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One of Steamboat Springs's most exciting dining experiences can be found at the top of the gondola, midway up Mount Werner. The views of the upper Yampa River valley are spectacular by day and romantic by night, as the lights of Steamboat Springs spread out at the foot of the mountain. Lunch features a variety of salads and sandwiches, plus a daily chef's special. But it's at dinner that Hazie's really excels. Start with an appetizer such as escargot au fromage, then try the soup du jour or Hazie's house salad with caramelized pear vinaigrette. Finally, choose from entrees like grilled mahimahi with roasted pineapple salsa; grilled rack of lamb marinated with roasted shallot and thyme oil; or lobster tail and scallops pasta, sautéed in wine and served over angel-hair pasta in a tarragon-brandy cream sauce.

This isn't your everyday Mexican restaurant; it's a gourmet experience. The festive decor sets the mood, with greenhouse dining and handsome photos by owner Tom Garrett on the stuccoed walls. Southwestern dishes include unusual combinations such as grilled elk loin with a cilantro pesto crust and ancho chile demi-glace; the chef's award-winning dish of braided sausage, a mesquite-grilled combination of elk, lamb, and chorizo sausage; and enchiladas (which have been featured in Gourmet magazine) composed of blue corn tortillas, goat and Monterey Jack cheeses, roasted peppers, and onions.