and view of the creek. Everything is in the $30-$45 range and really not worth it on comparison to all the outstanding restaurants in Vail. For me when I drop $200 for a family, I want to leave saying it was great or amazing. Not it was OK.
(3)Kasia G.
the only place that sullied our vail trip. we had an awful experience just asking for a table, and we were promptly turned away with a bizarre "I've got nothing for you" and no explanation about a wait or closing time. we were so taken aback that even though we saw a table emptying, we just left for a friendlier place. go to 10th mountain whiskey instead!
(1)Sue R.
Good was excellent, service got slow between courses, but would be repeat customer for sure!
(4)Ryota H.
The experience was great! Both food and service were wonderful. Here's what we had for dinner: Started with truffle fries; shaved parmesan cheese, parsley and came with an aioli cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered NY Strip over fingerling potatoes and vegetables and also the braised short ribs over a mac&cheese and asparagus. To be honest, we were going there with the intention of having desert but ended up being too full to have any. I would recommend this place for sure!
(5)Wes M.
Nice dinner. Lacking a little on attentiveness. My wife's 50th birthday, I made sure they knew this and no acknowledgement. We never saw the restaurant fill up. Odd for this restaurant.
(4)Karen D.
I split the UTC burger and chicken tortilla soup with my mom. The burger was awesome, super juicy and cooked perfectly. The tortilla soup was good, but the burger was definitely the main event. They also have a great wine menu!
(4)Beau R.
I love this place! It has such a great view of the creek and the illuminated ice sculptures. The elk was incredibly flavorful and delicious! I'm a concierge in Beaver Creek and I don't hesitate to recommend this establishment to my guests. I wish I could afford to dine here every night!
(5)Jennifer S.
We have eaten here twice and can highly recommend it. It's a pretty little place on the creek, cozy and romantic. Reservations recommended but we quickly got a table for 2 on a Monday night. The service starts with the most perfect, warm crusty roll with butter. For starters, the organic beet salad was wonderful, with beets, fennel, red onion, hazelnuts, dried tomatoes with goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette. It was a very generous serving and would make a fine lunch. My husband had the arugula with pears and nuts. I had the pork chop with cheese grits and asparagus. Truly, this was one of the best meals I've had in Vail. We didn't have dessert. The large surrounding windows showed the falling snow. In summer it must be beautiful with the open windows on the creek.
(5)Kunal M.
Fantastic food with a fantastic view! Vegetarians: try the veggie sandwich or enchiladas with red onions, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus. Delicious!
(5)John R.
Very friendly service with some unique items on the menu. The Truffle Fries were a hit for the entire table. The New England Clam Chowder was surprisingly good and the Braised Short Rib was very good for the main entree. The location itself is wonderful -- sitting outside at creek's side makes for a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience. I did try a sample of their bacon infused bourbon which is nice in a small sipping but a little over powering in the BOB drink on the menu.
(4)Megan S.
I have nothing but good things to say about Up the Creek. My family has been coming here for years, and it has only gotten better. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, classy without being stuffy. They play great music, and the staff are always friendly and helpful- attentive without being overbearing. And the food: wow. There is such a good mix of options and flavors, you can't go wrong- no matter what you feel like eating, you will find something. The elk is definitely the highlight of the menu, but I also highly recommend the quinoa, it has such an amazing mix of flavors, and it a nice lighter alternative to the elk or the steak.
(5)Christina A.
You need to try the truffle frites and their Rocky Mountain ELK! Everyone at our table really enjoyed all of their dishes, but I loved my elk dish so much I didn't have room in my stomach to try the other dishes. Sad, but not really. hah. Anyway, the Elk had a coffee rub and it was perfectly paired with farro risotto, mushrooms, asparagus, and huckleberry jus. You can't go wrong here!
(5)Andrea K.
The view is beautiful but the food is nothing to write home about. We had lunch here and it was our only disappointing meal in Vail. I had the fish tacos which weren't memorable and it came with a side of chips that were also not memorable. The accompanying mango salsa tasted nothing like a salsa and was basically just mashed up mango. Hubs had the buffalo tri-tip sandwich which I thought was decent but he had to ask for a side of BBQ sauce and it did not compete with any other BBQ we've had elsewhere. People seem to rave about this place but frankly there are a lot better options in Vail.
