We made a reservation through OpenTable and were seated promptly upon arrival. Our table was…read moreoutside with one of the most breathtaking views of the Black Diamond ski slopes, making for a beautiful dining atmosphere. Our server, Jorge, was friendly, attentive, and quick throughout the evening. My companion also enjoyed an Old Fashioned--it was well made and satisfying, although not memorable enough to order a second.
Unfortunately, the food and service experience quickly went downhill.
I ordered "The Grand" Surf & Turf, which was advertised as a 6-ounce Lot 29 prime sirloin with green peppercorn sauce, a 4-ounce lobster tail with drawn butter, and Brussels sprouts. Instead, I was served perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful Brussels sprouts alongside a massive ribeye--with no lobster tail and no green peppercorn sauce. After taking a few bites, I realized I hadn't received what I ordered. When I pointed it out, Jorge apologized, explained the kitchen had made a mistake, and immediately had a lobster tail prepared, which ended up being excellent.
My companion ordered the bison ribs with mashed potatoes. What we overlooked was that the ribs were completely smothered in barbecue sauce. Unfortunately, the sauce tasted more like sweet ketchup than barbecue, completely overpowering the meat and making the dish unenjoyable.
The biggest disappointment came when the bill arrived. Rather than simply charging me for the Surf & Turf I originally ordered, they charged me for the full ribeye ($68) plus an additional lobster tail ($24). The entire reason I ordered the Surf & Turf was because it was $69, included both steak and lobster, and I knew I didn't want such a large steak. The additional cost wasn't really the issue--it was the principle. The mistake was entirely the restaurant's, yet we were initially billed for it. To make matters worse, my card had already been charged before I had a chance to review the bill, forcing me to ask for the charges to be corrected.
While they did adjust the bill, there was no courtesy discount, no apology from management, and no manager ever came to our table to acknowledge or address the mistakes. For a restaurant with this reputation and price point, I expected much better customer service and recovery when things went wrong.
It's unfortunate because we had been looking forward to dining here ever since driving past it on our way to breakfast. The stunning view and Jorge's kindness couldn't make up for the kitchen errors, billing issues, and lack of management response.
Sadly, we won't be returning, nor would we recommend Gun Barrel Steak House to friends or family.