La Marmotte - TELLURIDE

Stellar dining experience at this charming classic French restaurant in downtown Telluride. We sat outside where the weather was perfect and service was attentive. Our group started with the Charcuterie plate. I'm just now looking at the menu and apparently we ate chicken liver mousse. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't have chosen this bc of my preconceived idea of eating liver but is was flavorful and had a nice texture. The flavor was elevated by the mustard and radish. We also shared the marinated olives. I tried the heirloom tomatoes which were served with eggplant purée. So fresh and seasoned well. We shared the melt in your mouth wagyu steak. I couldn't add a picture because we devoured it! Lastly we had the vanilla bean crème brûlée. A perfect ending for a perfect meal.

Food was very good as was the wine by glass selection. Server was little overly chatty but nice and did offer good service. From the prix fixe, we started with an onion soup and market salad. Both were very nicely prepared and delicious. Onion soup is easy to make too salty, this wasn 't and had very clean distinct flavors. For my main, I had the riz et champignons which is a mushroom risotto of sorts, excellent flavor and not heavy as a risotto can be. My wife had the trout which she enjoyed very much. We topped off desserts with chocolate and cherry clafoutis the apple crumble. Nothing was left when we finished, super good. The black mark on the restaurant is a insulting 4% check add on for employee health housing . This added $10 to the check on a $95 pp prix fixe. This is not a cheap dinner. Don 't insult your guests. Make the prix fixe $100 and be done with it. Adding 4% and asking for another 20 25% tip is obnoxious and why I won 't return. Charge what you want to charge UP FRONT, don 't nickel and dime us.

As an experienced Francophile, I can say this restaurant is well below average. Food was not very remarkable, prices were very remarkable. Not worth the price. Tried reservation for 7-7:30, nothing available after 6:00. Arrived at 6:00, with only one table occupied. Entire dinner was essentially in an empty restaurant, which I detest. Decor is sterile. Waiter was curt, bordering on rude. He does not speak French, as do I, but did not hesitate to correct my pronunciation of an incorrectly spelled menu item. Really? $90 non-refundable reservation, per person. They are just not that special. Save your money, not worth it.

A friend wanted to eat in one of the glass igloos. She also reviewed the online menu, which sealed the deal with duck and Foie gras being posted. We rearranged our schedules to meet the restaurant's availability. This place has also gone prix fixe with a few items having an upcharge. The igloo was a cool experience. The dining menu does not match the online menu. Our server seemed a bit put out when we mentioned that the reason we came was because of the online menu. It wasn't the servers fault and we didn't grumble much about the issue, just stated that if the menu changes frequently the website person should make the updates. The rest of the service was great!!! Food was fine. I don't know there is a new chef, new management or what, but the restaurant and food are not the same as my last visit. In all fairness that was pre-Covid, but that trip ranked a 5 star service. Drink prices are crazy. I ordered a cognac French 75 and it is $30! That price is posted on the menu, but as it was a special occasion I splurged. It was good, but not $30 worth.

Note this very nice, classy, romantic restaurant is clearly popular and you def need reservations for dinner. BUT... we were lucky enough to walk in at sunset (8ish) to have our last hoorahh drink before heading home. We were welcomed with open arms and seated within minutes despite a sold out restaurant. Our waitress was gracious and kind. We quickly went from just drinks to dessert too once we saw the strawberry tarte on the menu- so good! Can't wait to come back to Telluride and have this place on our dinner reservations plan!