Denver Restaurant Week 2007 is upon us, thanks to the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Love it or hate it, this is your best chance all year to try restaurants you’ve been hearing about and haven’t had the time (or cash) to get to yet.
For $52.80 per couple (that’s $26.40 a person) over 150 area spots (the most ever, by far) are offering three-course dinners designed to fill you up … and hook you as a repeat customer.
These days, that’s a pretty good deal.
Besides, it’s not like there’s anything better to do next, which promises to be yet another agonizing stretch of never-ending winter.
Hit denverrestaurantweek.com for a complete list of restaurants and menus, then get on the phone and make your reservations.
(Beware: There is a bait-and-switch element to this whole promotion if you don’t stick to the prix-fixe menu. Careless ordering will lead to bigger bills.)
Herewith, my ideal itinerary for Restaurant Week.
Saturday: Texas de Brazil. Kick the week off with a bang at Texas de Brazil, up in the new Northfield Stapleton development. They’re being extra-generous with their prix-fixe offering, giving you free reign over almost the entire menu. First course: Go nuts at their massive salad (and soup) bar. Second course: As many cuts of beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or sausage as you can stomach. For dessert, Bananas Foster Pie. (8390 E. 49th Ave., 720-374-2100)
Sunday: India House. Recover from last night’s meat extravaganza with an elegant vegetarian meal at India House downtown. (It’s a breeze to park down there on Sunday.) Start with a samosa chatt, seasoned potatoes and peas in a light pastry. Next, navrattan korma, a toss of fresh vegetables and nuts. Finish up with a bowl of tangy rice pudding. (1514 Blake St., 303-595-0680)
Monday: Night off. (Stay home and watch “Supernanny.”)
Tuesday: Highland’s Garden Cafe. Make this a casual-elegant midweek date night. Start it off with a salad of mixed greens with lemon and garlic, then a parchment-baked trout with sage and steamed vegetables. Dessert? At press time, they hadn’t announced their dessert options yet. But you can bet they’ll be lovely. (3927 W. 32nd Ave., 303-458-5920)
Wednesday: Gaetano’s. Grab a few friends for a lively Italian meal at this longtime north Denver fave. Start with a bowl of mussels in tomato broth, then follow up with chicken involtini, a prosciutto-and-spinach-stuffed breast served over gnocchi. Finish with a dish of spumoni. Bonus: They’ll throw in a glass of house chianti or montepulciano, gratis. (3760 Tejon St., 303-455-9852)
Thursday: Table 6. Get cozy in this Capitol Hill favorite. Choose the onion soup (served with a popover, and who does that anymore?) and the applewood roasted chicken with corn bread and a basted egg. Pair it with one of the many wines-by-the-glass on offer. For dessert, warm apple dumplings and house-made ice cream. (609 Corona St., 303-831-8800)
Friday: Ocean. Cap the week with a little pizzazz and spend the evening at the glitzy Ocean in Cherry Creek North. First course: Raw yellowfin tuna with jalapeño and cucumber. Second course: Pan-seared Australian yellowtail with spicy citrus butter sauce. Finish off with a lemon “jazz” bar. Plan to go over budget on this night and order up a cocktail. Hey, it’s Friday. (201 Columbine St., 303-377-5350)
Dining critic Tucker Shaw can be reached at 303-954-1958 or at dining@denverpost.com.
