We were traveling back from the Four Corners Monument to Pagosa Springs and fell into this restaurant. The food was surprisingly delicious. I had the Mediterranean Mix and my fiancé had the Fried Ribeye. They also had a great wine selection and coffee bar. The portion sizes are medium, so we had room for dessert which also satisfied our taste buds. Our view of the mountain was also gorgeous with the leaves changing. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Review Source:Sometimes I wonder how a great restaurant ends up in what would otherwise appear to be an area removed from a large populace. Â Kennebec is such a place. Â We enjoyed a stay at a spectacular B&B in Hesperus (see my review of the Blue Lake Ranch) and noticed Kennebec as the nearest restaurant. Â After a nice recommendation from the property manager, we headed over for dinner. Without a reservation, we were able to get a table for four. Â The atmosphere feels upscale yet relaxed. Â They have a great wine selection. Â The service was a little spotty at first, but once we understood one another better, everything was fine. Â We started with Caeser salads, and then moved into Rigatoni Bolognese, a locally-raised beef hamburger, and the Mediterranean Chicken. Â We finished with creme brulee and a chocolate cake, both of which were more than adequate.
Not a very far drive from downtown Durango, and on the way back if you are coming from four corners or Mesa Verde. Â Worth a visit.
This is your table! Take it or leave it!
We made reservations here for a Saturday night for our 44th wedding anniversary at the recommendation of a local resident in Durango, CO. Â When we arrived a few minutes before scheduled, we were given a small table, near the bar and in the middle of customer/waiter traffic; hardly a spot to celebrate our anniversary. We asked for a different table and we were told that this is it. We spotted empty tables in another room and outside. They said we should have made a reservation??? We said we had and the "host" had crossed our name off just when we arrived. They could have at least asked us to wait (outside; etc.) until another table cleared. We left and went to a good place in Durango; not as romantic but much more respectful staff.
You know how sometimes when you love a restaurant and can't wait to take your guests there, then that's the one night you can expect to be disappointed? Â This was that night. Â My aunt could not wait for us to eat there. Â She and her husband eat at Kennebec's every time they go to Durango...and they go often. Â So the night she shares this fabulous find is the one night it's really not so fabulous.
The evening started off odd when the server listed the specials, but told us there was only one left of the fish, and we better decide soon if one of the four of us wanted it. Â My aunt ordered it, but he had her order a back up meal as well, and then never told her what she would actually be served. Â My husband and my uncle both ordered chicken pot pie. Â Quite a while after the appetizers were served, the server came back and told them there was a "problem" with the chicken and they had to choose another dish. Â They both acted like children at that point and declined an entree entirely. Â Fine. Â My aunt and I are eating without you two then.
Our appetizer was the seasonal flatbread with fig, honey, goat cheese, etc. Â Nothing exceptionally unique, but very good nonetheless. Â Their appetizer was the mediterranean mix for two. Â With chicken souvlaki, hummus, dolmas, and tabbouleh, it would actually have been enough for a light meal. Â For my entree, I had the semolina crusted trout with spinach and pancetta. Â It would have been a nice dish had it not been for the pancetta. Â I like pancetta, but this made the entire dish so beyond salty, I could hardly eat it. Â But I'm tough so I managed.
Above-mentioned boys were also on the verge of a tantrum when it was discovered the famous Kennebec carrot cake was not a featured dessert that evening. Â We went with a lemon cake of sorts which was tasty, but seriously lacking the tartness, and flavor, of lemon.
While I would normally have given this meal two stars, it's a lovely restaurant, and it really does seem our evening was not typical. Â I would definitely give it another shot.
On Tuesdays, Kennebec Cafe and Bakery offers a Mexican menu in addition to their normal dishes. Maybe I'm easy to please because I live in an area where the Mexican food ain't pretty, but I thought the chicken enchiladas were amazing. Only the physical capacity of my stomach stopped me from finishing my whole plate.
I also loved the mussels and clams, which were prepared in a beer broth. Maybe I could have eaten more enchilada if I hadn't soaked up about a cup of that fantastic broth with the complimentary bread.
The atmosphere at Kennebec Cafe and Bakery is more upscale than I would expect given the menu and the prices, but I am ok with housing delicious Mexican grub in an elegant dining room.
Excellent service.
This was the site chosen to host a wedding rehearsal dinner. Family and friends from around the country converged here. Yes a huge group of people. Right from the get go the entire staff was well coordinated and hospitable, Â no one was ever on the floor without a smile.
The food was amazing! A 5 course menu was prepared for our party and it seems that no expense or detail was spared. After drinking much wine, all  I remembered was a variety of hors d'oeuvres followed by a lite salad with a raspberry dressing with goat cheese that floored me. The main course consisted of a choice of pork tenderloin, chicken or fish.  I think I said yes to all. Did I mention I drank a lot of wine?
I skipped dessert :( ...oh well next time I guess?
All & all, Kennebec pulled off a well orchestrated, magical and intimate experience that I will not soon forget. Cant wait to get back up there again!
