Paul S.
Yelp
There really is no place in Aspen I'd rather eat. Normally, its an apres ski thing -- one thing leads to another, and a beer turns into beers (really nice selection), which then begets a pizza, some wings, their superb, unequaled gluten-free pizza, maybe a salad...
Sometimes its lunch, after skiing and hiking. We'll grab a big table and park a bunch of kids and bigger people, and pizzas, burgers, wings and more beers will start heading our way and everyone eats too much and walks away stuffed.
Either time, its crowded. To get to the yummy food, you have to deal with the crowd. Service consists of ordering at the bar and then they bring your food to your table. If you can get a table. They're big and there's no seating person or plan so you just have to find a group that's about the vacate and snag before someone else does. Then some other vulture will hover over you when it looks like you might leave. Crowd situation. Part of the experience.
Last night we showed up about 6pm for dinner. No one there except a couple tables and a bar full of ski instructors and ski co employees at the bar. The place was so clean and quiet! And the food was even better than usual. I had the salmon, which came perfectly pink inside, on a bed of delicious spinach and peperonata. Really, really tasty. Pizza and wings for the kids, excellent as always -- the buffalo wings are seriously crisp and tasty and come out hot!
Having been to the Ale House maybe 20 times, and an equal number before that when it was Aspen Pizza Co (same people, smaller location around the corner), my whole family are fans. Yes, it gets crowded. Because its really good!
I wish they had maybe one or two more entree type items on the menu. For us low-carb/gluten free types, it'd be nice to have maybe a roast chicken or pork chop on the menu. After my salmon experience last night, I'm really curious to see what the kitchen could do with a few more meaty options. But that's my only sort-of complaint...