The Left Bank

What an experience! It started to rain so we looked for cover and saw the menu for Left Bank. We were not dressed for the space but nabbed a place at the bar and the staff could not have been more welcoming and outstanding. The wine list is big city legit and the food was sublime. We were just driving through Vail when we stumbled in. Many thanks to the staff (sounds so impersonal) for letting us in and delivering such an outstanding experience. We will forever remember this night.

I could not sleep last night of the disappointing and upsetting experience we had at this restaurant. What started off as a lovely dining experience ended up as a total scam. The joke was on us. To begin, the manager began discussing the wine list with my husband and the wines in discussion ranged from 1,500 to about 2,000!!! I clearly told him the types of wines we enjoy and our price point - $300 to $400 dollars would be fine. He asked my husband if we would be drinking 1 or 2 bottles and he replied probably 2. With that being said, the manager made a comment at one point that I didn’t have to know the price of the bottle. Although we laughed and I assumed he was joking, I replied yes I do. He then said he had a nice bottle that wasn’t on the list that he thought would be perfect. He brought out the bottle and we drank the bottle along with another couple that joined us for dinner. About 45 minutes or an hour into our dinner, the bottle finished and he asked if we would like a second bottle. We said yes so he brought it out. At that point we asked how much the bottle was just to be sure it was in our price range. As we were asking he quickly began uncorking the bottle as we told him numerous times not to open at which time he said 4. At that point we asked $400 and he replied $4,000.00!!!!!!! As you can imagine, we were all in dismay by his response. I was so upset! I have never heard anything like this nor could even imagine him having opened a bottle and a second one, to boot, for that immense amount of money. Needless to say we did not even touch our food at that point. Our entrees were untouched and were even charged a soufflé that never even made it to the table. He even insisted on caviar to start so we ordered the smallest portion to share with our friends. We were charged $750.00 for the caviar!!!!!!!! I feel this was a total scam on the part of the manager. He took advantage of us and was not up front with us when I made our price point very clear to him. This experience has dampened my entire week here at Vail as we leave today having been charged nearly $5,000.00 for dinner for 4- and he was ready to begin pouring a second bottle. Very sneaky, misleading and unprofessional!

Wow! All I can say! If you go, make sure you asked for the prices of anything you ordered. The most sneaky, in your face, no respect for the customer. I have eaten in many, many restaurants in my lifetime; and frequently But from a restaurant in vail where you go expecting to eat well and pay hefty prices. It is very disappointed on there behavior. This incident was embarrassing and the first time! I am sure the owner of the restaurant is not aware of the tactics.

By far one of the best restaurants in vail. I actually returned twice in three days. The best bartender and drinks in the entire vail village, and the food is a solid 9.5. I would highly recommend making advanced reservations as this place books up weeks in advance. Also, 100% try the caviar service.