You’ve cooked enough over the past month. Now’s the time to revisit your favorite Denver restaurants, or try something new. Call for reservations now.
DINING OUT
Restaurants are listed alphabetically.
AMERICAN
Beatrice & Woodsley
***
38 S. Broadway, 303-777-3505,
(Great) Small plates all under $20, but you’ll order a few. The dishes on what is perhaps Denver’s most creative menu usually score, with rare exceptions. Settle in for a couple of hours and order a succession of dishes; everything’s meant to be shared. But guard your Hair of the Frog cocktail (gin, chartreuse and soda) for yourself. Last reviewed December 2008.
Big Game
**
1631 Wazee St. 303-623-1630,
(Very Good) Sandwiches and bar food from $5-$12. Starters $6-$12. Entrees $14-$35. Massive television screens broadcast big games, a sprawling open kitchen cooks big game. Spread out in the cavernous room with a group of friends for a protein-rich supper and a round (or two) of drinks. Last reviewed December 2010.
Cherry Creek Grill
**
184 Steele St., 303-322-3524
(Very Good) Plates $12-$32. In a city where Monday nights see most restaurants underattended, if not shuttered, Cherry Creek Grill maintains a lively, populated atmosphere. Burgers, chicken and fish in satisfying portions. Cocktails are cold and ample. Last reviewed April 2008.
The Crushery
**
1579 S. Pearl St., 303-733-4117;
(Very Good) Sandwiches about $7; salads $7.75; bagel sandwiches $3.75 and up. Bespoke ice creams (choose your flavor, they’ll make it fresh) are just a bonus at this Old South Pearl salad and sandwich shop, where fresh ingredients and fair prices make it one of the best deals on that strip. Last reviewed July 2010.
Interstate Kitchen + Bar
* 1/2
901 W. 10th Ave., 720-479-8829,
(Good/Very Good) Entrees $11-$16; sandwiches-salads $6-$9, snacks $4-$5. Part roadhouse, part supper club, Interstate’s progressive comfort food and Santa Fe Drive location make it a haven for Denver’s hipster scene. On the menu: Meatloaf, sloppy joes and craft cocktails. Last reviewed September 2010.
Jonesy’s EatBar
**
400 E. 20th Ave., 303-863-7473,
(Very Good) Plates: $12-$18. This corner room in Denver’s burgeoning upper Uptown features dozens of craft beers, supported by substantial gastropub fare like gnocchi with torn lamb and “mac-and-cheese” fries. Jeans and T-shirts are de rigeur. Last reviewed December 2009.
Lohi Steakbar
** 1/2
3200 Tejon St., 303-927-6334;
(Very Good/Great) Steaks $17 and up. Burgers $11 and up. It calls itself a bar, but really it’s a full-service restaurant, with affordable steaks, hot fries, and plenty to drink. Come early or late; this neighborhood anchor is popular. Last reviewed May 2010.
Masterpiece Deli
**
1575 Central St. (at 16th St.), 303 561-3354,
(Very Good) Sandwiches $8-$10.50; breakfast sandwiches $4.75 and up. Denver’s sandwich scene took a quantum leap with the opening of Masterpiece Deli, just a block down the hill from Lola in the Lower Highlands neighborhood. Top-shelf ingredients and preparation make the common-sounding sandwiches (Reuben, egg salad) uncommon. Last reviewed April 2009.
The Palm
**
1672 Lawrence St. at the Westin Tabor Center, , 303-825-7256,
(Very Good) Typically pricey (this is a steakhouse). Most steaks in the $40-$50 range. Sides about $10. Martinis $10. You’ll recognize The Palm, if you’ve visited before, as the same as it’s always been: Walls filled with caricatures of local celebs, efficient service, huge steaks. Creative? No. Good? Yes. Expensive? Very. Last reviewed September 2010.
Rodney’s
* 1/2
2819 E. Second Ave., Denver, 303-394-3939
(Good/Very Good) Salads about $8-$12; burgers about $7-$9; steaks about $18-$22. Regulars rule the room at Rodney’s, where salads, burgers and steaks drive the straightforward menu. Specials change nightly, and may include crowd favorites like all-you-can-eat spaghetti. Last reviewed October 2010.
Root Down
** 1/2
1600 W. 33rd Ave., 303-993-4200,
(Very Good/Great) Plates $7-$22, with most around $9-$11. An eclectic menu of innovative, flavorful small dishes (many of which are vegetarian) drives this forward-thinking eatery and watering hole, fashioned from a reclaimed garage. Last reviewed March 2009.
