It’s almost thebeginning of anothermonth, that time when rent money disappears, never to return. Water, powdered sauce andnoodles can get you through most of the time, but sometimes you just want to step out for a bite without the fear of gettingevicted.
We feel your pain. In so-called “new Denver” bars, you can hardly flick a cherry stem without coughing up some serious change.
Hear us and take heart: Youcan still step out to some bars onan empty stomach and pay for it withmoney in your change jar.
Below, find five Denver spots you can get a nosh and a nip foraround $10 — seriously.
My Brother’s Bar – 2376 15th St., LoHi
My Brother’s Bar is an unassuming corner building with no distinctive signing. If you’re a book nerd, you probably knowthe burger and beer joint as the hangout for hipster poets Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady.
While the literary history is endearing, the menu and drink selection is what keeps this LoHi spot so popular. Plus, the prices haven’t changed much since Kerouac was on the road: Burgers start at $6 and a glass of beer will run you another $4. Other menu options include the usual suspects like French fries, onion rings, chicken tenders and cold cut sandwiches with prices ranging from $1.50 (small fry/onion ring) to $6.75 (chicken tenders and most sandwiches). Burgers are served on a tabletop condiment carrier, which gets bonus points for presentation.
Tip: Bartender Paul Ewald is an unofficial spirits expert and can personalize preferences to anybody’s pallet. “I am a reflection of you,” he quipped.
Lincoln’s Roadhouse – 1201 South Pearl St., Platt Park
To callLincoln’s Roadhouse a “biker’s bar” is to underestimate itsidentity crisis. Situated between the Platt and Washington Park areas, its signage features a leatherhead football player, while the inside of the “blues bar and Cajun café” is adorned with music and New Orleans memorabilia.
ThatCajun theme does carry over to the menu, however, which features classic N’awlins cuisine such as crawfish po’ boys, gumbo and jambalaya. Half a po’ boy sandwich registers in at under $7, complete with Cajun-spiced chips and a pickle. (The house Sriracha Gator and Ragin’ Cajun sauces are free, but may cost you later.) A Pabst bottle is a couple bucks, while shots of Jagermeister and Fireball are only a dollar more.
Tip: Don’t mess with snarky barmaid Bonnie Hamill. She warns: “You only get a beer if you finish the one in front of you.”
Kentucky Inn Tavern – 890 South Pearl St., Washington Park
This 1970s-esque tavern feels more like an Elks Club lounge than a trendy bar, but it works.An eclectic crowd can be observed inside the wood-paneled barroom connected to a local dry cleaner business. In the middle of an ownership crossover, the tavern currently only serves food at select times, mostlysporting events and weekends. At the moment, the truncated menu features items like hot pastrami bagels and Texas toast ham sandwiches for under $7. Most domestic bottles are under $4.
Tavern vet Becky Reitzexplained that a more permanent menu is being created as we speak, which will feature burgers and Mexican fare at affordable price points, among other food options.
New York Pizza Pub – 4340 West 35th Ave., West Highland
Quick, easy and cheap to make, pizza is a core affordable food. But all too often, you get what you pay for, i.e. cardboard crust and flavorless sauce.
Not so atNew York Pizza Pub in the Tennyson Street region of West Highland.The ingredients are akin to much more expensive artisan “pizzas,” but are sold on a slice at street-stand prices. The Slice of the Day special is $3 and a regular slice is $2.50 plus 50 cents per topping. With little spent on such sustenance, the budget bar hopper can spring fora craft beer or several PBRs. For the low-budget lovebirds out there, you can do Monday date night (one large, two-topping pie and two draft beers) for under $20.
Forest Room 5 – 2532 15th St., LoHi
The LoHi spot can be considered “expensive” to some penny pinchers, but the secret is what you choose to sip on and how hungry you are. The weirdo, camping-themed bar has a $2 Domestic Can Special (Utica Club, recently) and quality finger foods for under $8, including filet de Brie, pork and sweet potato taquitos and chicken confit tacos. A hearty dinner is going to ring up in the $20-plus range. But if you can fill up on ’70s b-horror movies, cheap beer and tacos, Forest Room 5 has you covered.