Silverthorne is cutting its cosmopolitan culinary chops with newcomer Timberline Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, a harmonizing pairing to the town’s new $9 million Performing Arts Center and mixed-use Fourth Street Crossing core. The crowning developments are all a part of Silverthorne’s quest to become more than a pass-through I-70 exit for outlet shopping and fast-casual chains hit by skiers hurried to beat the eastbound crunch home.

First-time restaurateurs Tanecia and Joe Spagnolia enjoyed Summit County as second homeowners before deciding to shed their respective marketing and space systems engineering careers and dive into the industry. Situated at the tail end of a retailer row just north of the interstate, Timberline opened in November, drawing attention and local regulars with its sleek wood and stone touches, daily brunch, and shared-plates-style dinner. Executive chef Nick Mozealous—by way of Bar Fausto (now Gold Point) and the Populist (shuttered last summer)—built an eclectic and seasonally swinging New American locavore menu starring Colorado purveyors such as Morning Fresh Farms, Niman Ranch, and Hazel Dell.

The bar. Photo courtesy of Timberline Craft Kitchen

Filling a void, Mozealous’ brunch lineup aims high with gooey cast-iron bourbon bacon cinnamon rolls ($12) served with a DIY shooter drizzle of Laws Whiskey and an already well-liked pork green chile fried chicken biscuit sandwich ($14). The Spagnolias’ vision of a high-country restaurant that eats like a trending from-scratch RiNo hangout comes to life in the evening’s short rib marmalade bone marrow ($15) and elk sausage piperade ($24) with whipped lemon mascarpone.

The bar program transcends anything Summit County has seen with a lengthy list of all-natural infused Bloody Marys made with Tanecia’s own Tree Line Bloody Mary Mixes and handcrafted Colorado spirit cocktails sided by lavish whiskey and wine lists. A dozen Colorado microbrew taps are fed by special trips to buy direct from Front Range brewers who don’t distribute to the mountains.

Fried deviled eggs. Photo by Tor Parker

The create-your-own mini flights of four Bloody Marys ($12) make for a fun mix-and-match game—the cucumber dill tomato mix with gin is a winner. Creative brunch cocktails tempt with a kombucha paloma while the Up in Smoke 291 Rye Old Fashioned ($16) with walnut bitters is a popular pick from the six-page libations menu.

With its lively open layout and easygoing vibe, Timberline is well on its way to becoming Summit County’s go-to spot to linger after some high-altitude shopping or a big day on the mountain.

If you go: Daily brunch ends at 3 p.m. and rolls right into happy hour from 3 to 5:30 p.m.; 246 Rainbow Dr., Silverthorne

Lisa Blake
Lisa Blake
Lisa Blake is a freelance writer and children's book author living in Breckenridge. When she's not writing about food and mountain adventures, she can be found on the river with her son, pug and husband.