Ssshhh. I am going to give away a local's secret, so read carefully. The Blue Lion is a favorite for both locals and visitors because of its cozy atmosphere and wide variety of choices. The menu includes selections of fish and venison, including local trout, buffalo, and elk. Dishes range from Wyoming-style fare (grilled steaks and burgers with simple vegetable sides) to seafood dishes with an Asian flare (Thai Green-Curry Shrimp or Asian-Grilled Salmon, for instance). The rack of lamb is said to be the best around. All entrees come with soup or salad (with a wide range of salad dressings to choose from, including maple-balsamic vinaigrette, sesame vinaigrette, raspberry chipotle, and all of the usual suspects), and a basket of the daily bread, which can feature anything from cinnamon butter to a cracked pepper crust. The Blue Lion also features several daily desserts, which are usually worth the extra calories. Also available is an extensive wine list as well as a wide choice of local and domestic bottled beers.
In the winter, The Blue Lion is a very cozy place to dine. The restaurant is located in what used to be a fairly small house, so even though there are two floors, the dining area only has about ten tables. In the summer, the very large patio is open and offers outdoor dining in what are typically mild Wyoming evenings.
Now here is the trick. In winter, arrange to be seated before 6:30pm. In the summer, before 6:00pm. Tell your server that you would like to be included in the Early Bird Special, and enjoy a 20% discount off of your bill. Most of the servers won't include the discount unless you specify that you are there for the special, so don't forget! Yes, it may require an early dinner, but the early evening in Jackson is a wonderful time to dine, particularly during the summer when you can dine on the patio.
The Blue Lion is definitely worth a visit. It is very centrally located—just 2 blocks off of town square. It is open 7 days a week starting at 6:00pm in winter and 5:30pm in summer. The Blue Lion attracts both tourists and locals, so it is completely possible to blend right in no matter who you are. It is a very mellow and relaxing place to spend an evening, so don't miss it!
http://www.bluelionrestaurant.com