The bar area (Photo by Korene Gallegos)
Many dessert fans in Denver have been patiently waiting for the re-opening of the D Bar. The known quaint hot spot for sweets treats on 17th street closed on March 22, 2014.
In the seven months, Chef Keegan Gerhard and his wife/partner Chef Lisa Bailey have revamped the menu and the atmosphere for their new uptown location on 19th and Pennsylvania.
On Friday, November 22nd, Chef Keegan and Chef Lisa invited friends, colleagues and the press to see for themselves what the new D Bar has to offer.
The new D Bar now has a large dining area with a bar, dessert station and a coffee shop. One of the aspects of the old location was the charming feeling of eating in a small cafe. Every time I came in, especially in the winter time, I felt the comfort of hot chocolate and warm baked cookies. The new venue feels like an upscale restaurant fitting for the neighborhood. However the tone of the place is still familiar with the blue and chocolate brown color scheme.
“My biggest fear was for people to come in and say ‘you know it’s just not the same’,” Chef Bailey said. “I don’t want them to feel that way, so we kept that in mind.”
Bailey and Gerhard asked their customers for feedback on what they would like to keep the same. One was the known small ‘d’ sign which they saved for the coffee shop.
Chef Gernard and Chef Bailey. (Photo by Korene Gallegos)
The dishes are what really brings the character of D Bar to light. On the menu is the section “things you know” has all the favorite dishes, including the Cake and Shake. The Bacon Mac & Cheese was another dish Bailey said customers wanted permanently on the menu.
Besides the known favorites, the new dishes still have the D Bar charm. The Crispy Brussels are well-balanced with a honey-sriracha glaze. For brussel sprouts fan, the texture was right on and not mushy. The Crispy Pork Wings are definitely worth trying. The smoked pork shanks was tender and juicy with a miso bbq flavor.
There are gluten-free options on the food menu, a lot more than the old menu. However, don’t expect as many dessert choices.
D Bar desserts (Photo by Korene Gallegos)
Without diet restrictions, there are a range of new desserts to choose from on the new menu. Chef Gerhard was most excited about the new gelato cakes. Gelato should be eaten with respect on how its served as well as taste.
“The (standard) gelato cases with featured flavors are the whore housees of the food world,” he said.
According to Chef Gerhard, each favor tastes its best at different temperatures. His customer will have to wait to find out for themselves.
The D-Bar opens on Friday, November 28, 2014.
The D-Bar
494 E 19th Ave
Denver CO 80203
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