Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we give our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems.)
Summer is the best time to dine out in Denver, when farm-to-table restaurants become abundant with fresh Colorado produce such as Rocky Ford melons, Olathe sweet corn and Palisade peaches.
The soufflé with fresh garden herbs at , cast-iron cornbread with Colorado honey butter at , Cart-Driver’s famous , summer squash fritters at — some of Denver’s most iconic dishes can be found on menus across the city right now.
One of Denver’s most underrated new farm-to-table spots is tucked away in a surprising location: the vintage saloon-style at , a 16-room boutique hotel in Capitol Hill’s George Schleier Mansion.
In the little carriage house behind the mansion, you’ll find , specializing in wood-fired sourdough pizza topped with fresh, local vegetables on a menu so seasonal, it changes almost completely every week.
On a recent visit, we marveled over Rocky Ford cantaloupe wedges topped with crispy coppa, habanero vinaigrette and Urfa chile ($14) and a potato pizza topped with aged cheddar, caramelized onion, Basque peppers and potatoes from Boulder’s ($26). The potatoes, confited in olive oil and garlic until achingly rich and melty, played so beautifully with the sweet onion and spicy bite from the pickled peppers, and it’s all showcased in an impossibly crispy, 48-hour fermented dough that’s wood-fired at around 650-700 degrees.
Monarch is a two-man operation run by chef Justin Freeman (Somebody People, The Greenwich) and Daniel Matthews (owner of Wash Park barber shop Dark Rose Club), but everything about this spot — from the attentive service to the thoughtful ingredient sourcing and ultra-seasonal menu — makes us feel confident that big things are coming in this small space.
And if the pizza isn’t enticing enough, Urban Cowboy’s cocktail program punches far above its weight class. The Lavish Habits — gin or vodka with coconut cream, orange blossom, celery bitters, lemon and lime topped with a sprig of fresh dill, $15 — is my new favorite summer cocktail. What’s not to love?
Monarch at Urban Cowboy Public House, 1665 N. Grant St., . Open 4-10 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
