Dinner as theater at Chasing Rabbits in Vail

Crossing the threshold into Chasing Rabbits is like stepping into another world: one of imagination and indulgence. Spanning 13,000 square feet, the space invites guests into an immersive blend of dining, drinking and discovery. It’s an experience that’s designed to be felt as much as it is tasted. At its core is The Restaurant, where innovative Mediterranean-influenced dishes are worthy of a decadent detour. 

Start with a cocktail, where each creation tilts towards the theatrical with clever twists. The Clarified Air is crowned with a billowy cherry foam over a rum-and-cherry elixir that lands on your tongue like boozy, grown-up candy. For something moodier, the Coffee Old Fashioned reimagines the classic with bourbon, tequila-based coffee liquor, fig and fennel bitters and a slow-melting coconut ice cube.

The menu begs to be shared, grazed and sampled, because choosing only one dish is just too difficult. Start with a charred eggplant dip, whose smoky, smooth richness is best scooped with warm, crispy roti. Or dunk sourdough bread into an earthy, savory seafood broth filled with prawns, sweet cherry tomatoes and bright Fresno chilis.

The showstopper of the small plates? The short rib cappelletti. Pillowy pasta pockets are filled with short rib and bone marrow and finished with a silky brown butter sauce and crispy shallots for added texture. Each bite is rich and heavenly without being heavy. 

Plates arrive like little works of art, each one meticulously composed. Thin slices of herb-rolled salmon are pressed into a pattern that’s visually striking before you even take a bite. A drizzle of Calabrian chile oil and a mix of pickled and crispy shallots bring brightness and a touch of heat to every forkful.

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You’ll find returning favorites, such as the braised rabbit bolognese or the Ora King salmon. But if adventure calls — and at Chasing Rabbits, it almost always does — lean into something bold. The charred cocoa coffee-crusted skirt steak channels earthiness with a touch of sweetness. Duck-fat potatoes and maple-roasted carrots complete the picture, transforming steak and potatoes into something fresh. On the lighter end, the loup de mer lays a whole branzino sea bass over creamy butternut curry sauce, finished with ribbons of shaved pickled carrot and herbs. 

Dessert is where you choose your next adventure: do you eat it or drink it? Both are encouraged. Turkish baklava layers buttery, flaky phyllo with pistachio nuts and gelato. The vegan Chocolate and Cherries stacks dense chocolate mousse and brownie into a tower, then tops it with a sweet-and-tart cherry compote. If you prefer sipping on something sweet, order the Snow Hopper. This mint-and-white-chocolate cocktail is like the liquid form of a sweet after-dinner mint, cleansing the palate and capping off your evening.

Chasing Rabbits isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience wrapped in elegance and dripping with whimsy. It’s a place that invites you to linger, wander and taste with abandon — and this is just the first stop. Wander deeper to discover new rooms, including the library lounge, arcade and speakeasy, each with its own flair and flavor. Special events and experiences are featured throughout the year, such as themed dinners, bingo nights, Casa Rabbits Latin dance parties and artist takeovers.

This weekend, March 27-29, artist Gonzalo Pizarro’s first solo exhibition, presented by Artist Replete, launches in the speakeasy gallery space, Moon Rabbit. Pizarro has spent years experimenting with industrial materials, and has garnered millions of views for his time-lapsed videos documenting his artistic process. Working on a sheet of OSB board, a structural construction panel made from compressed wood strands bonded together under heat and pressure, he paints fragmented portraits directly into the surface. For years, Pizarro had been honing his craft, allowing the natural fragmentation of the board to inform portraits that feel architectural and human at once. The material guides the creation, the fragmented wood becomes image.

Attend a live Q&A with the artist on opening night, March 27, from 7-8 p.m. The work will remain on view each evening. To reserve a spot, visit chasingrabbits.com/events.