The Europeans do it right, a leisurely lunch with a panoramic view of the slopes you’ve skied. Whether its wine and gourmet cheese, Swiss fondue, or a juicy cheeseburger in paradise, these on mountain restaurants offer sit down service and delicious alpine fare. Skiing burns 500 calories an hour; so relax and indulge in these best on mountain ski resort restaurants.

The Cliff House at Stowe, Vermont
Ride the Gondola to the top of Mt Mansfield, and enter this full-service mountaintop restaurant, open for lunch and evenings when Stowe offers night skiing. The Austrian chalet décor pairs nicely with the Vermont artisan dishes.

The Round House at Sun Valley, Idaho
Ski in to the mid-mountain Round House as the first Sun Valley skiers did back in 1939. Dine on Austrian fare of raclette and fondue by the fire, while an accordion player entertains with classic mountain ski songs. This is a Sun Valley must.

Epic at Okemo, Vermont
Epic sounds like accolades from a recent snow storm, but its an epicurean hideaway at the base of the Solitude quad lift. Enjoy chef creations of lamb sausage, calamari, and duck with no cafeteria trays. Okemo has upped the ski resort standard for food all over the mountain. The Coleman Brook at Jackson Gore Inn is another full service Tavern where you can snuggle into a high back chair for an organic Vermont burger with native Cheddar and a pinot from their Wine Spectator award list.

Gunbarrel at Heavenly, California
The Gunbarrel has location, location, location at the top of the Heavenly Tram. The fare and friendly service are a bonus, but its all about the Heavenly views of Lake Tahoe.

Alpenglow Stube at Keystone
Atop Keystone’s River Run Gondola, trade in your ski boots for soft slippers as you are greeted and waited on by Bavarian costumed waiters. Dining at 11,444’on fondues, soups, game, and pastries is extraordinary at this elevation.

Willow Creek at The Ritz Carlton Aspen Highland, Colorado
Ski to the slopeside Village at Aspen Highland and enter the Ritz Carlton Club for lunch, and a break from Deep Temerity’s steeps. The Willow Creek has a nice menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and of course, ritzy service.

Royal Street Café at Deer Valley, Utah
Located upstairs in Deer Valley’s mid-mountain Silver Lake Lodge is this full-service culinary café. The Chipotle BBQ Burger is to die for, much like Deer Valley on a powder day.

Watson’s Shelter, Alta, Utah
This earthy skiers’ only mountain has a surprisingly elegant mid-mountain restaurant with linen table cloths and creative courses. A great view of the slopes and skiers passing by on the Collins lift will keep you connected with your Alta ego.

The Cabin, The Canyons, Utah
Lookout Cabin is a cozy mountaintop chalet at The Canyons vast resort, with table service and a diverse menu for hungry downhillers. The chefs’ prepare your ahi tuna or mountain man chili in an open kitchen but the stunning view of the Wasatch Mountains is the real attention grabber.

Timbers at Sugarbush
This Round barn restaurant at the newly redesigned Lincoln Peak Village is very upscale for downhillers. Vermont micro-brews and organic local foods are served in creative fashion, the service is very good, and the views of Sugarbush’s slopes are too.

Schwendi Hutte at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
This rustic chalet at 4,000’ is a Waterville Valley lunch must. They serve beer and wine, fresh soups like Lobster Bisque with sherry and cheese fondue. You might think, just for a moment, that you are in St Moritz, not New Hampshire.

The Bag at Sugarloaf, Maine
While the Bag is nothing fancy, their big juicy burgers are phenomenal. The thick creamy cheeseburger soup is also heart warming on those wicked cold Loaf days. You have to say you’ve been in The Bag, like Sugarloaf - it’s an institution.

Top of Quad, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
With a spectacular view of Mount Washington, this restaurant at the summit of Bretton Woods’ Quad used to be a top lunch spot. Then they turned it into a tacky south of the border Taco eatery …but it’s still the best view in the Northeast.