(2)Dustin C.
Staff was friendly, but service was very poor. Ordered a bottle of wine, 5 minutes later we were told they were out of that bottle. We decided on another bottle but the waitress was nowhere to be seen for 15 minutes. We just got up and left. At those prices I'm not sitting around waiting to order. That being said I probably will go back to try the food after the reviews and recommendations. Sitting out by the river on a hot summer night would be lovely, although the atmosphere inside was fairly loud and very congested.
(2)Sol A.
This place gets 5 starts just for the simple fact they accommodated 5 people with different dietary restrictions! We ended up here on a friday night after having ski all day long and being exhausted (please note, making a reservation is highly recommended, at least on peak hours). We got seated right away. The menu is small but the chef is open to make variations to the entrees as our small witnessed: one of my friends couldn't have alcohol of any sort in his food, others couldn't eat meat, or pork and myself being a vegan/vegetarian was quite a challenge but between the waiter and the chef they accommodate all our tastes and restrictions and we got really tasty options. I got the pumpkin gnocchi in a wine sauce and it tasted amazing. My friends were also really happy with their plates. We finished with a hot steamy cup of tea and their assortment of sorbets/ice cream. Would definitively come back if Im back in Vail next year!
(5)Brittany L.
This restaurant was so pretty and delicious! It's in Vail village and overlooks a creek. The food was very good and the menu is expansive. Good drinks too. The ambience is worth what may seem to be a bit pricey of a menu. Definitely a must if shopping around in vail!
(4)Arlene P.
I don't eat lunch - except at Up The Creek! The BLT is a amazing!!!! I would not eat foe 3 days to eat this. Perfect bread - homemade mayo (at least it tastes like this) - perfect tomatoes - top with truffle fries- heaven.
(4)Katie R.
Visited her while in Vail on business with about a dozen co-workers. We got seated outside by the creek and it was a very nice evening to be outside (July). Standard outdoor seating. The service was good, the drinks were fun and the food was tasty! Arugula salad was fresh and a great mix of ingredients. The seafood was fresh and well presented. There was a mix of the menu ordered throughout the group and I heard no complaints. The staff was friendly and made enough appearances to help out our large group. It was a little slow but we were a big group and I was in no rush, so no harm, no foul.
(4)Collin R.
Good food. We both had fish tacos and they were exceptional. Service was average, but that may have been due to the over-privileged idiots treating the staff like garbage next to us. Definitely happy. Just thought the food was very slightly over priced.
(4)John A.
Spectacular view of the creek from the outdoor seats. I recommend Up the Creek for an upscale meal in Vail. The Frites & cheese fondue and the tortilla soup were okay, but the calamari, crab cakes, bread, & trout were all very good. There aren't many choices for someone like myself who doesn't eat beef or pork, but through a combo of appetizers I was very satisfied with my meal. The staff was very friendly & the manager even went to another restaurant to borrow a high chair since all theirs were in use. Although this was yet again another expensive meal in Vail. It was worth stopping in.
(4)Linda C.
We enjoyed a perfect lunch here. I sipped a Spicy Cucumber cocktail while watching the families and dogs play at the creekside. The truffle fries were wonderful as expected, as were the arugula pear salad and the turkey brie sandwich. This is a must-go place if you are in Vail.
(5)Rick C.
August 2013, Vail, CO: time for dinner at Up the Creek Restaurant Good imaginative creations...... Crappy service.....The waitress gets 10% instead of 25%.... the restaurant gets my endorsement for food prep on YELP
(4)Mariel J.
This is a really cute place right on the river in Vail - the biggest draw is the location, which is perfect - especially out on the patio on a nice day. The service was also good, and I loved my Reuben (with truffle fries!) and the chicken soup.
(4)Michelle B.
Beautiful location, great view, delicious food! Visited this place on a day trip up to Vail and had the Turkey and Brie Sandwich and a Martini. Drinks are good and not too insanely priced for Vail. Sandwich was very tasty. My friend had the tacos and said they were also very good. Definitely a winner!
(4)Abby G.
I was really excited to go to this restaurant, the food sounded great and the patio was lovely (except it started to rain). We ordered an app and a bottle of wine, but they were out of the wine so she gave us a "minute" to decide. The waitress never came back, it was cold, and inside looked a little too cramped for our style, so we just left. I'll be back though, but only if I get to sit outside.
