Flagstaff House Restaurant Review

Unfortunately, the quality of the food undermined the experience, to a much larger degree than expected. We ve been going to the restaurant every few years for special events, and it s been obvious for many years already that the food is no longer 5-star. It didn t usually matter, as the service and the views compensated and made the overall experience enjoyable. So we certainly weren t expecting a gourmet experience. However, even going in with our expectations well-managed, we were surprised how far the food experience had fallen.

The menu itself looks interesting with a lot of intriguing ingredients, but those ingredients usually added nothing to the dish, and most dishes are bland or mono-flavor. The mono-flavor was a problem throughout the menu we were a party of 7 and had many dishes, and complaints of overwhelming smokey flavor or overwhelming bacon flavor were common across all 3 courses (such as the smoked duck, butternut squash soup, scallops and filet mignon).



But a restaurant like this must at least have good coffee, right? You d be mistaken. The espresso was twice the size of any decent Italian espresso (and I m not talking ristretto), but they even forgot to bring one (out of 3 ).



We used to overlook the small inconsistencies of quality over the years, because this was always a place to celebrate a special occasion. But no longer. This was the last time. The Flagstaff House is simply coasting on its former reputation, while still charging prices like they were still a Michelin-star restaurant. It s a shame. They could be so much more.

Beautiful location, outstanding service and quality/creative food.

My son got married there and it was excellent! Everything from the staff to the food was perfect. The Flagstaff event planner did perfect job!

It was an absolutely amazing setting. Service was 100 percent on top of everything. Food was excellent and plentiful.

Fantastic view , great service one of my top restaurants

Wonderful food, drink and service with a view that can't be beat. Well worth the occasional splurge.

Great food, atmosphere, and service. Nothing not to love here.

I had the Ginger King Salmon Crudo. Amazing! My friend had the scallops ceviche which was all delicious. My partner had the street corn. So interesting and flavorful. Also a win. My salmon was the table favorite. Next I had the Lobster tempura. Crunchy and flavorful. Very delicious sauce. My friends had the beef Ravi ravioli. amazing

Two friends and I just had dinner there for the first time in 13 years. The views overlooking Boulder are truly spectacular! Purely based on that alone, I'd give them 5 stars. Our wait staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. My party and I were not fans of the cocktails menu, however. It's not presented in a very pleasing/user-friendly format. The menu appears on a tablet where the names of the drinks are listed out along the left side with no descriptions. You tap on the one that you might be interested in and the list of ingredients appears at the top right corner, opposite of the list. I feel this could be formatted better. Once clicking out of the cocktails menu, to the wine list, I honestly couldn't figure out how to get back to the cocktails list. I'm not the most tech savvy person out there, but I do think this could be improved upon.

I do understand and appreciate the focus on presentation, especially in a restaurant such as this, however, this is Boulder and I feel that there is more of a focus on conservation here. As a group we ordered the Chef's tasting menu and over the course of 3-4 hours, we used upwards of about 20 plates each including new utensils eat each course. Again, I acknowledge that for this style of restaurant this is typical, I just think the waste could possibly be cut down by at least a third.

Overall the food tasted delicious, however, just don't expect (especially with the tasting menu) to get anything more than a VERY small taste. The focus truly is on the presentation.

Every aspect of our visit was fantastic. Every morsel of the food was delicious and the service was incomparable. This is THE place to go for a special dinner.

Wow! What food! What service! What a view. Amazing and very special. Worth the price.

The Flagstaff House offers an amazing dining experience! I came here with my family for a special birthday celebration, and I was impressed by every detail. All of the food (especially the 5+ complimentary tastings) was fabulous, and the the restaurant had the best service I've received in a long time -- it's not often that waiters are perfectly timed and coordinated with every plate that they place in front of you or take away. I highly recommend dining at the Flagstaff House.

Cannot say enough good things about this classy place to celebrate the special events. Without fanfare they surprise at every turn with unexpected thought at each dining transition.

