"Previously announced as a 2025 James Beard Award recipient." - Erin DeJesus
"Known as the 'Pio,' this restaurant saloon in Idaho offers rustic charm and hearty plates like the Jim Spud and smoked Idaho trout. Originally a gambling casino from the 1950s, it is decorated with memorabilia from Ernest Hemingway’s time in Sun Valley." - Kayla Stewart
"A historic saloon and restaurant in Ketchum offering a classic Western vibe and hearty American dishes." - Brenna Houck
"A restaurant recognized in the America’s Classics category by the James Beard Foundation." - Missy Frederick
"When it opened in the 1950s, men would ride their horses inside right up to the bar of the Pioneer Saloon, or “Pio,” as it’s known locally. Today, people mostly walk up to order a signature Pio margarita. A go-to for anyone looking for steak and potatoes after skiing a quad-crushing powder day, the Pio menu hasn't changed since the '50s, and the potatoes are the size of your face. The walls are lined with relics of the West, including a huge stuffed buffalo head, which you can gaze at while enjoying a cocktail and free chips and salsa in the bar area while you wait for your table. Order the prime rib and the local-favorite “Jim Spud,” a baked potato with teriyaki beef, sour cream, chives, and cheese. If you’re lucky enough to visit in November, check out the “Pio Days” event, when for one weekend menu prices go back to what they were in 1972." - Hayden Seder