(2)Sarah G.
Up the Creek, how I loved thee... let me count the ways. 1. Came highly recommended by other bartenders in town for drinks. And wow were they right, even drinks that the guys had never heard of before (Negroni) they made like the pros they are. I had the pleasure of nursing a Spicy Cucumber almost all the way through dinner. Habanero Simple Syrup, you are a wonder. And finally some local beer offerings (Bonfire Brown Ale on tap!) We ended up here on the merit of the drinks alone a second night... probably right around that time when we should have called it quits... but didn't. Just to prove the point even further, a whole group of servers and bartenders frolicked into The Creek when we were at the bar doing a '12 bars of Christmas' tour and ordered 13 shots and miscellaneous drinks. Prost! 2. I apparently can't write a review without mentioning the creek and the location, so here it is. But in the dark it's not really a big selling point. Explaining where it is does lend itself to some Abbot & Costello 'Who's on First' type moments though. 3. The service was incredible. If I ever for whatever reason moved to Vail, these guys would be the first friends I made. Super friendly and down to earth without being too 'salesy' or uptight. You know the kind... 4. Bathrooms. Yes while some many Yelp lists have been made on the merit of restrooms alone (do a search... it's interesting), this isn't usually something worth mentioning for me. UNLESS they're especially awesome, as these are. It's a pretty small restaurant so there are only two. But they're unisex... like airplane bathrooms. Just cool. 5. Last but not least... the Food with a capital F. I so love finding places like this while on vacation because THIS is food to write home about (see when I get really excited and start using capital letters). I started with a spinach salad, moved on to a cup of the clam chowder and finished with the pork belly (on special). And like their website says, "Don't Forget to Try the Truffle Fries". Maytag Bleu Cheese fondue, shaved parmesan reggiano... oh yeah, and there were some perfectly cooked fried potatoes also with that glorious air of truffle. Erin was even nice enough to let me ooh and aah all over the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese that came with her Short Rib dinner when her guard was down. Back to #1, we drank our dessert... espresso for me. Fantastic creations like the baked grasshopper for others. This was my hands down favorite of all the places we got our grub on in Vail. And that's really saying something because nowhere we went was less than "Yay, I'm a fan!" status in terms of food.
(5)Claire S.
5 stars for atmosphere, it's lovely to be by the water. The food was very average. Everything was heavily salted. Tastes were off. Trout was dry. I ordered a sangria which didn't look or taste like any sangria I've ever had. Tasted and looked like pink lemonade with some stale pieces of basil floating in it. Very odd. Service was acceptable. It's pricey but that's a given considering the location.
(3)Kelsey S.
We dined at Up The Creek on New Years Eve and it was wonderful! I had the elk loin and my boyfriend had the new york strip. We loved the atmosphere, very cozy with a great view of gore creek. Dinner was served with a glass of champagne to celebrate the new year.. Thank you Up The Creek for making our evening so special! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to all.
(5)Soyoung P.
I had a Ruby Trout and a Farm salad for lunch and it is cooked perfectly! Pink colored skin was crispy and the meat was enough solid to chew. The guy server is very attentive and witty. I was afraid how crowded it would be based on the reviews, but we were sit right away in the patio on the creek side. The food came out quickly and fresh. I had ice cream and sorbet and it was yummy! A bit pricey for lunch, but it is the price in Vail. Nice lunch venue with a refreshing clean water stream view and sound.
(4)Denise N.
Rude... Rude.... Rude.... Don't expect great service or YOU will be "Up the Creek!" When we walked in for our New Year's Eve early dinner (we made the reservations for 3 pm several weeks ahead in order to accommodate my elderly dad and see the fireworks at 6:30) Peter greeted my family of 7.....all adults.... with a "hurry up attitude" because the chef had to begin preparing the New Year's Eve dinner menu. They had called us earlier to see if we could come in at 2:30....what tha? After we were seated and the waitress arrived at the table, we were advised what was NO LONGER available on the menu.... ok... that was 2 negatives in less than 10 minutes. After I saw the disappointment on my families faces, I pulled out a business card that Jeff from Alpenrose down the street had given me to make a reservation for the next day (we had dropped in for a round of cocktails there)....I immediately called him explained our situation, he stated that he could accommodate us immediately. We will take Goulash over Rudeness any day! I have read some of the food reviews and they may be favorable, however, inconsiderate treatment always leaves a BAD taste in my mouth.
