With the majority of Beaver Creek's restaurant selection ranging from fancy and overpriced to casual and overpriced, the Dusty Boot provides a welcome change for those looking to escape their mountain-Disneyland surroundings. The atmosphere is surprisingly accommodating; depending on your intentions the steakhouse can play the role of a lively locals bar, family food bag, or even intimate dining. While offering a $200 margarita (most likely as a jab towards Beaver Creek's wealthy clientèle), the menu is fairly priced. You may cock and eye upon reading the cheeseburger's $13 price tag, but once the sandwiched slab of uniquely prepared meat appears in front of you, you'll realize that had they wanted to, they could have charged much, much more.
I've often felt that the quality of an establishment is directly proportional to how long it can retain it's employees, and while it's true that people will often leave their job for a pay raise, it's those rare circumstances where people love and take pride in their work, that they choose to stick around, and something special happens. If you agree with this, but are still on the fence about The Dusty Boot, just politely ask one of the staff how long they've been working there, and I think you'll be surprised.
All in all, the Dusty Boot, while perhaps not the cheapest, nor most easily accessible restaurant (the only way to avoid paying obscene amounts for parking to to leave your car at the base of Beaver Creek and take the bus up) is a fun, warm, and enjoyable place to share some good food with friends or family in the heart of one of the less casual friendly parts of the Vail Valley.
