first trip to Vail - looking for real food

We will be taking our first trip out to ski the big mountains. I know that
Vail village and environs can be one big tourist trap with bad, overpriced food. I figured that there are a few skiers here who could point us in the right direction food wise.

Also, we were thinking of splurging one night for dinner at Left Bank. Any experiences with this restaurant?

I started skiing Vail with my dad in 1967 and I know you'll have a wonderful time. The Left Bank is indeed outstanding. However, I believe that they do not accept credit cards. You may want to verify this before you go. Sweet Basil is another favorite of ours, and the other two "hot spots" seem to be Larkspur and Kelly Liken though I have not eaten at either. I love Pepi's for either lunch or hanging out on their patio for a beer and people watching in the spring. They also have a more formal restaurant called The Game Room which serves Austrian, Continental and game specialities which is truly wonderful. Another favorite is Pazzo's Pizza either for dining in or carry out pizza and salads. Campo di Fiori is a restaurant which I became familiar with when we lived in Denver. This is their Vail outpost. They serve Tuscan food in a very lively atmosphere.

Enjoy!

PS. I think our/my experience with Vail is that while it is an expensive town as opposed to the surrounding resorts, there are a lot of good restaurants. The average Vail patron is used to high quality food and is willing to pay for it. If a restaurant doesn't deliver the goods, they don't stay open long. Aside from Vail we've skiied Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Winter Park in Colorado so I have something to compare it all to.