(1)Andy S.
Best dining experience I've had in a while. You know, in Denver we have creeks and rivers but there isn't a place to go eat or drink by them. It's a wasted opportunity if you ask me. Up The Creek has excellent food, drinks, and you can sit there and look at the river!!! The entrées were half off for some reason which was awesome. Everything about this place is good. Being near water is a human instinct that people in mid-America tend to ignore because they can't help it. Vail has it figured out.
(5)Shirley R.
Up The Creek has the most spectacular location....sitting on the outdoor patio is so enjoyable...the luncheon menu is reasonable and the food good....I have been there for dinner, and while the food was excellent, the service was slow, but the staff was friendly.... They were out of one of the main entrees....the prices are about $10 more than the surrounding restaurants, which were packed and the food comparable ...... There were only 7 people in the restaurant dining the evening our family was there...I think they need to rethink their pricing, in order to be competitive....I would think twice before having dinner there again....
(3)Brittney M.
The patio is just amazing. I love it here. Great wine, food, and scenery.
(4)Erika B.
This is currently my favorite restaurant in Vail. Conveniently situated in Vail Village near the children's fountain and overlooking Gore Creek, Up the Creek always offers lovely service and a completely delectable menu. The space is not my favorite, but the food and service make up for the lack of decor. I started with scallops with a corn salsa, chose a gnocchi with lavendar-honey sauce, duck confit, blue cheese, and chives as my main meal (yum?!) and finished off with an exceptionally well-made peach/bluberry cobbler. Oh, and I couldnt have been more excited that they offered gluhwein (hot spiced wine) for the holiday season. Other notable menu items included mountain favorites: venison, ostrich, lamb! The menu had an excellent fish selection including 5 or so tempting options. As you can tell, ordering was a difficult decision!
(5)Tanya D.
I have no idea how people can rate this place so great. Went here for our anniversary dinner last month and we were very disappointed. I ordered the swordfish "special" which was supposed to be flown in fresh from HI. This was the worst fish I have ever had, it was dry and most likely 3-4 days old. Even if it was good the portion was so small for $40.00 about 4-6oz tops. The dining room is dated and our waiter was completely uneducated about the wine list. I felt like saying hey bro-ha maybe you should be a lifty for Vail instead. They should call this place UP THE CRAP! My husband and I left hungry and dissapointed with a $160 bill. -I am a local not a tourist and I am growing increasingly tired of being ripped off by medi ocre overpriced Vail restaurants!
(1)Rick P.
Kudos to Up the Creek team for handling our large group so well. All had different fish entres, universally enjoyed. Specialty cocktails and desserts winners.
(4)Aleksandra K.
Went here for lunch and had the fish tacos they were delicious. We sat out on the patio and I loved the view. Our server was very friendly as well. Overall, had a great experience. Would highly recommend for a laid back and relaxing lunch in Vail.
(4)M M.
My mom and I stopped in here for a lunch date the last time we were in Vail. We were seated at a very central table in doors. It was bustling, but not insanely busy. I'm pretty sure we didn't have a waiter assigned to our table. We had to plead to get our order taken, and beg to get our check at the end. I'm actually surprised we got our food at all. No one came to check on us, no one refilled our water glasses, and even though the server who finally gave us our check realized how neglected we had been, no one apologized or tried to make it right. The food was decent, but I'm afraid I will go elsewhere the next time I visit.
(2)Will G.
While on vacation with my family we stopped in for dinner and I have to say it was amazing! The short ribs are the best I've ever had. Even the meals for kids look top notch.
(4)Sarah V.
Up the Creek is my favorite place to apres-ski. They have great beer and the truffle fries are AMAZING. The location on the creek is sensational, especially when you can sit outside on a sunny day. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and cozy and makes it a favorite for the occasional dinner date as well!
(5)Zach C.
What a great little place, wonderful food, great service and an awesome view. If u come for lunch I highly recommend the chicken sandwich w truffle fries. Maybe start off w the crab cakes, very light and fluffy. My friend is in love w the red trout, one of the vest fishes he's tried in a while. So if u find yourself in Vail craving some food then come by
(5)Cam M.
