Steakhouse · The Lodge at Vail, Vail Village · mains to $63
Steakhouse$$$Vail VillageOpened 2011 at The Lodge at Vail · source
"The slope-side prime steakhouse inside The Lodge at Vail — book Elway's after a powder day to close a deal over a buffalo ribeye."
7Food
7Ambience
6Value
About Elway's Vail
Elway's opened at The Lodge at Vail in November 2011, the mountain outpost of the steakhouse brand the former Broncos quarterback built in Denver. It sits at the base of the mountain on Gore Creek Drive, which in ski season is exactly where the après crowd wants to be.
The format is a classic American steakhouse: hand-cut, aged USDA prime beef, fresh seafood, and a wine list deep enough to suit an expense account. Starters run from about $7 to $23.50 and mains to roughly $63. Culinary Director Tyler Wiard sets the menus across the group, with executive chef Shawn Cubberley running the Vail kitchen. For the wider field, see our Vail guide.
The Kitchen
Shawn Cubberley, a multi-year Elway's veteran, runs a kitchen built on prime cuts cooked simply and correctly. The Grilled King Canyon Buffalo Ribeye is the signature order, leaner and more mineral than the standard ribeye, and the Dashi-braised Chilean sea bass is the kitchen's seafood showpiece. The Elway's Smash Burger and a Colorado rack of lamb round out a menu that knows what a ski town wants after a day on the hill.
The wine programme is the other reason the room fills: a sommelier-supported list aimed at the steakhouse classics, with pours that hold up to a buffalo ribeye. Service is warm and quick rather than ceremonial, with complimentary valet at the Lodge, which matters when you arrive in ski boots. It sits in the company tracked across our rankings.
The Room
The dining room is warm and lodge-like — timber, leather and a slope-side outlook — upscale but relaxed enough for a table still in base layers. The noise level runs to a lively hum at peak après and settles for dinner; lighting is warm, tables are generously spaced, and there is no real dress code beyond mountain-smart. It is the kind of room where a business table and a celebrating ski group can sit side by side without either feeling out of place.
Best for Closing a Deal
Elway's works for a deal because it does the steakhouse job without theatre: prime beef, a serious wine list, and a slope-side room at The Lodge at Vail that signals you chose well. The pacing is relaxed enough to talk through the buffalo ribeye and a bottle, the valet handles the ski-boot arrival, and the bill lands in business-dinner territory rather than blow-out territory. Book an early dinner after the lifts close and ask for a quiet table away from the bar. For more rooms built to seal an agreement, see the close-a-deal guide.
Not for
Not for anyone after a quiet, refined tasting menu — this is a busy après-ski steakhouse with a lively bar, big plates and a buzz, not a hushed tasting-menu room.
Frequently Asked
Is Elway's Vail worth it?
Yes, for a steak dinner in a ski town. Elway's Vail is a polished prime steakhouse inside The Lodge at Vail, with hand-cut aged beef, a signature buffalo ribeye and mains to about $63. It is not cheap, but the location at the base of the mountain and the quality of the cuts justify the spend for an après-ski or business dinner.
How much is dinner at Elway's Vail?
Starters run from roughly $7 to $23.50 and main courses up to about $63, with prime steaks at the top of the range. Add wine from a deep list and a full dinner sits firmly in expense-account territory. The bar menu and smash burger offer a lighter-spend option if you are not after a full steak dinner.
Who is the chef at Elway's Vail?
Executive chef Shawn Cubberley runs the Vail kitchen, a multi-year Elway's veteran, while Culinary Director Tyler Wiard sets the menus across the Elway's group. The kitchen is known for its King Canyon buffalo ribeye and dashi-braised Chilean sea bass. The restaurant is part of the steakhouse brand founded by John Elway.
Where is Elway's Vail located?
Elway's is at 174 E Gore Creek Drive, inside The Lodge at Vail, at the base of Vail Mountain in Vail Village. It offers complimentary valet at the Lodge. The phone is +1 970-754-7818. See the Vail dining guide for more tables in the village.
Do I need a reservation at Elway's Vail?
Yes, in ski season. Vail Village fills through winter and Elway's is a prime après and dinner spot, so weekend and holiday tables go well ahead. Book online or by phone on +1 970-754-7818, and aim for an early seating if you want a quieter room after the lifts close.
Booked via OpenTable; reserve ahead in ski season. Phone +1 970-754-7818.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address174 E Gore Creek Drive, The Lodge at Vail, Vail, CO 81657