Salt the Bistro
**
1047 Pearl St., Boulder. 303-444-7258
(Very Good) Small plates run $9-$15. Entrees are $12-$28. Bare brick walls and a pressed-tin ceiling house this storefront bistro, where elevated comfort food (pork-belly BLT, lamb-stuffed canneloni) feed a lively crowd. Bespoke cocktails (tell them what you like, they’ll concoct a drink just for you) flow vigorously. Last reviewed September 2010.
Shazz
** 1/2
4262 Lowell Blvd., 303-477-1407,
(Very Good/Great) Appetizers $7-$11; mains $24-$35. Chef Benny Kaplan is one of Denver’s best, and his commitment to locally sourced, sustainable food is commendable. Don’t miss the braised oxtail appetizer, served over asiago grits, and don’t miss a few minutes at the bar for a signature cocktail mixed with house- made ingredients such as grenadine and orgeat. Last reviewed April 2009.
Steakhouse Ten
**
3517 S. Elati St., Englewood, 303-789-0911,
(Very Good) Entrees $22-34. Cozy clubby little steakhouse in Englewood gets the heat right every time: Rare is rare and medium is medium. The vibe here is just right for quiet tête-u-têtes and private dinners. Greek specialties round out the menu. Open for lunch, too. Last reviewed May 2009.
Tarbell’s
**
6955 S. York St., at the Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial, 303-703-8100,
(Very Good) Appetizers $6-$14; main plates $15-$29. The menu at this sprawling eatery is split between “Vintage” dishes (pork chops and applesauce, sloppy Joes and nightly “blue plate” specials like meatloaf or fish sticks) and “Modern” (halibut with wheat berries and grapefruit, gluten-free tomato gnocchi). Worn-out shoppers will appreciate the wine list. Last reviewed August 2010.
Twelve
*** 1/2
2233 Larimer St., 303-293-0287,
(Great/Exceptional) Entrees $22-$28. Wedged into a tiny storefront in the northern reaches of LoDo, this newcomer changes its menu monthly — 12 times a year. So don’t get attached to a favorite dish. Instead, have your socks knocked off by chef Jeff Osaka’s brilliant technical skills and instinctive flavor-play. Last reviewed February 2009.
Uptown Brothers Brewing Co.
**
320 E. Colfax Ave., 303- 839-8000,
(Very Good) Entrees $9-$15; sandwiches-salads $8-$12, sides $4-$9. Southern favorites (fried green tomatoes, pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, grits) ground this restaurant; a massive selection of beers, ales and ciders give it life. Colfax location ensures a busy room. Last reviewed September 2010.
Vert Kitchen
**
704 S. Pearl St.,
303-997-5941
(Very Good) Sandwiches about $8-12, includes one side. Denver’s most addictive turkey sandwich tops the short list of offerings at this lunch-only storefront where locals (with and without baby carriages) gather and linger over midday meals. Simple, sophisticated cooking seals the deal. Last reviewed July 2010.
EUROPEAN
Bistro One
**
1294 S. Broadway, 720-974-0602,
(Very Good) Appetizers $5-$9; mains $14-$22. Smart cocktails start supper at this contemporary neighborhood bistro, where standard bistro fare (steak frites) shares menu space with more innovative dishes. Clever cocktails and a small, user-friendly wine list round out the experience. Last reviewed December 2008.
Brasserie Felix
**
3901 Tennyson St.,
303-953-2401(Very good) Appetizers $5.95-$12.95, mains $14.95-$20.95. A very good example of the Americanized French Brasserie, with accessible and relevant fare like steak frites, mussels and croque monsieurs. Small but serviceable wine list. Great sunny room looks even better at lunchtime. Last reviewed April 2009.
Carmine’s on Penn
**
92 S. Pennsylvania, 303-777-6443;
(Very good) Family-style platters, $23.95-$44.95. With a wait list as long as any in Denver, this reliable noodle house leans on huge, family-style platters of pasta. Large groups love the festive atmosphere, where kids can color on the tables while Mom and Dad sip wine. Last reviewed June 2010.
Cracovia
**
8121 W. 94th Ave., Westminster, 303-484-9388,
(Very good) Most entrees $13-$15, nothing over $20. Serving substantial Polish favorites — sausages, stews and potatoes — in a lively atmosphere. Come for stuffed cabbage, stay for polka (live music on Saturday nights). A Westminster gem, worth the drive. Last reviewed May 2010.
Farro
**
8230 S. Holly St., 303-694-5432,
(Very Good) Almost nothing over $15. The southern suburbs are awash in restaurants, but precious few of them are any good. Enter Farro, at the corner of Holly Street and County Line Road, which serves homey, substantial fare with a casual-elegant twist. Good wine list, too. Last reviewed February 2009.
Indulge French Bistro
** 1/2
4140 W. 38th Ave., 303-433-7400,
(Very good/Great) Appetizers $6.50-16. Entrees $16-$28. This small, hospitably operated bistro in North Denver changes its menu frequently, but you can always count on a well-executed steak frites, an inexpensive glass of house wine, and a cheery welcome. Tip for seasonal eaters: Order seafood. Last reviewed May 2009.
