The
Grill at Knob Hill: Fine Dining in Sun Valley
We
are often asked what time of year is best to visit Sun Valley.
Ski season is always lively, Summertime is beautiful as is the
Spring and Fall, so our answer is always anytime! This fall
we spent a lovely weekend in Ketchum and Sun Valley for the
Trailing of the Sheep Festival http://www.trailingofthesheep.org/
which included food tastings, fairs with sheep shearing demonstrations
and of course the Parade where 1500 sheep were herded thru Main
Street in Ketchum from the mountains to the low lands for the
winter.
Knob Hill Inn
Friends
had told us how lovely the Knob Hill Inn was so we opted to
stay there and have dinner at The Grill at Knob Hill. Our accommodations
were lovely, as we stayed in one of their nicely appointed luxurious
Suites. The Suite with modern décor had a King Bed, lovely
bedding and marble bathroom, wet bar, wood burning fireplace
and two large flat screen TVs. There were great views of the
mountains from the living room and bedroom, as well as the large
outdoor balcony.
We
find that it is quite pleasant to stay where you can just walk
from your room for drinks and dinner. We stopped in at their
lively bar before dinner and enjoyed Specialty Craft Cocktails.
We particularly enjoyed their take on the Classic True Grit
which was made with Hornitos Tequila, Canton Ginger, fresh lime,
grapefruit and salt n' pepper rim. The Knob Hill Inn Bar and
this cocktail are favorites with both locals as well as guests.
Dining Room
The
Dining room was packed when we arrived for our 8 PM reservation.
We were quickly escorted to our table where we were comfortably
seated with room to spare and not too close to other diners.
Spacing in restaurants can be an issue but here it was done
well. The noise level was quite low so we could talk easily.
Our
friendly professional server soon told us about the Specials
and we started out with a bottle of San Pellegrino Sparkling
Water and a glass of wine. The focused Wine List features both
Domestic and International Wines including reasonable and luxury
offerings. While sipping the 2016 Morgan Winery Monterey Cote
du Crow's Red Blend we perused the focused menu. The cuisine
is Rocky Mountain Northwest American with European influences.
You can have local Idaho Trout, Steaks, Lamb, Wienerschnitzel,
Seafood and Wild Game. We met Chef Sarah Janego who told us
how pleased she was to have the flexibility to create seasonal
menus.
Escargot
We
immediately knew that the Escargot with garlic Herb Butter and
Bacon Pernod was a must. We were correct as the Escargot were
delicious! The Bacon Pernod sauce was particularly tasty and
unique. We were then pleasantly surprised as their warm signature
Warm Springs Scones Popovers arrived and tasted quite yummy!
Next, we enjoyed the Lamb Lollipops served with mint pesto and
crispy onions. They were prepared rare as ordered and had a
lovely aroma. The Pan Seared Maine Sea Scallops was a Special
which was served with jalapeño, caper, brown butter,
avocado mousse, sautéed seasonal vegetables which included
mashed potatoes, carrots and snap peas. The Scallops were perfectly
seared and beautifully plated. Although we were quite full and
satisfied, we were a bit jealous as we saw the Prime Rib on
its way to a neighboring table. The 12 oz. 45 day aged Prime
Rib was slow roasted and served with pan au jus, horseradish
sauce and whipped potatoes. We will definitely have it on our
next visit.
Lamb Lollipops
We
were enjoying the casual, comfortable yet sophisticated atmosphere,
so we decided that after dinner drinks and dessert would allow
us to linger. The Portuguese Ramos- Pinto Fine Ruby Port and
a Decaf Cappuccino were perfect choices to pair with their house
made Strawberry Shortcake made with lavender pound cake, macerated
strawberries and lemon curd. The dessert was light and just
delicious with the fresh lemon curd.
The
Grill at Knob Hill features both indoor and outdoor (weather
permitting) dining, has lovely garden and mountain views and
is a favorite for good reason of both locals and visitors. We
chatted with Restaurateur Bob Dunn who should be proud of what
he has accomplished in his seven years owning the restaurant
with his wife and partner Jolie Dunn.
Restaurateur Bob Dunn
We
loved staying at the Knob Hill Inn and dining at The Grill at
Knob Hill. It is a great way to be pampered in Sun Valley and
is worthy of its 2018 recognition as one of the top 25 boutique
hotels in the U.S. The excellent value is also enhanced as a
Signature Breakfast in the Fireplace Room is included in the
room charge. We look forward to returning soon.
The
Grill at Knob Hill
Knob Hill Inn
960 N. Main Street
Ketchum, ID 83340
208-726-8004
www.KnobHillInn.com
@KnobHillInn
Restaurant
Reservation Recommended*
Open 7 Nights a Week
Private Dining
Room Service Dining
Banquet, Meeting and Event Catering
Pet Friendly
Indoor Pool and Spa
By Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives