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Explore Bistro
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
10 reviews for Explore Bistro
There's just too much to say.
This is on the main "drag" of Aspen in this restored looking victorian house.
When you first walk in, the bookstore is amazingly cozy with GREAT selection. There's much variety. Because of this layout, it's as if you walk into different "rooms", each with it's own genre (and yes, up to date with politics, this city is liberal :).
The upstairs has more selection as well...which is also where you will find the entrance to the restaurant...
oh dear, please come hear if you're in town.
Everything on the menu is all vegan/vegetarian but even if you're not, this can't be missed.
I lived here for three years. The food is consistently amazing; ranging from average to expensive ($7.00-$16.00) but mind you the presentation and quality is great, along with the atmosphere.
Initially walking in is a small (7 tables?) dining area and to the right a "sunroom" type of area with lots of additional seating.
Windows surround you and obviously the scenery is gorgeous, especially during the winter. I guess the initial dining room is more of a "romantic" feel but honestly it's pleasant no matter how you look at it.
This spot is truly a gem, weather you come here alone or with a group, you'll treasure this experience like I did over the years!
If you're judging on looks alone, this place is adorable. It's on the top floor of a Victorian--the bottom half is a bookstore--lots of light, very peaceful.
I was quite excited for the place after looking and the menu and reading reviews, but I have to say that for us, it was a hit and miss experience. We started with the Japanese pancakes w/ carrot ginger soup, and while the pancakes (grated veggies that had been pan fried--ie, a poor man's latke) were subpar, the soup was incredible. It was very flavorful without being overwhelming--it could have been my whole dinner.
For our main, we split the full sized miso grilled eggplant--I'm not sure where the miso was hiding (potentially in the flavorless broth in the bottom of the bowl), but it was not present in the dish. The dish was really a nice size heap of peas, shitakes, and daikon with 5 strips of nicely smoky eggplant laid on top, but since the veggies were fresh it didn't really fuss me. The dish was a great idea, but lacked a cohesive flavor. We also had a side of the soy braised tofu, which was salty, but light and smooth. My only complaint is that for $5, I wanted more than 3 strips of tofu. Tiny strips.
For dessert we tried the vegan chocolate mousse--excellent--and the vegan carrot cake--inedible. For those who think that this is because vegan desserts are weak, that is patently false. I've had some amazing vegan carrot cake in my time. This is not it. First off, the cake itself was soggy (not moist) and flavorless. Secondly, the used a lemon frosting that did not mesh well with the rest of the dish. I am a huge dessert eater, and I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.
All in all, I would say that the place is cute, but be warned that the food is either great or mediocre, depending on the dish.
A must if your veg! It is an oasis in the middle of all the steak houses you'll find in Aspen. I think the most delicious vegan meal I've ever had was here. It was seitan picatta with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans.
Great place to take people who are just visiting Aspen. Don't let the pretentious looking menue fool you, the food is absolutely stunning. Try the bread pudding! Nice atmosphere, friendly service, and right above a book store. One of my favorite restaurants in Aspen.
Wow, this little restaurant is great! It's located on the second floor of the bookstore of the same name, and you'd never know it was there but for a small sign on the lawn outside. The main room is really small (no more than 5 or 6 tables), and really cozy: it's like walking into someone's dining room. And sure enough, Holly, the waitress who was working there when I went, was a total sweetheart and is gifted at making people feel at home. The restaurant also extends to the veranda next door, although it was closed when I went.
The food is vegetarian and organic... While I'm not always a fan of vegetarian food, my entree was absolutely delicious. I had a spicy red curry with tofu ($16), that came on bed of fresh spinach and brown rice. Nothing like the original Thai dish, but it was really tasty nonetheless. You should also give the homemade lemonade ($3) a try: it has a very distinctive taste (was it ginger? cinnamon?)... very yummy.
I was really full at the end of my meal so I passed on dessert, although the selection sounded really good.
It took a little of time to get my food, as the kitchen looked tiny and Holly was a little overwhelmed taking care of everyone by herself. The prices are also a little on the high end (although they also have salads and lighter dishes for cheaper). But the food was so delicious, the place so cute and the service so friendly that I really can't give it less than 5 stars.
Explore Booksellers and Bistro is the only ALL vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the Aspen/Snowmass area.
Bookstore and restaurant together?!? two of my favorite things in one attractive old Victorian house! You cant beat that.
The Bistro is located on the 2nd floor, and has two dining areas, one of which is a very cute sunroom. I dont think the place had more than 20 tables total.
We had the Almond encrusted tempeh (covered in a tasty mango and strawberry salsa) and the Tofu Philly sandwich. Both dishes were very good. For dessert we had the vegan carrot cake and very fresh banana bread. Both of which were quite good.
Now given that it is in Aspen, be prepared to spend quite a bit. Like almost every restaurant in Aspen it is pretty expensive. But if you are vegetarian or vegan you should give it a try. In fact if you are a meat eater, you should give it a try and see what amazing things can be done without meat.
Explore's only major problem is its limited menu.
4 1/2 stars
I felt at home here, except the cooking was even better, and vegetarian, and I wasn't doing the serving or cleaning up. Ok.. so it wasn't like home, except for the care that went into the food and the service. The unusual bruschetta with eggplant is superb - a foodie's delight not to be missed. I have explored Explore's tostadas, stir fry and strudel as well, and they did not disappoint. Explore Explore if you're in Aspen.
As in the incipit of that famous book from the eighties, "You're not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this" (100 points if you guess book and author).
I mean, I'm the "prime rib" type, so a vegetarian bistro isn't exactly my top choice when dining out. Still, in the mood for acquiring bonus points from my spouse, I ended up at the Explore, and - surprise surprise - I even suggested to go back a second time.
I never thought vegetarian could be so tasty, and this tempeh thing, wow, it's almost meaty-licious!
Great desserts (including an unforgettable carrot cake), wines by the glass, affordable prices (relative to Aspen, of course) and a beautiful ambiance both in the cozy fireplace room and in the sunroom.
Being on the second floor of the best (only?) bookstore in town of course adds charm to the place.
What a spot! Tucked inside Explore Bookstore, this is the coolest!!! IT is an organic and mostly vegan, I think, restaurant. We sat in the nice sunroom portion and drank tea while waiting for our entrees which consisted of red curry tofu and rice, black bean and tofu tostados and the like. Delicious, friendly and healthy.
EXPLORE is a godsend for vegetarians, though around here any request for vegetarian food is usually accommodated with a smile. katherine was a very outspoken animals rights person who, with her husband, a former mayer of aspen, made a valiant (though futile) effort at banning all fur shops in town. EXPLORE is high priced, and occasionally hit or miss. having said that, i go as often as i can. absolutely gorgeous, old, victorian charm. like walking into another era. the desserts are unreal. try the chocolate velvet pie. the service is pretty good, sometimes slow, but the staff is very nice & accommodating. .....oh yea-- remember to turn off your cell phone! it's not acceptable there!
