Disclaimer: I’m just going to disperse with the formalities on this one…my dining experience at Kelly Liken was the best meal I’ve ever eaten at any restaurant. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get to the details.

The Scene
Kelly Liken, a restaurant tucked away in beautiful Vail, Colorado—carries the name of its Owner/Executive Chef/Iron Chef America and Top Chef participant Kelly Liken. The restaurant is fairly small, beautifully adorned with modern accents and paintings, and unpretentiously elegant. We had 8:15 reservations, but arrived at 7:35. No problems, the restaurant was full, but I wanted to have a drink at the bar anyway. We ordered two of Kelly’s signature drinks—the Pear Pleaser and Kentucky Pig Roast. Both drinks were unique and tasty, with my Pig Roast probably being a little better. It contained bacon-infused whiskey and “muddled” apples, with overtones of maple.

The Food
I must say things got off to a bad start. Because of the time of night, KL’s was out of three entrees—one of them, the rabbit, was going to be my choice. I was pissed. Like with most things in life, my wife calmed me down, and suggested I order the Chef’s Tasting—a five-course menu priced at $99. I gave her that look, and said “what the hell”. I was on vacation, and this place was recommended by a trusted fellow food blogger (NWA Foodie).

This turned out to be the best decision of my culinary life…and that’s no exaggeration. Here’s how it broke out: Hamachi Crudo, Chilled Maine Lobster, Signature Trout Filet, Colorado NY Strip, and “Can’t Be Missed” Sticky Bun Sundae. If you want details on all of the dishes, go to Kelly’s web site. Sara ordered the Elk Carpaccio and Red Snapper.

The Verdict
Here’s what essentially made this the meal of a lifetime. There wasn’t one food preparation imperfection from any dish—not one. Every course, ever dish, was perfectly seasoned and cooked just right. Nothing was tough, nothing was chewy, nothing needed salt, and nothing needed a knife. The service, as well, was every bit as good as the food. My two “signature” dishes stood out. The trout, in all its potato-crusted glory, was so tender, but so crispy. The veggies were spectacular. I imagine this place represents eutopia for a vegetarian. The Brussels sprout leaves were caramelized and slightly bitter, and the salsify was rich and creamy. And I still have no earthly idea what salsify is—don’t care, it was awesome! Oh, and Sara let me sneak a bite of her elk. Beautiful, rare, and peppery—I’d say it was another highlight for me, but everything could be labeled that.

The Dessert
I wanted to give the sticky bun sundae its own section. Why? Here are just a few of the things I would do to get just one more bite of that sundae:
1. I’d name my third born Sticky Bun Shalin.
2. I’d eat elk shit carpaccio.
3. I’d walk from Denver to Vail…in shorts.

This “heaven in a bowl” dessert is so good, it’s really beyond words. Everything…the sticky bun, the vanilla ice cream, the maple syrup…I just have to stop. And I’m not even a big fan of dessert.

The Tips
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, but if you really favor something on Kelly’s menu, you may want to make reservations for earlier in the evening. And speaking of those reservations…I did mine through Open Table. You better mean it when you reserve with Kelly. How’s a $75 per person cancellation fee sound (I think that’s within 24 hours)?

The Kinks
No restaurant is without imperfections. As stated, running out of food is never a good thing, and when you only have about ten entrees, missing three is inexcusable. Also, when we were at the bar, the bartender made an announcement that he made two extra drinks for a party that just closed out. The announcement was almost phrased like he was giving the drinks away. One lady jumped at the offer, but right before she accepted she did ask if the drinks were discounted. The bartender had to check with a manager. He came back with “we decided to take a $1 off”. Mind you, each drink cost $14. Booo! Very tacky, and certainly had no place in a restaurant of this stature.

But the food was perfect, our wait staff was perfect, and the setting was perfect. I only wish Kelly Liken herself would have been there that night so I could express my gratitude. Maybe next time!

http://www.kellyliken.com/

On a side note, my dining experience at Kelly Liken represented one of the main reasons why I started writing about food. My blog, The Mighty Rib, got its name from an amazing dining experience. We were in Kansas City, a friend recommended that I try Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ for the best ribs ever. She was right. I came home, started this blog in honor of the best food I’d ever eaten, and haven’t stopped since. My goal, through the help (and networking) of others, is to experience the best food any city has to offer. Mission accomplished for Vail.