Penelope's

Penelope's 

229 W Elkhorn Ave
Estes Park, CO 80517
970.586.2277

If you are fortunate enough to be visiting Estes Park with a family or if you are eating on a budget, or just looking for a  decent, quick burger, Penelope's is a long-time favorite that continues to consistently deliver. Located on the West end of Elkhorn Ave, the restaurant is walk-up style with and has the feel of a diner that has been there for a long time. The decor draws upon the rugged past of the area and a nostalgic collection of memorabilia adorns the walls. The menu is off the grill and includes an array of sandwiches as well as a reasonable variety of burgers. Elk and Buffalo burgers are available for those who are interested in local wild game, and this is a great place to get a well dressed and tasty garden or turkey burger. The burgers are served on a brioche-like egg bun with just the right combination of soft and chewy, and is nicely toasted to receive the burger.

The elk meat is mild and delicious, though I found it a bit dry, as is bison when compared to beef. While it does effect the overall juiciness of a burger, many burger lovers prefer the drier result of a leaner meat. I recommend ordering elk medium rare, though our meat all appeared to be cooked to a consistent temperature. Penelope's provides condiments on a serve-yourself basis. Grilled onions and mushrooms, bacon and guacamole are all available for toppings, so you can generally juice it up to your lining. 

We were certainly impressed when we realized that the young man behind

the counter appeared to be running the whole restaurant by himself. We saw no sign of help for him, yet he managed to take orders from a line to the door, run the grill and fryer and clean tables as patrons left. Despite his many duties, the burgers were assembled and dressed nicely, the orders were all correct and, perhaps most important, he smiled while he cooked, which perhaps contributes the most to an overall good meal.