Ridgway Is A Top Food Stop — This Small Town Has Big Eats

Editor’s note: Sadly, Provisions Cafe, mentioned in this article, has closed it’s doors. The local cafe made a lasting impression and will be missed.

With a population of about 1,200 people, and an area of just under 2 square miles, Ridgway is tight-knit.

“Ridgway was kind of a small ag town when I was young,” reflects long-time local and Tacos Del Gnar owner Joe Ouellette, “and even when I opened up the Gnar there wasn’t much happening.”

10 years later, however, there’s a lot happening in the Ridgway food scene. Take Ouellette’s Tacos Del Gnar, for example. The menu’s wildly creative tacos are a bit of a cultural phenomenon, and during the busy season, it is hard to miss the line winding out the front door and down the patio.

Bahn Mi with a view of the San Juans. Photos by Nickolas Paullus.

Much can be said about “The Gnar” and its laid-back punk rock atmosphere. TVs broadcast snowboarding and monster trucks, skateboards and wild art adorn the walls, and Ouellette brings a raucous menu of well-prepared ingredients and worldly influence. From hearty Korean BBQ steak to jerk-seasoned portabella for veg lovers, Gnar’s relaxed atmosphere is welcoming to all passing through the cultural crossroads that is Ridgway.

Reflecting on the transformation of the food scene in town, Ouellette adds that while back in the day there wasn’t much to stop for, “the years after we opened, things started to boom. And now it’s booming even more.”

Ouellette highlights the newest restaurant in town, Kismet. Run by Nate and Tera Wick, Kismet is a Mediterranean restaurant that features freshly made pita, succulent kofta and house hummus. “Kismet is the new kid on the block in many ways,” adds Ouellette, “but those dudes are doing it right.”

The Wicks also own local coffee shop and bookstore Cimarron Coffee & Books, which features Montrose’s Cimarron Coffee Roasters coffee and a small but well-curated bookstore, along with great views of Courthouse Mountain’s gorgeous ridgeline.

Towards Courthouse, on the other side of the highway, Ouellette points to one of the other new restaurants in town, Greenwood’s. Brainchild of chef Bill Greenwood, Greenwood’s pays homage to the chef’s career and roots in the American South. Using top shelf ingredients, the menu boasts Southern staples like grits, boiled peanuts and pot pie with a decidedly Colorado flair.

Not all of the highlights of the Ridgway food scene are brand new, though. Amie Minnick’s Provisions Cafe has been open for nearly nine years, serving sophisticated breakfast, lunch and dinner options throughout. With lauded locals nights, decadent pastries and a well-curated cocktail bar, Minnick wears her years of experience as a private chef on her sleeve, as she offers one of the more refined experiences in the region.

Likewise, Eatery 66 offers a much more nuanced experience than could be expected from a 1,200-person town. With well-sourced Mezcal, succulent ramen and locally sourced produce, the cozy spot with a hyper-hip horseshoe bar could easily be 40 miles up the road in Telluride.

Colorado Boy is another Ridgway institution that has been serving artisanal pizza and craft beer since 2008. With just over 20 seats available, the place is always brimming, spilling out onto the patio where locals and tourists alike revel in the ambiance of Ridgway’s Clinton Street and the nearby Sherbino Theater.

Closer to Ouellette’s Gnar, Thai Paradise offers authentic Thai food in the heart of the San Juans. Boba tea, drunken noodles and a peaceful patio make it one of the restaurants locals frequent most often. If you like it hot, make sure to ask for some of the Thai chilies in fish sauce to get the spiciest experience in town.

There’s so much to love, with authentic Costa Rican ceviche at Land and Ocean, barbeque comfort foods at Lazy Dog, lemon ricotta pancakes at Kate’s Place and Ouray staple Bella Vitino now relocated to Ridgway.

Ouellette sums up Ridgway as a “foodie town at heart.” Ambitious and creative foodies abound, helping the town grow into more than just a stopover in between Telluride or Ouray. With the amazing renovation of the old f irehouse looming in the near future, the future for the town’s food scene is bright.

“Ridgway is a real community,” Ouellette adds. “It’s why I love it and continue to feel inspired in my work as a chef and owner.”

TACOS DEL GNAR CHEF OWNER JOE OUELLETTE’S “TOP 5” IN RIDGWAY

1. Collard Green Ruben from Greenwood’s

2. Mia Bella from Colorado Boy

3. The Breakfast Sandwich from Provisions Cafe

4. Pork Drunken Noodles from Thai Paradise

5. The Montuck from Eatery 66

The soon-to-be-newest place in Ridgway, The Firehouse.

Originally published in the Summer 2024 issue of Spoke+Blossom.