Ondo’s Spanish Tapas Bar
**
250 Steele St.,,
303-975-6514
(Very good) Nothing over $16. Wine, shared plates, sparkling conversation: Is this a trip to San Sebastian? No, but the croquetas and albondigas are worth every penny. Come on a date, or with a group, and plan to take a cab home. Last reviewed April 2010.
Village Cork
***
1300 S. Pearl St, Denver, 303-282-8399,
(Great) Very small menu, changes frequently, most under $20. A wine bar at heart, with an excellently executed (and blessedly tiny) French-inflected menu. Neighborhoodies stroll over on weeknights for nibbles and sips; more strident foodies come for the excellent roasted chicken. Last reviewed May 2010.
Ya Ya’s
**
8310 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village, 303- 741-1110;
(Very Good) Appetizers $5-$14; main plates $19-$32. The menu is a little more exotic (if Mediterranean qualifies) than most Tech Center bills, with more boundary-pushing dishes like a delicious artichoke and crab barigoule and risotto arancini. Jam-packed happy hour.
Last reviewed August 2010.
ASIAN
India’s
**
7400 E. Hampden Ave., unit F (in Tiffany Plaza, near the movie theater), 303-755-4284,
(Very Good) Plan to spend $5-$9 for small plates, $10 and up for main dishes. A move from Tamarac Square to Tiffany Plaza helped rejuvenate this smart but sleepy Indian restaurant, where regulars swear by the vindaloo dishes and the dosas. Friendly service. Last reviewed August 2010.
India’s Pearl
** 1/2
1475 S. Pearl St., 303-777-1533
(Very Good/Great) Starters $3.95-$9.95; entrees $10.95-$24.95. Surprised that an Indian restaurant would have such an expansive wine list? Don’t be. India’s Pearl proves that Indian food pairs beautifully with wines of all hues. Last reviewed October 2008.
Jai Ho
**
3055 S. Parker Road, Aurora, 303-751-5151,
(Very Good) Starters $3.95-$6.95; entrees $8.95-$13.95. Dosas, curries and tandoori breads fuel this lively Aurora restaurant housed in an old Lone Star Steakhouse. Bring the family and spread out underneath television sets playing Bollywood movies. Last reviewed November 2010.
Japoix
**
975 Lincoln St., 303-861-2345,
(Very Good) $8-$45, with most entrees in the $10-$26 range. This happy mix of contemporary Japanese and classic French influences yields such quirky fare as tempura frog’s legs, sushi, and rich duck ramen. Creative cocktails, too. Last reviewed November 2010.
MIDDLE EASTERN
Phoenician Kabob
**
5709 E. Colfax Ave., 303-355-7213,
(Very Good) Entrees $9.95-$15.95; lunch specials $7.95. Middle Eastern favorites from hummus to falafel to tabbouleh, served with vigor and vitality — and beer. Don’t skip the light, delicate baklava. Last reviewed December 2009.
MEXICAN/SOUTHWESTERN
El Diablo
**
101 Broadway, 303-954-0324,
(Very Good) Starters $6-$7; entrees $9.95-$16.95. Impresario Jesse Morreale and chef Sean Yontz bring contemporary Mexican food inspired by Jalisco, Oaxaca and Yucatán to South Broadway. Tacos anchor the menu, which also features duck mole and a generous pecho de res, a slow-cooked brisket. Margaritas too.
Last reviewed December 2010.
Zocalo
* 1/2
12 E. 11th Ave., 720-382-1940
(Good/Very Good) Most entrees around $10. Usual suspects populate the menu at this simple Mexican kitchen: Smothered burritos, eggs scrambled with chorizo, carnitas, combo plates, margaritas. Club kids love it; many favorite watering holes are in walking distance. Last reviewed August 2010.
CARIBBEAN
Eight Rivers Lodo
**
1550 Blake St., 303-623-3422,
(Very Good) Appetizers $7-$13; mains $15-$19. Denver’s very best rum list anchors this downtown homage to Jamaican cuisine. Think jerk chicken, jerk pork, jerk steak and a beautifully rich-spicy oxtail stew. Happy hour on weekdays. Last reviewed December 2008.
PIZZA
McKinners Pizza Bar
**
2389 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-798-8500,
(Very Good) Pizzas $9.25 and up; salads $6.25-$9. Downtown Littleton is one of the area’s most pleasant town strips, studded with boutiques and wine shops and restaurants and, happily, McKinners, a favorite watering hole, pizza joint and gathering place.
Our star system:
**** : Exceptional
*** : Great
** : Very good
* : Good
