Visited Park Tavern again for lunch on July 3, 2025
Especially after a stunning (and calf-killing) 5-mile hike to Ouzel Falls. We were hungry, hot, and in desperate need of a patio and plan.
Mindi, our waitress, nailed it. Friendly, funny, unflustered by the lunch rush, and totally understood that we were there to savor the moment and not rush through it. Thank you, Mindi, for taking such great care of us repeat visitors!
And it was like an episode of Cheers from there. Ivana, who hosted us the day before, came by just to say hi (and yes, she remembered us!). Christian, yesterday’s hilarious IT guy turned waiter, was now behind the bar making drinks like a pro. After tasting his cocktails? Let’s just say... the man’s got options. IT or bartending? You win either way, Christian!
The guys went back for their beloved burgers, my girlfriend devoured the short rib grilled cheese on a gluten-free bun, and I took Mindi’s advice and tried the blackened salmon piccata. Creamy lemon butter linguine, crispy salmon, capers, parmesan... every bite was chef’s kiss.
Park Tavern has that rare magic...welcoming staff, killer food, and a vibe that feels like home. So glad we made time for round two.
Visited Park Tavern for lunch on July 2, 2025.
We were seriously hungry. And not just “let’s grab a snack” hungry...we had just hiked 5 miles in the stunning Rocky Mountains and were hangry in that “feed me or someone’s gonna cry” kind of way.
Estes Park is one of our favorite spots to visit, and we've been here many times, but in my opinion, the food scene here has historically been a little underwhelming. So when we stumbled on Park Tavern Restaurant, we were hopeful but not expecting much. Spoiler alert: We were blown away!
They’re still in soft opening mode, and that's okay, we sure didn't care! Elevated pub fare with a fresh twist, trendy cocktails, homemade everything, and staff that treats you like an old friend, not just a table number.
Ivana, the hostess, was so friendly and professional! A great help and very focused on the customer service and the success of the restaurant!
Ivana sat us at a table just inside off the patio which was great since we enjoyed the cool afternoon breeze through the open patio doors. As I was walking around looking at the space, I chatted with the bartender who shared more info about the restaurant. After a few minutes of chatting, I introduced myself and found out I had actually been chatting with one of the owners! Meet Sujib, owner, bartender, visionary, and apparently also a carpenter, because he and the other owners literally built the stunning bar and gorgeous walnut tables by hand.
Three of us went for mojitos...summer happiness in a glass, minty, tart, ice-cold perfection. My girlfriend tried the Lemon Drop Martini made with Grey Goose, a sugared rim, and a perfect lemon slice.
Hubs got a Tavern Burger which is the classic pub burger with cajun mayo and melty American cheese. My girlfriend got the Hangover Burger which was topped with a fried egg (runny, messy, magical... according to my girlfriend, because I was not about to taste that one since this girl gave up eggs years ago and never looked back). My girlfriend's husband and I both settled on the Fig and Jalapeño Burger. That fig jam and peppery arugula combo is totally sweet and spicy heaven. Crispy fries all around (except for hubs who belongs to my girlfriend and who went all noble and ordered a side Caesar salad which turned out to be garlic-kissed and crazy good).
And dessert? Oh my stars. I needed a moment! I couldn’t resist the Bourbon Pecan Pie with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream. Warm pie, cold creamy ice cream, flaky crust, toasty pecans, it was like a hug from the South. My childhood on a pie plate!
This is exactly the kind of spot Estes Park has been missing.
The owners care. Like really care. Sujib was busy chatting with guests, pouring drinks, and making people feel right at home. Ivana, Sava and all the others made us feel very welcomed!