Things to Eat in Denver that Are Dead

I'm open to "live" foods as well, but I'd be happy with just pretty good previously live meats, fish and plants based on my several experiences in this otherwise appealing city over the years. For me, dining in Denver and Colorado more broadly has never been a focus. Sort of like Costa Rica, the DR, Kenya, and other such places, Denver's charms have had little to do with food, which is just fine.

Nonetheless, I have an expense account, anything goes type of dinner to host in a few days. I'm open to all suggestions, but I am a little weary of thinking man's marathon meals.

(In fact, I owe a report of some kind on the 22 course adventure I had at Alinea a few weeks back, which I followed the next night with a somewhat over-the-top meal at David Burke. I'm still digesting it all. Ha! (We had some serious gastro-tourist friends in from out of town; and by serious I mean they had a blowout at C Trotters the night before Alinea.) In that context, you'll understand why I'm not looking for cutting edge cuisine in Denver.)

I moved back from Denver 3 1/2 years ago, but one of my favorite restaurants there was Vesta Dipping Grill in LoDo. They have like 30 different kinds of sauces and you pair them with entrees. Their duck is sublime there, although I can hardly remember the preperation.
Also, Adego opened just before I left. It was run by a master sommelier and had an awesome wine list and good menu, I don't remember what i had there.
Hope this helps.

Thanks. I had seen something else positive about the "dip" themed restuarant, but you'll have to forgive my continued skepticism. Now, a wine themed place, that sounds better. Maybe we'll end up on the curb in front of AppleJack's with a first growth Bordeaux or a Barolo. I love that place.

I don't know why, but it seems to me that there should be an honest, seasonal restaurant featuring game and local produce. I'm picturing something similar to what you might find in the piedmonts of Italy, Spain or Mexico. Maybe a Casa de Samuel sort of spot, with the venison fresh from the piney woods. Maybe not.

Jeff...I am also a former resident of Denver. While there is some great food to be had there, don't start with the expectations of "something similar to what you might find in the piedmonts of Italy, Spain or Mexico". Unless you plan on dining in Vail or Aspen, I don't think you'll really find a lot of game in the city. However, Frasca in Boulder and Highlands Garden Cafe are both famous for using local produce and patronizing CO purveyors. You might also check out Restaurant Kevin Taylor. He has been at the top of his game for some time and seems to never disappoint.

http://www.frascafoodandwine.com/

http://www.highlandsgardencafe.com/

http://www.restaurantkevintaylor.com/

I'm also including a link to a guide that I found in the Denver Post. I remember that last time you asked about Denver you were having trouble finding true Mexican food. You'll notice in this guide that it's divided in two categories.

http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/spo ... ningguide/

Enjoy!

Thanks!

Yeah, Vesta's name sounds theme-y, but its not like that.

I can't think of a single place like the one you describe, there was some restaurant that was in an old park mess hall or something outside Boulder, I can't remember the name just yet.

In Denver, you get more brew pubs than anything else. The Denver Chop House does a decent steak, though. And I just remembered, Campo di Fiore in Cherry Creek is good for Italian.

Check out http://www.westword.com and also Kyle Wagner is the restaurant critic (at least I think she is still there) for the Denver Post and she is one of my favorite food critics.

Well, duh, I followed my own link to The Westword, and right there is a review of The Buckhorn Exchange. They are a 113 year old restaurant founded by a relative of Wild Bill Cody, and their special on the night the reviewer was there was Yak!
I never tried it myself, so I can't speak to it, but it sounds like what you are looking for.

Jeff...Went back and perused both Westword's Best of 2006 picks as well as the Rocky Mountain News Top 20 (which I sent you a link for yesterday) to see if anything else jogged my memory. Here are three more places that you might want to consider.

Mizuna...Another restaurant that is big on changing up their ingredients with the seasons and what's available. Very comfortable and well run place.

Rioja...Although I have not been here, it's clearly one of the hot restaurants in the city right now.

Mels'...This was always one of my favorite places when we lived in Denver for either lunch or dinner. The food is always excellent, polished, but not intrusive service and a cozy room. I looked at the menu on the web site and it's a very minimal display compared to what they usually offer.


http://www.mizunadenver.com/

http://www.riojadenver.com/

http://www.melsbarandgrill.com/

My dad used to take me to the Buckhorn when I was a kid and he was on staff at Ft. Collins. I haven't been there in 30 yrs. But a buddy of mine here in KC owns a piece of it. So: "Tom", I said, "what's the Buckhorn like these days?" "Haven't changed a thing" he replied. And he can be trusted on something as important as this.

White walls, dark wood, dead animal heads on the walls, scrupulous care with primal food. And it's not the way it is by theme-parkery; it was that way when I was a kid and that's a loooonnngggg time ago, long before theme-parkery came into existence.

I think maybe it and Elitches's Garden are co-existential.

Geo

http://www.buckhorn.com/main.htm

Thanks for all of the links and info. They will come in handy. On this particular trip, the client's preference was the pld-fashioned steak place Brook's. It was pretty good overall, and the steaks were excellent.

you should check out domo. its a "country food" japanese place in a museum like setting. it is almost as if a traditional japanese building was transported to colorado via star trek transporter, complete w garden and out buildings. i dont know if this is expense account eating because it might be adventurous for some but the food there is amazing. there was a write up about it in westword which i think you can read at westword.com and there is also a website
http://www.domorestaurant.com/
it really is an amazing place not to be missed.

GinaO wrote:...... there was some restaurant that was in an old park mess hall or something outside Boulder.

That would be the Chautauqua Dining Hall and it's not outside Boulder, it's firmly in the city. It's in the historic Chautauqua Park which is on Baseline Road and 8th St right at the base of the mountains. Chef is Bradford Heap who also owns Full Moon Grill. For some reason, Full Moon is light years better. But, sitting on the porch at Chautauqua for brunch during the summer is fantastic.

In Denver, I'd recommend the Samba Room, Tamayo and Rioja - all in Larimer Square.

JeffB wrote: Maybe we'll end up on the curb in front of AppleJack's with a first growth Bordeaux or a Barolo. I love that place.

Before recently, I'd never heard of Applejack's, but its excellent sign is a beacon from I-70. Here is a link to a pic of the sign.
Maybe I can get back there to peruse the wine selection. The top-piece looks a bit like a cupcake from this camera angle, but it actually represents a jug.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_chip/4226915006/

Applejack Wine and Spirits
3320 Youngfield Street
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
(303) 233-3331

Josephine wrote:The top-piece looks a bit like a cupcake from this camera angle, but it actually represents a jug.

This must be a Rorschach test for LTHers. Personally, I see an al pastor trompo

stevez wrote:

Josephine wrote:The top-piece looks a bit like a cupcake from this camera angle, but it actually represents a jug.

This must be a Rorschach test for LTHers. Personally, I see an al pastor trompo

I like this idea a lot. And I'm pretty sure that some LTH-er's would project olfactory and gustatory sensations onto the inkblots as well. I've never encountered that in practice, but it wouldn't shock me.