My husband and I had dinner here after getting married just two weeks ago. I cannot recommend it enough. The food and service were beyond phenomenal. The staff even had a special dessert to congratulate us on our marriage. Enjoying a wonderful meal in my wedding gown with my husband is a memory I will always treasure. Thank you for such a magical night!

Best fine dining experience I've ever had. Beautiful views and great food. I do wish they had more vegetarian options though

Oh. My. God. If I could give this superb restaurant more then 5 stars, I would in a heart beat. As soon as I pulled into the valet, I knew what I was getting my self into. The food was absolutely amazing, the staff were on point and very polite as well as understanding, and plate after plate of bread, assortments of cheese, fantastic entrees and dessert. Thank you guys so much!

I had the Lobster tempura. Crunchy and flavorful. Very delicious sauce. My friends had the beef Ravi ravioli. My another friend had the grilled octopus. I think the ravioli was the winner here. But the grilled octopus was cooked to perfection. The lobster was delicious but the ravioli was just so flavorful.

Of COURSE this was a 5 star dining experience. for the price I would expect no less. Best Halibut I've EVER had.

Exquisite cuisine. Excellent service. Captivating atmosphere!

My husband and I had dinner here because the head chef "Chris" had just recently won Chopped. Our favorite TV show for Cooking is Chopped. Chef Chris was amazing we had the most amazing upscale experience in which we felt like royalty. Unbelievable experience for special occasions. Once you eat here and appreciate fine dining you will see why Chef Chris won chopped.

We went for my husband's Birthday recently. We have been apprehensive of going based on other reviews stating way over priced for what you get. Honestly I think they were worth every penny. Obviously the people who wrote those reviews have had limited fine dining experiences. Again the key word here is experience. For me it's not just about the food but the entire evening. From the Valet Parking, to the amazing wait staff and the teasers from the kitchen ,along with the view, it was world class. The food was amazing my steak was cooked to perfection, which rarely happens. They rank up their in our book with The One in the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Murray Circle at Cavallo Point in Sausalito, Cinque Terra in Portland Maine and Quince in San Francisco. Yes it's a bit pricy by Boulder/Colorado standards, but if you are into the experience of fine dining, then yes so very worth it.

Great view and atmosphere. Food average. Service very friendly.

WWe celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and we had wonderdul service and wondeeful food.

The food, staff, ambience and spectacular views, plus the personalized touches for our anniversary, made this a 5 star dining experience. We look forward to coming back for even more delicious food and trying the chef's tasting menu. Thank you for making our anniversary so special.

Every detail was accounted for, the food was marvelous, the view amazing, and the service was top notch. Please go enjoy yourself here. You'll be glad you did!

Views, service and food what else can you ask for. Great spot to bring a date but save some $$ for that night ;). Well worth the trip up in the range to have views over Boulder. Great service and fine dining to enjoy that special night.

Great view, menu was a bit too unapproachable and upscale.

An elegant feel shown through the outstanding food and service quality. No frills just understated excellence in every way with a gorgeous view overlooking Boulder. By far one of the best restaurants I ve been to in a tasteful environment. Lacking in pretension, relatively speaking to many other places of its caliber, and it s the reason why I ll keep coming back

We had a fabulous time. The wait staff was excellant and friendly. The food was wonderful. And the scenary just topped off the evening. You definitely have to go. As our friends that we went with David "a meal to remember"

A nouveau French gourmet restaurant in a stunning glass enclosed setting overlooking the whole Boulder basin. It's expensive with small multi course portions, but food is excellent with a wide selection and the view is one of a kind. And service is top notch.

Flagstaff House...way to nail it out of the ballpark. Your reputation does not do you justice to the flavor pallet tour in our taste buds. Wife and I truly enjoyed every course of our meals and appreciate the additional treats given by your chefs! The views are spectacular and the staff service was perfect!

Food was awesome as usual. Delightful staff. I dislike the new menu. I was forced to order too much food that I couldn't eat. They need an option for lighter eaters.

If you can make it there...GO!!! I can't say enough about the staff or the service, or the food!! Never had a bad experience there yet! TOP MARKS!!

