Paige N.
Yelp
What better way for me to spend a frigid Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, than writing about a ski resort lunch hot spot?
So, I'll start by saying I love Telluride, CO in general - favorite ski town hands down. But that being said, Gorrono is really a notch above most cafeterias available to skiers and boarders on / near the mountain. As the other Yelpers mention, it's normally overpriced, mediocre food at best because you're at the mercy of convenience.
Gorrono gives you something a step well above that. It's a large, welcoming log cabin respite in the middle of Telluride's main mountain. Granted, it's been a few years since my last spring break ski week there, but I still remember many trips there fondly.
It's an easy spot to reach even for the most novice skiers and boarders. There are double green runs like Village Bypass up to double blues like Humboldt Fog that all feed directly past Gorrono as you head for the Mountain Village and Lift 4.
This ski in, ski out spot offers not only indoor dining with a large, roaring fireplace ready to warm you up and dry out your soaked neck gators or gloves, but there's a second floor of more seating for the overflow. Outdoors there's a multi-tiered deck with picnic tables and more tables and chairs made of tree stumps for nice weather, a fire pit, PLUS a slew of lawn chairs planted firmly in the snow near the detached Saloon for spring skiers to take a load off and catch some rays on those glorious "spring skiing" days.
And the most impressive part of Gorrono, to me, is the food. Yes, it's going to be more expensive, but that's to be expected - it's a ski resort after all. At least, the food you're ponying up your paycheck for is good. And the options are plentiful - there's a smoke house cooking up fresh barbecue daily, rotating vegetarian and vegan options, multiple soups and chilis to warm your bones, the quintessential burgers, fries and hot dogs and more exotic stuff like grilled tilapia sandwiches and decent salads. I know!! Awesome!
So not only do you get good food, a comfortable place to hang out (so comfortable it's sometimes nearly impossible to find a spot to sit once you've gotten food - I recommend assigning one person the task of saving a table for a group if possible), but you've also got the prettiest view ever for your backdrop. Imagine sprawling mountain ranges (on the clearest of days, you can see the mountains in Utah from the top), views of the expensive (yet very quaint looking) log cabin homes on the sides of the hills and the towering hotels of Mountain Village to eat your chicken fingers to. Perfection.
Gorrono also serves as a perfect place to hide when the weather is nasty. I can't tell you how many times I've taken refuge when the wind is blowing a snow storm has blown onto the mountain. Warming my fingers and fortifying myself with a cup of hot chocolate always gives me the strength to venture back out and usually download to town for the rest of the day. :)