Editor’s note: This story is reprinted from EAT Magazine featuring the best restaurants in the Vail Valley.
EAT is available on magazine racks and hotel lobbies for free.
The Rose in Edwards is a rare find. This cozy bistro, nestled in the heart of Riverwalk, is a bona-fide hidden gem, a unique and intimate place where the food is as delightful as the atmosphere.
Dimly lit and relaxed, when you walk inside The Rose and take your seat among the leather lounge chairs, wooden tables and couches, playful details begin to emerge. From the yarn-striped antelope and mountain goat heads hanging on one wall, to the thick wall-mounted garden and the medley of chandeliers glowing overhead, there’s a lot of character in this place.
But there’s also something classic and familiar about it, something that exudes craftsmanship and culinary regard. It’s a thought that is confirmed throughout their menu. In lockstep with the seasons, Chef-Owner Bryan Redniss’ food is constantly changing, rotating as the locally available ingredients rotate, embodying the seasonal flavors of the area.
Dishes like the fried chicken demonstrate a mastery over old favorites: light, crispy, tender and cooked with a sage honey butter, it’s the best fried chicken you’ll find anywhere in the valley. For a comfort food favorite, the Meat n’ Potatoes is hard to beat—tenderloin steak, juicy and delectable, served with a helping of purple potato mash, and leek.
Recommended Stories For You
But then, items like their foie gras nigiri (or “foie-giri”), exemplify Redniss’ creativity and culinary boldness. Sushi-inspired, it’s a slice of melt-in-your-mouth foie gras served atop a tender rice brick, fastened with a small belt of seaweed. It’s one of the richest bites on the menu, and a dish that’s worth stepping outside of your comfort zone for.
However, there are some menu items that don’t change at The Rose, too. Favorites like their avocado fries with sesame aioli are just too good to lose.
“Those avocado fries have been number one on the menu since day one,” said Redniss.
The comfortable atmosphere and friendly vibe that pervade The Rose make it the perfect place for friends to enjoy a drink, or for a romantic evening out with that special someone.
Artisan cocktails saturate the drink menu, and creations like The Muse will blow you—and your date—away. Made with local 39 North Spirits vodka, lemon, pink peppercorn, apricot and sage, The Muse speaks with a voice all its own. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, the Donde Quixote is a nobleman’s blend of tequila, Cocchi Americano, Amaro Nonino and dry curacao. Just a couple of those and you’ll be out slaying windmills in no time.
And of course, when it comes time for dessert, you’ve got to try Jessica Redniss’ cream cheese-stuffed finger cakes. Because, it’s easy to get caught up in the menus and forget that this place is also an awesome little bakery, with homemade macaroons, cakes and other baked goods that are all to die for.
There’s a romance to The Rose that is both sentimental and sincere. It is a place where you can count on the food being fantastic and fresh, where the drinks are always exciting and good spirits are always in high supply.
