Vail Adds Pendulum to Dining Scene

Pendulum, an upscale modern restaurant opened in the heart of Vail Village this month bringing along American cuisine accented with Latin influences. As one of the first new restaurant builds to open in Vail Village in eight years, Pendulum is the second Colorado restaurant from San Francisco-based PlumpJack Group, which took over and reopened White Bison.

Semple Brown Architects, responsible from many Denver restaurants, including the Squeaky Bean, and ShopWorks led the design at Pendulum, a 90-seat restaurant with a modern lodge aesthetic. There are rustic light wood walls, dark stone accents, hand-crafted iron, soft lighting and a show-piece custom-made chandelier. A bar greets diners who discover thoughtful woodwork and banquette seating with playful plaid fabrics inside the dining room.

Chef Jake Burkhardt, who also oversees the culinary program at White Bison, launched with a menu centered around a rotisserie and wood-fired oven. Dishes bring together flavor inspiration from Argentina, Mexico, and Spain with signature items including the ensalada rusa, crispy Peruvian octopus, and tots and caviar. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.