I'll echo Craig's comments. We maybe eat out once or twice when we come. I find it much less stressful and more convienent to know there's always an available table back at my condo to go and eat.

-Warren-

Forget breakfast ... whatever there is is pretty aweful and expensive ... unless you consider Starbucks as a breakfast option. Eating b-fast in your condo is still the best option.

I have several owning friends up at 'Shoe. Atleast one of them is there every weekend, so whatever's in their fridge!

As far as the best relatively priced food, go down to Route 66 Sandwiches at the bottom of the mountain. I'd say Elihus as well, but I believe they're gone.

BREAKFAST: Agree with Canaanman... Elihus was the best place for breakfast in the entire SS area. I remember driving down the 6 miles just to eat there. For less than $8. one got the country breakfast from heaven. Thick slab of ham, three eggs, toast, strong coffee, and I was ready for the next six hours... usually skipped lunch.

One flat comment about Snowshoe which will be easily discerned from my statements: Intrawest is an unparalelled developer and ski resort operator. Unfortunately they stink at food service. And it's not only at Snowshoe, but I experienced the same at Whistler earlier this month. A Snowshoe caveat is that the only good places to eat are the ones that are in private hands. Brian Ball's Red Fox and Foxfire are winners, as well as the Charlotte NC chain that runs the Bistro. Intrawest seems to have caught on to the fact that when it comes to restaurants, they are a giant "vacuum cleaner"... The two new restaurants that will open up at Snowshoe next year are both Brian Ball creations.

Snowcone is also right... Today, the breakfast selection is expensive and scarce most places at Snowshoe. Forget The Junction, it's trademark Snowshoe-run. Reminiscent of an old Soviet labor camp -- same food and about the same service. My Junction comment goes for ANY meal... Then there's the McDonald's "wannabe" at the Shavers Center...

Like Snowcone, I think the best breakfast at the Shoe nowadays is at the condo. I like Rich's idea of the Boathouse's waffles, but I just bought a Kitchen-Aid Pro waffle maker for my condo that, despite the equivalent cost of a one-way air fare to Switzerland, makes the BEST waffles, two gigantic carbo-whole-wheat waffles at a time. My Florida family and many friends broke it in last week, with some of the most succulent Belgian Waffles, Almond, Blueberry, and Strawberry concoctions. It is now a permanent part of my kitchen for either myself, friends or renters.

It is worth noticing that the Bistro has a (weekends only) Brunch with great Eggs Benedict. I've had it several times and it's a wonderful treat.

LUNCH: Three places: First, my condo. I usually bring enough food to satisfy the 82nd Airborne. Plus the condo is on the way between the main Snowshoe bowl and the Western Territory so it makes a nice break. Second, Agree with Rich: Black Run Sugar House. No crowds, no lines, friendly faces. Third, The Fox Fire. Most of the dinner selections at much less cost.

DINNER: Maybe I'm different... but I DO NOT stand in line for any restaurant, period. If they want my $$ they will sit me expeditiously. I will go to any place that either a) makes reservations, or b) gives me a time when I can arrive and be seated. I will generously tip the Maitre D' beforehand if it makes a difference but my personal choice is not to stand in line.

Having said that, my favorites in the Snowshoe area are 1) The Red Fox. Usually reservation only. It feels good to dress up and taste patrician culinary delights once in a while. The Elk is wonderful there, so is the venison as well as any menu selection. It is also good to be recognized by name upon entering a restaurant and be given impeccable service.

2) The Brazen Head Inn. Take the family. Make reservations. It's worth the trip. Six miles away in Mingo, the Brazen Head is both, a culinary pleasure and a Celtic music heaven. It also has some of the best priced and most tastefully decorated rooms in the area. The Inn was hand-built by Will Fanning and his two sons. Besides excellent food that includes Irish favorites such as Irish Coddle and Paddycakes, other delights as Roasted Pork and local-origin Trout may abound. And the music... On weekends, there are Celtic/Bluegrass singers that complete the atmosphere. Were it not for the travel, this would be my No. 1 place in the Snowshoe area.

3) My condo. I make the best paella this side of the Atlantic...

Thank you everyone for your posts. When we usually visit Snowshoe, we have always stayed in the Whistlepunk condos, and have always brought all of our own food. But since this year, it will only be my GF and I, we decided to try staying in the village, in a JR Studio, which doesnt have a full kitchen. So I guess we will just bring snack food this time.

So with it just being the two of us, and no one else to have to worry about this time, we just decided, what the hell, for once...we will eat out while we are there. And hence the thread Thanks again for all the input.

BTW, calling tomorrow for reservations to the Red Fox Thanks

I don't know about the Red Fox ... the grill pattern on my meat looked awfully much like a Michelin tire tread pattern. LOL

I gotta tell you - any Brian Ball restaurant = excellent service. The norm is empty bars at the Junction & the Bistro while 3 deep at the FoxFire. On a crowed (!) nite, pointed to the counter at the waiters computer and jokingly said "How long for a full steak dinner to appear right here?". He says "... rare = 10 minutes". AND THERE IT WAS packed and ready to take back to the condo!

LOL ... Lbotta doesn't exaggerate - his condo is where Intrawest goes to buy restaurant equipment !!! Mine is where you go to phone for reservations!

The Shoe' has 6(six) more weeks to go. Bet they close with 100% coverage - just no business.

Quote:

How do I make a reservation for Paella night??
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Any time I'm at the Shoe. Actually (you may gather I'm a gadget freak) I just got a HUGE paella pan sent from Spain. And my family did the first breaking in of the instrument. The worst of the experiment was trying to get saffron. No one has it in West Virginia it seems... The Market at Rt 66 came through and I bought their entire order. One can never have too much saffron. Good for paella, arroz con pollo, and good luck...

If you're at the Shoe let me know. I am here a lot and enjoy having family and friends.