From the Slopes to The Hill

Limelight brings Aspen-famous Ajax Tavern to Boulder

Story Kate Jonuska  » Photos Brock DuPont

Located in The Little Nell at the bottom of the Silver Queen gondola and serving upscale tavern food slope-side, the original Ajax Tavern has long been one of Aspen’s hottest après-ski destinations. This year, however, the hottest Ajax Tavern is now on
The Hill rather than the mountain, after opening last September as a part of the new Limelight Boulder on University Hill. 

“The original really feels like Aspen’s living room,” says executive chef Jeff Grundy, who actually spent his early career at the original Ajax, working his way up to chef de cuisine. He then opened a second Ajax Tavern for Limelight Ketchum in Utah before leaving the company for other projects. Ajax’s spacious, stunning new kitchen in Boulder is his grand return to the company and concept. 

“I was excited at the chance to be a part of it,” says Jeff, noting that with Ajax Downtown in Denver, Boulder will be the fourth and most ambitious of the Ajax brand yet. “I have a chance to take this quality Limelight concept and be creative, put my personal twist on the menu. I couldn’t say no.”

For those already in love with Ajax favorites—the epic wagyu double cheeseburger, the creamy vegan cauliflower gratin, wood-fired pizzas—rest assured that the chef’s new twists won’t change the beloved standards that started in Aspen and spread alongside the brand. 

The ever-popular steak frites, for instance, will likely always occupy a top spot on the menu, but Jeff’s take will feature different cuts or preparations as the market and seasons vary—though all are aged at Ajax Downtown’s state-of-the-art dry-aging room in Denver using only the finest locally raised meat. Recently, blistered shishito peppers and bearnaise sauce accompanied a flavorful au poivre hanger steak. 

Another classic, Ajax’s original wagyu bolognese with homemade slow-cooked sauce served over pappardelle pasta made fresh in-house, also remains in a starring menu role in Boulder. However, Jeff plans to offer a second pasta dish that varies by season, explaining that fresh pasta is his first passion, followed closely by cooking seasonally. 

For winter, that dish was a vegan butternut squash ravioli with wild mushrooms, spiced pepitas, and sage brown butter. Creamy, earthy, and creative, the ravioli one of the most satisfying versions of the classic squash-sage combination available in a crowded field, proving the chef’s expertise—and curiosity to see what the chef creates in pasta with each new season is sure to keep local diners coming back. Such gourmet attention to vegan dishes is notable and welcome. 

Similarly, both tuna tartar and beef tartar are Ajax staples, but the preparation will vary seasonally in Boulder. Recently, the tuna was served with yuzu juice, scallions, and tapioca pearl crackers for an Asian flavor palate. Adding on to those staples, though, Boulder’s seafood and raw bar options are significantly expanded versus other locations, featuring oysters, shrimp, hamachi, and combination platters. 

In general, having more space inside the shiny, new hotel has allowed the Ajax concept to blossom in Boulder and significantly expand its service to offer not only lunch and dinner menus but also daily breakfast, weekend brunches and a rich bar menu. Even in the few months the restaurant has been open, brunch has proved particularly popular with families of students from nearby CU, and the bar menu is where you’ll find those classic Ajax pizzas served in Aspen and Denver.

“It’s a great location and already has a lot of buzz,” Jeff says of the restaurant, which occupies pride of place in the stylish lobby of the hotel and is fit to star in any design magazine. 

The dining room boasts modern touches like soaring ceilings and concrete walls balanced and grounded with cozy booths and a beautiful bar of dark wood and copper. Just as diners people-watch the skiers of Aspen from the original, an entire wall of windows means diners can people-watch on the Hill, while staff operates smoothly and with quiet confidence, wearing artisan-like aprons of denim and leather like the craftspeople of hospitality they are.

It’s easy to picture future Sundance Festival VIPs and other out-of-town notables being drawn into the warm, comfortable luxury of Ajax Tavern. But with amazing vegan versions of tavern favorites, great burgers, and molten cookies, the new Ajax retains the casual friendliness of an après-ski hangout and is sure to be as popular a hotspot as the original. 

Visit Ajax Tavern in Limelight Boulder at 1295 University Ave. or learn more at limelighthotels.com/boulder/dining. Valet parking is validated for restaurant diners.