Bird and Jim – Estes Park

Bird and Jim

After spending the day at Rocky Mountain National Park, it is important to refuel with some good food. Located just a bit outside of the Beaver Meadow’s entrance is Bird and Jim. It is easy to spot with the big Restaurant sign that is easily spotted on the left side of the road.

The restaurant is named after Isabella Bird and Mountain Jim. Bird was an explorer, writer, and pioneer. In 1873 she was just the second woman to summit Longs Peak. Mountain Jim was a prominent figure in the history of Estes Park and the guide on Bird’s journey to the summit. Here is a bit more on the how Bird and Jim inspired the naming of Bird and Jim!

The Food

Now for the important part…the Food! Bird and Jim serves a mix of American and western cuisine. I was starving after a long day of hiking at Rocky Mountain so decided to start with an appetizer. I went with one of their spreads. They have the option of hummus, pimento cheese, or smoked trout dip. You can order all three or just one of them and I went with the Pimento Cheese Spread.

Pimento Cheese Spread

The Pimento Cheese was very rich and thick but still spread well. It also tasted just like the cheese dip I had growing up in the Midwest and I loved it. The spreads come with really fresh veggies and a great assortment of crackers. It was nice and cool and very refreshing after a long hot hike.

Mountain Jim Burger

For the main meal I went with the Mountain Jim Burger. The amazing bartender Patrick suggested I add bacon and eggs. Seriously Patrick did a great job and was super helpful! The traditional Mountain Jim is a seven ounce Colorado angus beef chuck-short rib and duroc pork belly blend, swiss cheese, vine ripe tomatoes, mixed greens, and a green peppercorn aioli on a potato bun.

The burger was really good and flavorful and cooked perfectly. Like, it actually came medium! The bacon had a bit of a smoked flavor to it and was crispy. The egg broke quick and enveloped the burger. It did get a bit sloppy with the veggies and running egg but that isn’t a bad thing! The burger would be really good on its own but with the added bacon and egg this burger was top notch. The side of fries were perfect to soak up any left over yolk to make for a perfect combination.

Finding Bird and Jim

Bird and Jim is located at 915 Moraine Ave in Estes Park. If you are driving out of Rocky Mountain National Park on US 36 and you see the big sign that says restaurant you are in the right place. Turn left at the light. There is some parking next to the restaurant and near the motel.

I have added this restaurant and all of the restaurants I have been to on my interactive map that you can find here. If you have a suggestion for a restaurant or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Bon Appetit!

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