I have been fortunate to celebrate many anniversaries and birthdays at Flagstaff.? In the last 25 years. They always make us feel so pampered, special, and, of course, exquisitely well fed. Looking forward to being back when they open up again!

The service was a very pretentious and frankly old fashioned. I found the food quite bland and flavorless, which was pretty surprising considering the price. It seemed they neglected to season most of the items on their menu. I had a buffalo wellington. The pastry was soggy and it featured a plate full of undercooked hard beans and peas. Very disappointing.

So delicious.friendly staff. Would give 10 stars. Very classy.

This has to be one of my most favorite places to dine! The food not only exceeds my expectations in taste, but in presentation as well. The service is perfect and the view of Boulder breathtaking. If you haven't been here, it is a must! Sit by the window and arrive before sunset.

The menu - Two options - 7-course Chef's tasting menu or four course menu. We all opted for the four course but it felt like 7. The options was all so interesting on the four-course we could not resist. They started with small tasting appetizers. See photo because I honestly cannot recall the exact name of the small bite.

Everything was delicious and wine pairings were superb and the views were delightful. Do this if you have a special occasion and the finances to support.

The service is always phenomenal, and the food is unbelievable. It's definitely the perfect restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. You will leave full and very happy.

Wonderful view from the Flagstaff mountain. Good food. The staff is friendly and well trained.

My family arrived at this restaurant for my son's birthday. This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend. The staff welcomed us with a big smile and we got an excellent feeling. The meal was delicious. Really we enjoyed every moment here, and we will visit this place soon.

Great up market restaurant. Great views overlooking Boulder ( on a good day you can see for miles). The food was exceptional, great wine. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. If you are looking for an up market restaurant, this is the place to go to.

Highly professional, highly scenic. Good food, excellent experience.

When I had my daughter's wedding party four years ago, it was so wonderful that I used it about four times in the past. At that time, I was satisfied as it was.
This time as well, I went to eat with my 3-year-old grandson with 5 adults to celebrate my son.
The scenery is the best here in Boulder, and the price is high, but I thought it would be a satisfying place.
However, a 3-year-old child was given the same appidizer as an adult, and during the meal, the dish was lowered without checking the remaining children's dishes, and when the child fell asleep, cooking stopped without permission. But it didn't come out.
It would have been a mistake to take the child to a fine dining restaurant.
Every time I saw the night view, the dirt on the windows was sticky and I could see it, which was also unpleasant.
I have good memories, but I will not visit here in the future.
I'm sorry.
I had a good memory of the previous one, so I limited the review to 3.

Service and food was great. Excellent wine selection.

American food, yeah, yummy. Very savory. The staff was very welcoming and observant. The prices are good for what you get.

Without a doubt, hands-down the absolute very best restaurant I ve ever visited in Colorado and that s saying *a lot* because I ve lived in Colorado for over 30 years and at this point, I ve been to hundreds of restaurants. The service at Flagstaff House is un-beatable. If you want to feel what celebrities must feel when they go out to eat, then you must dine here. Beyond the phenomenal service, the views are simply breathtaking. You have the opportunity to experience the elevation of fine dining both literally and metaphorically. The drinks are exquisitely prepared and you can taste the care and intention with every sip. Oh and the food. Wow...My husband and I were saying how frustrating it is sometimes when you go out to eat at a fine dining location and you leave the restaurant feeling hungry. This is NOT the case at Flagstaff House. Not only do you get what you pay for, you get infinitely more. The restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way possible. They are truly a representation of luxury, beauty, aesthetics, quality and 5-star service. One last thing: Shout out to our server, Joe! He was super funny, very attentive, and down to earth. When you make your reservation request Joe and tell him we sent you ;)
Follow our fam on IG @lafamiliamilligan

Great view of Boulder, service very nice, food was also delicious,

This is a nice place to eat the food is great, the owners are friendly. You couldn't ask for any better.

american food, delicious. got there about three, it wasn't crowded. the staff was very welcoming and sociable. this place has a good design. i see why this place has a lot of good reviews.

Wow, great views, great wine, great food! Don't miss this one!

I was the photographer for an intimate wedding at the Flagstaff House and I couldn't recommend it more to other couples looking to have an intimate wedding venue in Boulder, Colorado. The staff was amazing, the event coordinator was awesome and the view and location are ones you cannot bet!

I absolutely love the Flagstaff House Restaurant. It is such a beautiful drive and you are more than likely to see deer. The view is unbelievable! Go a little early and have a glass of wine outside and just take it in. The menu is quite good and the service is as good. It is a little pricy but for special occasions it is the place.

There's no substitute for being treated like royalty. The service is what makes this restaurant stand out, and you are pampered from start to finish. The food is amazing, of course, and the views from inside and outside the restaurant can't be beat. This is a Colorado institution and one of my favorite dinner spots.

Wow! Such a great experience!! The Wagyu Beef melts in your mouth! I'll definitely return soon!

Fine dining at its finest and some of the best views I've seen.

Took the wife for a Birthday/Anniversary celebration. Booked the reservation via Open Table and placed a request for a nice table for our special occasion. When we arrived, they had a nice table ready for us and a personalized note on our menus!

As expected, the service was outstanding, and the dining experience was one to remember! Fun drinks and great food.

One of the most expensive meals you can buy, but worth every penny. Attentive, but not overbearing, service that makes you feel welcome, not intimidated. Add in the beautiful foothill setting, and the best wine selection in northern colorado, you can't experience a better dining experience.

First time to this restaurant and what a treat!!! I read some reviews and seriously cannot identify with anything they said///this place is phenomenal!!! The service (thank you Chris) was amazing everything was amazing!! Good cocktails and beer choices we got a "treat" from the chef to start sherbet between the starters and entree.. I mean they think of everything..and yes! a loaf of bread to take home. Love love loved every part of this experience and the views are worth the price of admission thank you Flagstaff .and by the way if they offer foie gras . get it it's amazing!!!!!
They have one great chef there!!!!!

Took my dad here for his seventieth birthday. It was truly a wonderful evening. The food was delicious. The company was wonderful. The service was excellent

My husband and I had our wedding reception at Flagstaff and it could not have been any more perfect. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable and the views were breathtaking. It was such a beautiful spot to celebrate with our family. Annie, the events coordinator, was great to work with as well.

Had the best experience took my wife for valentines day. Waiter was Scott he was the best ! We will be coming back !

Expensive. There was a lot of wait staff and they kept interrupting my conversation every 4 minutes to ask me if I wanted more bread.
Food is tasty but I've had better for less. Decor is dated. View is nice.

Went for a work outing. Well prepared delicious gourmet meals. Fantastic views.

It was a great dinner, beautiful view, and the servers were awesome.

This restaurant has been on my bucket list for 34 years. It's been a staple restaurant in Boulder since 1971. This is rare for a restaurant to have such longevity! It was worth the wait. Service and food was first class. Thank you to James A. Presentation of the food was amazing. Our waiter was extremely attentive. They boast amazing views of the foothills and Boulder and the setting is idilic. All the little complimentary hors d'oeuvres, sorbet to cleanse ones palate etc. added to the experience and were a nice, unexpected touch.

Absolutely amazing!! From the time you get there to the time you leave. Everyone is so nice and the food was out of this world!!! Thank you so much for an amazing experience!!!!!

When you want that special place when you are in Boulder this is it. Truly 1 of a kind. Great food & servers.

Fantastic, attentive service, over the top 4course meal on Valentine's day. Wonderful flavors I've never experienced, and some perfectly prepared favorites like creme brulee. Oh and the views? Unbeatable!

You can t go wrong here. You could order with a blindfold and love your dish. Stars of the evening were the Wild Mushroom Lasagna and Wagyu New York Strip. I recommend the Austin Hope Cabernet.

Fantastic views, impeccable service, and outstanding food. Everything we had was delicious and made for a memorable and enjoyable anniversary.

Outstanding service and wonderful food. They treat you well at the Flagstaff House.

Always a pleasure coming here. I appreciate the entire staff and all they do to always make it a great experience!