The review. An analysis of new and existing restaurants in the Vail Valley.

NO LONGER IN BUSINESS

Billy's Island Grill

Some restaurants, because of their owner's inherent arrogance we'd just as soon see fail.  Billy's is just the opposite.  A long time Vail resident, ski instructor, and well known waiter at the Ore House, Billy Suarez opened this steak house a couple of years ago.

Something of a knock off of the Ore House in Vail Village, Lionshead long had needed a decent eatery of this style.

The bar and dining areas are very comfortably and pleasantly furnished in Hawaiian beach style with large windows that open on a lanai type deck in the summer months.  The space formerly housed a number of other restaurants that lived and died in varying lengths of time - the latest was a Chart House, so the interior spaces are well laid out and quiet conversations can actually be held here.

This was our second visit for a complete dinner - the first time was right after the restaurant's opening and it was something of a disaster, so we hoped for lots of improvement.

Meal Highlights:  Sue chose a rib eye and I ordered a smaller filet.  We also had an appetizer of coconut shrimp that came with a wonderful smokey coleslaw and was outstanding.  Unfortunately that appetizer was the high point of the meal.

Lowlights:  Both of us thought the quality of the meat was substandard and even worse, both steaks were badly undercooked.  Of the starch dish provided, we still are not certain of its ingredients.  At first we thought it to be a thick potato pancake but eventually figured out that it probably was just an overcooked, oversized attempt at a hush puppy.  It was virtually inedible.  The vegetables however were crisp & pleasant, but the breads served were obviously day old.  A Qupe syrah was a decent accompaniment for the dinner.  

As much as we personally like Billy and enjoyed the service and surroundings in this restaurant, it's doubtful we'll ever return for dinner again.  Wine and apps. in the bar will still work, but dinners just don't seem to have either the quality or value that we're looking for in this type of food service.

Reviewed by ORP on 10/03/04

Previously reviewed: La Bottega   Alicante   Kaltenberg Castle   Gore Creek Grill   La Tour  Bighorn Bistro  Larkspur  Sapphire Tavolaccio  Mezzaluna The Left Bank

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