Heck's Tavern at Devil's Thumb Ranch

Stayed at the ranch last week and went to have dinner. Was told they couldn't accommodate anyone else in the dining room so we could order to-go or delivery. Since we were in the main ranch house we opted for delivery. We were told it would be 45 minutes to an hour. When the food finally arrived there was a 20% surcharge on the bill. When asked what it was for they explained it was due to having to put the food in to go containers. It would have been nice to know that reservations were required when checking in as it really is the only option for food, and that take out was going to cost extra on an already $35-40 a plate meal. For plastic utensils that didn't even cut the meat. Luckily for us they forgot a portion of our order and my husband went back for it and got us steak knives. The food is very good but not worth an extra 20% for the "pleasure" of eating it off plastic.

We stopped in on our way up to Steamboat for a little breakfast, the couple we were with thought the world of this place. Maybe it was because of the high expectations that made this place fall flat for me. Out of the gate the service was sub par considering what little people were in there. I received two cups of coffee, one at beginning and one at the end, not much in between, but that's real nitpicky small potatoes. To my surprise considering the hype was that my meal was nothing to write home about, pretty basic really. On top of that, it was on the spendy side. On a positive note, the place is beautiful and I could certainly drink there if I was staying, otherwise there is no draw for me.

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, CO for a site visit where our company plans to host its annual manager retreat. Concluding our tour of the property and rooms, our host treated us to lunch at Heck's Tavern.

The architectural design was inspired by the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood in Oregon. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the middle of the room is quite spectacular. The hexagonal shape of the restaurant makes for many panoramic views while dining.

The menu features several ranch to table options including their own Wagyu beef.
I tried the BBQ Wagyu Ranch Burger which was topped with onion rings, BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese. The burger was awesome; juicy and flavorful! In lieu of fries, I ordered the salad as my side dish. It came with a creamy lemon parmesan dressing that was very pleasing. $22 might be hard to swallow, but since my meal was comped and it was so tasty -- swallowing was not an issue. But honestly, for hyperlocally raised Wagyu beef amdist absolutely stunning views, I would highly recommend it! Note: one doesn't necessarily need to stay at the lodge to visit this restaurant. They are also open for breakfast and dinner. If you are in the Winter Park area, stop on by.