Wow! I've had drinks on the patio of Up the Creek before, but this was my first dining experience. The first suprise was the calimari. If you're expecting a big dish of fried up squid, you'll be wrong. It was a grilled calamari, w/ marinara and vegetables. Very unique and absolutely sensational. I had the short rib which was incredibly tender, I could pull it apart with my fork. My wife had the tenderloin which was also had a great rich flavor. Our kids were happy too with the pasta. The location is ideal and the service was great. Highly recommended!
(5)Patricia N.
We had a great dinner at Up The Creek last night. Both the trout and the sirloin steak were excellent. Our waiter, Eric, was very attentive and helped make the evening fun. We have been coming to Up The Creek for years and it never disappoints.
(4)Barry M.
While this was a very good meal in a fantastic location and I would certainly make a return visit if I were in the area, there are better meals to be had in Vail. Still, it is worth a visit if you have some extra time to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
(4)John K.
Four of us had lunch here. Really nice place to eat right along the creek. The bison sliders were perfectly prepared. The soup and grilled cheese were really good too. I'd like to come back for dinner.
(4)alex p.
This place was phenomenal. Great food (they were even able to accommodate my super picky wife), and service uncharacteristic of the snark that follows townies that typically man most places in vail. Definitely coming back.
(5)Krisy P.
If you are looking for something nice and not pretentious, definitely head here. If its a weekend, make a reservation and try to get there early since they run out of the good stuff fast... like the short ribs. I had the arugula salad and small plate of diver scallops - the portions are surprisingly filling!
(4)Jenna D.
loved sitting on the patio and hearing the creek rush by-- definitely a great leisurely lunch spot.... i had the cobb salad with chicken and balsamic vinaigrette- perfect after a long hike, filling but not too heavy; my girl had the turkey and brie sangy which she loved, and the bloody mary bar looked off the chain.... next time. great food and if the weather permits, perfect for outside seating
(4)Amy B.
Always love this place! Their truffle fries are the best in Vail! Salads are good. Fish always cooked perfectly. They used to have a pasta with goat cheese on the dinner menu that was very good. We come back to this place year after year.
(5)Adrian H.
A good place to go, but avoid the tempura - it's greasy. My wife and I headed up to Vail for a weekend of skiing. After getting the "Colorado Resident" deal at Vail Cascades (something I love), we hunted for some place for dinner, and settled for Up The Creek - opting for a 5:30pm reservation since everything from 6:30pm - 9:00pm was already booked at every single restaurant in town. This is a clean lined restaurant in the heart of Vail Village, having a prime spot just steps from the creek that passes through the village. The place was empty when we were sat, with the pleasant and attentive waiter providing additional details on the dinner specials. He went to pains to mention the 30% off bottles of wine. Since it was dead when we arrived, I don't know what sort of vibe this place has when its busy, but the background music indicates a quieter place. For appetizers, we ordered off the regular menu. I ordered the Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, which is supplied with a Serrano Blueberry coulis, and the crab cakes arriving sitting on a micro green salad, dressed in a lemon vinaigrette. The seeano gave a hint of spice to the coulis, while the blueberries gave a little sweetness, resulting in a wonderfulyl balanced sauce. The crab cake was a little salty for my palate. I could have eaten the blueberry coulis all day. My wife ordered the Maine Diver Scallops, pan seared and served sitting on top of a cauliflower puree, and sweet corn medley. The star of this dish was the sweet corn medley - another thing I could have eaten all day. It had finely diced peppers and green onions mixed in. The scallops were nicely rare (not overdone, as is so easy to do). The cauliflower puree was a nice textural contrast to the rest of the dihs. Yes, we did lick the plates. People can deal. The place was dead. As a change from the norm, the bread course came between our appetizer and main courses. The bread was a yeasty - almost biscuity tasting - white dinner roll, served warm, with softened butter. This