Cosmopolitan Telluride/The Tasting Cellar

Cosmopolitan Telluride/The Tasting Cellar Restaurant Review:

Chef-proprietor Chad Scothorn presents six courses and five wines to create an impressive tasting menu in his old-world wine cellar for parties of ten to 32 people, making it one of the most sought after reservations in Telluride. Menus, which change on a whim, are priced at $75, $85 or $100 per person depending upon what dishes and wines you choose. Most people, however, save the tasting menu experience for special occasions and instead make reservations in the contemporary dining room bedecked with light woods and white tablecloths. We recommend starting with the truffled lobster corn dogs or the prosciutto-wrapped sea scallops paired with pear chutney and honeyed mustard, also aromatic with truffle oil. Main dishes, such as the seafood stew stocked with crab, shrimp, sea scallops, salmon and a lobster tail, showcase bright flavors and a deft hand with spices. We also like the tofu pot stickers pooled in a Thai-inspired broth and served with a fresh vegetable stir-fry. For dessert, try the molten chocolate cake or vanilla crème brûlée, prepared with strawberries and hazelnut toffee. The map-spanning wine list will appease grape gurus and novices alike.