Harwigs

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Historic Room with a Serious Kitchen

The building at 911 Lincoln Avenue has been part of Steamboat Springs since 1886 — originally a saddlery and tack shop. Guests at Harwigs still walk on those original floors, now surrounded by stained glass grapevines, walls lined with wine case panels, and a hand-dug wine cellar that is the only one in town. The past is very much present here, right down to the restaurant's resident ghost, Charlie.

What has changed is what comes out of the kitchen. Head chef JJ — a figure woven into the fabric of the Jennie family legacy that runs the restaurant — brings classical French technique to ingredients sourced from the Yampa Valley and broader Colorado region. The menu shifts monthly to follow the seasons and local agriculture, meaning there is always something new alongside the dishes guests return for specifically: the French onion soup, escargot, oysters, duck, and coq au vin that anchor the French cuisine at Harwigs to something recognizable and satisfying.

Harwigs Reserve and the Wine Cellar

Wednesday through Saturday evenings, the restaurant operates as Harwigs Reserve — an exclusive, fixed-price four-course tasting menu paired with a full bar and, if desired, a curated wine pairing. Reservations are recommended given the deliberately limited capacity.

The wine program is the other reason people make the trip. Wine Spectator has recognized Harwigs with its Award of Excellence for over three decades — a consistency that reflects genuine curatorial commitment rather than a one-time achievement. Friendly sommeliers guide guests through a list that Wine Enthusiast once ranked among the top 100 in the United States. The cellar itself is a dining space: guests have sat down there for tasting menus that linger in memory long after the evening ends.

Two Atmospheres, One Address

Harwigs offers a clear choice of register. The bar area has an easy, convivial energy — bow-tied bartenders, creative cocktails, and what regulars describe as the best martini deal in Steamboat. The dining room shifts the mood toward something more considered, suited to a long, unhurried dinner. Private dining rooms and a private chef option extend the experience further, with fully custom menus available for both.

The team also handles wedding and event catering with over 25 years of combined experience — the same kitchen, the same sourcing philosophy, taken off-site.

Rooted in Place

Hyper-local sourcing has been part of Harwigs from the beginning, long before the term became fashionable. Working with producers across the Yampa Valley, the kitchen has always treated Colorado's seasons as the real menu. That commitment to place — combined with the depth of the French cuisine on offer and a wine list that holds its own against any major city — is what keeps both locals and visitors coming back to Lincoln Avenue.