is one of the better bread courses I have come across. For the main course, I decided on a special - Seared Hawaiian Bluefin Ahi, with Wasabi mashed potatoes, tempura vegetable spears, and a drizzle of chive oil and balsamic around the dish. The ahi was seared with black sesame seeds and rare in the middle, then placed around a mound of the wasabi mashed potatoes, with the spears of vegetable tempura (carrot and zucchini) stuck into the mashed potatoes like sails. Taste wise, the wasabi mashed potatoes were exactly what you would expect - a kick from the wasabi, but creamy and delicious. The ahi needed a little more of a dipping sauce than the chive oil and balsamic provided, but was otherwise good. The vegetable spears, however, were dreadful. They were greasy and some of the vilest greasy food I've had in a while. Give these a miss. My wife ordered the Osterich Tenderloin with a port wine cherry polenta cake, baby carrots, and an apple-cider demi-glace. The osterich had a smoky grill taste - charcoal, perhaps? Since it is a leaner meat, we tookt he advice on getting it on the rarer side. The chef certainly knows how to cook to order, and the meat was right where we wanted it. The star of this dish, however, was the polenta cake. The cherries were mixed into a course polenta and then made into a cake and grilled. With the peppery notes of the polenta (and added pepper, I am sure) balancing the sweetness of the cherries, this was yet another thing I could have eaten a ton of. A quick note on the dish sizes. They aren't huge, but they don't skimp either. So you will still be able to enjoy dessert. Which we did. I'm a fan of cobblers, and the special of the night was a peach-blueberry cobbler, which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top, then drizzled with caramel and whipped cream running down the side (plus the obligatory useless fanned strawberry). Yes, it was hot (this is a good thing, and not common), and the sweet peaches paired nicely with the tart blueberries to make a delicous whole. Unfortunately, with the ice cream on top, the cobbler crust was a little soggy, although enough crunch remained to remind me why I like crumbles and cobblers so much. My wife ordered a trio of sorbets - mandarin orange, hibiscus lemon and strawberry basil. Each one was served in its own little dish. I was expectign the strawberry basil to be sweeter, but it had a distinct savory taste to it. The mandarin orange was really really sour. My favorite of the three was the hibiscus lemon, which was tart with a definite savory taste in the background. One nice thing is that our waiter did not bring the check until we were both finished. I've noticed this habit in lesser restaurants to bring the check when I've finished, but my wife is not. I was not rushed here, and that is a good thing. Overall, almost a five star experience, as you would expect when dropping almost $170.
(4)Nicole K.
Amazing! Love this place! Delicious dinner! Fantastic service. Definitely a go-to place for dinner in Vail. I had the trout and my husband had the lamb chops, which were amazing! We had the carpaccio as an starter, which I would highly recommend. It melted in our mouths. The ambiance is great- right on the creek. We love this place!
(5)Mason M.
Perfect. The restaurant is super nice. It's welcoming, and not stuffy. New Bar!! Just installed, good lookin bathrooms. Then there is the food. Off the charts. It doesn't matter what you order.... It's incredible. Great flavors, new ideas... Creativity and competency are coming together here. I'll will certainly return.
(5)Hilary B.
OMG. Just had dinner here and everything was amazing. Started with the arugula salad with pears and vanilla vinaigrette which was incredible and then had the short ribs with the Gouda mac n cheese... So so so good. Finished it off with a St Bernard to drink. Delicious. Oh and definitely sit at the bar. Wes and the other gentleman (didn't catch his name) were so attentive, friendly, and helpful. Such a great experience and next time we're in Vail we'll definitely be back!!
(5)Hu Lee A.
Food was good, reasonable for the price, especially for Vail. The service was great and turned good food into a fantastic experience.
(4)Cousin D.
Went there for lunch with my wife, her friend and 2 boys. If you are in a hurry, DO NOT go here. If you want a relaxing lunch, which is hard to do with 2 twelve year old boys who cannot sit still, this is a decent pick. The food was OK, although I cannot remember what I had. Probably would not go again. Once was enough.
(3)Erin R.