BTW if you happen to ever find yourself (or live in) in Albuquerque NM... go north on the 140 and when you get to the 160 make a left. Its about .25 of a mile. It will not disappoint.
Great Job Kennebec Team!!!
Was there for a private brunch on the 4ith of July as a send-off for my cousin and his new bride. Everything was in top form. Coffee, tea and an array of juices (including fresh squeezed oj) were there, along with a fresh fruit station with a bountiful array of a myriad of berries. The scones were lighter than air, and the best I've ev er had, hands down, and my made-to-order omlette was expertly cooked at an omlette station. I had a chance to peruse their menu and bar while I was there, and asked some of the staff some questions. They try to source as locally as possible and keep it seasonal as well. This concept was definitley expressed in their regular menu, as well as in the brunch that I enjoyed. Despite some of the negative reviews I'm definitely willing to go back and order off their regular menu.
Review Source:My family and I went to the Kennebec cafe and had a terrible experience. Â The server was nice to begin but after a long wait started avoiding our table. Â Then we asked her about it and she told us it was coming. Â Then we got it and my brother's eggs were under-cooked and raw. Â The manager/owner took them away and then brought him a whole new plate but the eggs were still not done. Â They were supposed to be over easy but they were way less cooked than that. Â She basically told us that was the way "they cook over-easy eggs" so that was it. Â My brother ate the rest of his food and I found something disgusting in the bottom of my coffee cup. Â After another half hour of waiting for our check I went to tell the manager that the experience was turnning out badly. Â She didn't really appolgize but said she would not make us pay. Â Then the waitress rushed to the table when I got back and scolded me saying that we should have told her if we were not happy even though she had not been by our table for half an hour. Â I told her that I did not in fact work there so it was not my responsibility to keep tabs on her and that I expected decent service and food in a reasonable amount of time. Â Then the manager came over and told us we had to tip her which until her outburst we were planning. Â The manager/owner started to gripe us out for complaining about her restaurant's failings but we left. Â We have not been back. Â I don't have patience for rude people.
Review Source:I travel about  100 days a year in the US and China, so I really appreciate good food and service. Kennebec  is the type of place I love to find in my travels. It hits all the right notes, and, as a friend said, the view from their dumpster is better than from most people's multi-million dollar homes. Definitely go with one of the salad groupings and one of the lighter fare offerings. You can try more than one food choice, the quantity of food is each grouping is plenty, and you'll  have room for dessert if you've biked or hiked for several hours that day.
We each had the beet, goat cheese and prosciutto salad. Awesome! And very generous portions. My wife ordered the lamb tenderloins while I went with the top sirloin. The lamb came with grilled asparagus, done perfectly. Crisp, but warm and sightly smoky. My sirloin came with garlic mashed and spinach, both excellent, but, knowing the asparagus, if you wanted the sirloin, I'd ask if they might sub the grass for the spinach.
Their wine list is extensive, and Barbara was very helpful when the particular cabernet franc I'd selected was out. She suggested a Sicilian wine (which I'd never had before), and said if we didn't like it, she'd drink it. No need to, as it went very well with both the lamb and sirloin.
I had the pannecotta for dessert, which was also very good. A piece of the carrot cake went by as we were enjoying our pannecotta- the cake could have served two easily.
Kennebec is also reasonably priced for the quality of their food and quantity. I really liked their grouping of salad/soup and lighter fares. They of course have the full on entrees, but you'll get to experience more by trying different things. We'll definitely be back!
Worst cut of meat I have ever had - and it was the "James Ranch Organic" special! Six people of the ten in our party made the mis-steak (pun intended) of ordering it and NO ONE cut cut the dang thing. After sawing away for 30 minutes we skipped the dessert, grabbed the check and boogied. Service was fine but geez, give me a regular grain-and-antibiotic fed cow if that's the best you have.
Review Source:This is a review for the Kennebec Restaurant.
I had a great dining experience here the other night. It's a pretty boring non threatening interior with boring tables and such, but it is cozy I have to admit. There are great views of the La Plata Canyon hills outside the windows. What makes this place great is the big three in complete balance -Food Quality, Service and Price. The menu is pretty extensive and that can be good or bad. They do a mild Happy Hour Monday thru Friday. They do a Prix Fixe three course with wine pairings on Thursday nights and Monday night is Mexican night.
One problem I have with this place is that they seem to be underselling their "Local - Organic" menu. I had the Sirloin and Jumbo Shrimp last night because it was one of two specials, the other being Sea Bass and so I went with the local but it was only after I had to ask my server if it was a local grass fed steak, which seems a silly question but these days if it is presented to you as such on the menu or verbally then I have to ask.
I wanted so much to give them 5 stars but there just seemed to be something "Off" about this place. Maybe after a few years they'll get rid of that "Newness" and they find their groove and then maybe they'll be a 5 star but they could also slip to a 3. I will definitely be back here and I will recommend it to others.
Cheers