Hacienda Del Lago Restaurant

There is not many restaurant options in Vail, so we decided to try this place out finally.  Wasn't too busy, we could tell there were alot of regulars coming in for dinner.  Kids meals are all 6.99, so if they get a hot dog or grilled cheese you aren't really getting a good deal, but with chicken strips or a hamburger the price is reasonable.  Kids meals also include a scoop of ice cream afterwards.  Drinks are reasonably priced.  My husband and I both ordered chicken chimichangas, the chicken was a little dry and I don't think we would order them again.  Will definitely eat there again and try other things on the menu though.

EDIT: I put in this review some WEEKS after  the wedding event so as not to be identified as a guest of any particular wedding. The wedding I attended was nice, but nice due to the bride's family, they are what made it a happy occasion, not the venue.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Went there for a wedding and reception and I am so sorry I wore high heels. The lobby area is uneven flagstone and I hobbled in like a drunk. How embarrassing. To add insult to injury, I noticed the wedding patio area was empty, and since I left my invitation in the car (and didn't want to hobble back) I asked the sweet receptionist, and before she could explain, the manager snarled that people were meeting for drinks in at the bar. Nice.

At the bar, I had a nice but rushed bartender make an absolutely vile sangria, and pour my husband a warm flat draft, plopping the drinks down with no cocktail napkin. The TV to the left was so old it had green stripes running through it. Nice.

The ceremony was on the lawn,  over which you must teeter on more flagstone to reach, one of which was loose.  The chairs were placed flush to each other with no space in-between. Thankfully I like my husband and it's wasn't too warm out there because it could be very uncomfortable sitting crushed up next to a stranger in hot weather. Sexy. Not.

After the ceremony we all teetered back across the wiggly tippy flagstone to the covered dining area to be greeted with cocktails in plastic cups. Why bother with linens on the table when you serve drinks in plastic? Hmm? Is it an Arizona thing?
In the meantime the manager was running around with a scowl, being very abrupt with anyone who would ask her anything. I steered clear. She had a black cloud hanging over her head! For what the family paid for this reception (six grand for 100 people for just the venue and liquor/food) the manager could have been calm and at least professionally pleasant.  

The staff was very nice, and very efficient, and they were helpful. I felt bad for them. I too would be embarrassed delivering trays of wine in plastic lemonade cups. Wine in plastic. OMG. Not even plastic stemware, could they have bothered? I could get over the mushy oversoaked bruschetta, the cocktails in plastic, the beer in party cups (yes the ones you use at football parties) but wine in a plastic cup?  For shame.

After a beautiful but bland and dry dinner of overcooked chicken and grisly tri tip, stale rolls and unsalted, underspiced sides it was time for the cake. After the initial cutting, the manager pushed through the group, snarled that they would serve the cake and proceeded to hack into it and cut birthday-sized pieces with all the skill of a twelve year old who had been nipping on spiked punch. I am SO glad the bride and her mother didn't see the damage she did to that expensive beautiful cake!  For the sizes she cut, had six more people shown up, they would have run out of cake. Six. That's called cutting it WAY too close. She should be ashamed.

It wasn't MY wedding, but I hope the manager's boss hears about that horrible old bat. They are lucky I wasn't the one paying the tab. There would be hell to pay.

That said, I am giving it two stars for cleanliness, nice staff and speed of service, and because the after-cake coffee was served in mugs not styrofoam.  I have no desire to go back, and will never recommend this venue.

Here for breakfast on a weekend, great service. We get to sit wherever we want and I always like the back corner room with the best view of the golf course and pond.  Their prices went up so it's not as great of a deal anymore.  My favorite here is the chicken tortilla soup, it's consistently great.  Since their prices have gone up on the kid's meals and breakfast, we have been returning way less often.  It would be so wonderful if they had happy hour for food.