This meal is one of the best meals of my life. I would give Up the Creek 6 or 10 stars if I could. If you are reading this and in Vail and considering going to Up the Creek stop reading now and go. You will be very happy with your decision. Everything from the truffle fries and clam chowder appetizers to the pork belly and short ribs entrees to the inventive cocktails was amazing. My husband and I stopped in at the bar during our trip to Vail since it was highly rated on Yelp. We sat at the bar to have a few drinks and chatted with the bartender (Wes). He was wonderful. If you are in Vail make sure to stop in and have a drink with him. One of the best ever. He gave some great suggestions for other places in Vail and we decided to have dinner at Up the Creek a few nights later with friends (fellow reviewer Sarah). I'm so glad we did. Like I said above we started with some truffle fries and clam chowder. The truffle fries were topped with blue cheese and shaved parmesan reggiano. Simply delicious. The clam chowder was the best clam chowder I have had outside of New England. It is a must try. My husband had the pork belly special and I had the Braised Short Rib with Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese. Both were melt in your mouth delicious. We drank our desert (Espresso Martini and Grasshopper Martini) both suggestions by Wes. We returned a 3rd time for drinks because we loved it so much. While we were there a group of bartenders and servers from around Vail stopped in during their "12 bars of Christmas". Hilarious. The prices are pretty decent especially for Vail. Apps are in the $12-$18 range and entrees in the $25-$40 range. It isn't quite white tablecloth dining but they have great ingredients (i.e. pork belly, etc) and you won't be disappointed. The day after we ate at Up the Creek we ate at Sweet Basil and it was not nearly as good and twice the price. If you are thinking of going to Sweet Basil instead try Up the Creek for lunch and dinner and I think you will be happy. Service was very attentive and helpful. Upscale but not stuffy. It has a great looking patio that would be fun in the summer time. In the dark it may be a bit difficult to find as it is down some stairs by the creek in Vail Village, but DO NOT miss this if you are in Vail. I think I may drive out here even when visiting Keystone and Breck as I love it that much.
(5)Todd N.
Really good food, a little pricey but worth it. Try the halibut.
(5)Roman B.
Great spot. Ask for an outside table. Food is great too!
(5)Linda J.
We first had a lovely dinner on their patio. The wine special offered was perfect as was the melt in your mouth beef tenderloin, and our service and view was great, making us along with our Yorkie feel appreciated (we always ask first if she is allowed). We spent $99 before tip and were happy. We returned two days later to have lunch-there was a salad with crab I was dying to try,but were promptly informed no dogs were allowed on the patio. This was very embarrassing and after explaining we had just been there with her we quickly left and will not return. This restaurant needs to set a dog policy and stick to it.
(3)Vista R.
Great creek view. A bit slow service. Got gelato, cream brûlée and brittle walnut - all good. Portions size: for 1 hungry person. Get appetizers plus entree to share. Appetizers: tried roast beet and buffalo carpacio - both very good. Entree: tried ruby trout - good.
(5)John A.
Really good food! Rack of lamb was awesome. Try the Mac n cheese! Only thing is price advertised is off. Dinner for 2 was $150 with tip app, entree, dessert. Highly recommend
(5)Eric M.
After a drive out from Denver, we were ready for both some fresh air, sunshine and some food. We found all three at Up the Creek. It's got a really good location right by the creek (surprise). The calamari was particularly good, and so were the scallops that I had. Better than the food was the location, which was outstanding. Can't miss with this one.
(4)Wendy C.
Excellent food being recommended to you by non-overbearing but extremely knowledgeable service staff. This exceeds my expectation for a touristy spot. Went with a large group, everyone enjoyed his/her dish. The game meat was seasoned perfectly, fish done right not overcooked, sides are innovative and delightful.
(5)Dana S.
Very good experience, lovely creekside setting, delicious food and great service.
(4)Alannah M.
We went here based on the previous reviews, and omg were they right!! In fact, the food was so good, we went back a second night. The food was amazing and the service was awesome. Our waitress, Oriana, had excellent recommendations, including my yummy cocktail, a pear martini. We wish we were here for a third night so we could go back and try something else! And if the food and service isn't good enough, the view of the creek topped it off!
(5)Kirsten O.
Ate there for lunch yesterday. Beautiful view of the creek. We sat outside which was perfect. I had the Philly Cheese steak sandwich $8 sandwich which was very good. French fries were those skinny greasy ones. Not sure i am a fan. Sandwich was very good. My friend had a BLAT that came without mayo. We had too wait for 10 minutes for the waiter to come back to get mayo and ketchup which was kind of a bummer for my friend for I was almost done eating. More of a restaurant than a bar. But again with the nice outdoor seating a great summer place to eat.
(4)Zoe M.
Best location in Vail! The food is fantastic, by far my favorite! Love the spicy cucumber drink and the mixed greens salad!
(5)Anna S.
We have enjoyed a few delicious meals here while skiing Vail. The service is always excellent and the food is great. I highly recommend the risotto, but I think I would return just for the rolls and the salted caramel gelato!
(4)