WELCOME BACK, LEGISLATORS (PART II)

"A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." - Gloria Steinem

January 12, 2004

HERE'S PART II of my favorites in the area near the capitol or a short shuttle ride away.

Mori Japanese Restaurant
2019 Market St - 303/298-1864
If you're into sushi, this is one of Denver's best. If not, still lotsa great grub. Super happy hour. CS

Palettes at the Art Museum
100 W. 14 Ave Pkwy - 303/629-0889
www.restaurantkevintaylor.com
They're open for lunch Tuesday thru Sunday, dinner on Wednesday. The menu is munchies, hearty salads, soup, and entrees ranging from a super char- broiled bugger to roast lamb sirloin, to penne with grilled chicken. Some of KT's famous desserts will tantalize your "palate" when you think you're done. Ha ha. That was a good one.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro
1415 15 St - 303/260-7222
www.pfchangs.com
The food is fabulous and service damn near. Every meal should start with a wrap and some ribs. I crave the chicken wraps but all are yummy. After the ribs, after the wrap, I get zee duck, often a double order. The room is gorgeous. Invite me. And, they now take reservs. Yippee!

Palm Restaurant
The Westin Hotel
1672 Lawrence St - 303/572-7222
www.thepalm.com
The Westin Hotel houses the world- famous Palm Restaurant, known for huge prime steaks and monstrous lobsters, serving both lunch and dinner. I luv the place. The lunch menu offers good steaks and a (most of the time) damn good bugger, #6 on The List. You can order off the dinner menu at any time (dinner prices, of course). Great service. Shhh...(executive chef)Joey's Backyard Chili is unbelievable! That and the NY strip steak salad at lunch are the deal. Don't waste your $ ordering dessert. Order another backyard chili instead.

Pint's Pub
221 W. 13 Ave - 303/534-7543
www.pintspub.com
Good buggers, super fries, lotsa fresh brews, the largest offering of single malt scotch in North America and the best server in town. Her name is Liz. They do a Texas chili with fries that'll give you a month's worth of cholesterol at one sitting.

Qdoba
550 Grant St - 303/765-5878
www.qdoba.com
Zee Best in fast Mexican fare at looo prices, super-size burritos with you selecting the fresh ingredients: chicken, steak, rice, beans, and other goodies. They're national.

Panera Bread Company
1350 Grant St - 303/830-7101
www.panerabread.com
The line goes all day long. Great breads, yummy sangies, unbelievable desserts, and the prices are perty dang reasonable. The tuna sangies are super. Now if they had a place to park, I'd go there.

Racines
650 Sherman St - 303/595-0418
www.grdeating.com
Opening in April at the new location but with the same tele (650 Sherman St, 303/595-0418), just in time for the end of the legislative session, this is the place to see and be seen and have some damn good food at the same time. If you ain't been for breakfast, you ain't important. The new store is still convenient, lotsa free parking, great food and service, and sapient prices. Best steak and eggs in town. Lunch and dinner are great also.

Randolph
The Warwick Hotel
1776 Grant St - 303/861-2000
www.warwickdenver.com
A perty set of rooms houses some super grub served by a well-trained staff. Good bugger, great sangies, good soups and salads. Even desserts are yummy. Lots of legislators lunch here as well as return after their workday is done.

Red Room
320 E. Colfax Ave - 303/830-7050
www.redroombar.com
The menu offers munchies, salads, sangies, and a half dozen entrees. You can be tempted by lots on the menu including mega salads, catfish po' boys, a Rooster Cogburn sangie, grilled salmon, fish & chips, and more. Even a dessert or two.

Rock Bottom Brewery
1001 16 St - 303/534-7616
www.rockbottom.com
I'm not into brewpubs, but this place knocks my socks off. Not only is it a great people-watching spot, but the quality of the grub and the service are super. The spicy spinach cheese dip is yummy, the blackened salmon Caesar salad is fantastic. But they kabashed the fantastic cheddar cheesecake. Now they gotta Triple Chocolate Stout Cheesecake.

Rocky Mountain Diner
800 18 St - 303/293-8383
www.rockymountaindiner.com
The history is captivating but it's the food that will bring you back. Buffalo meat loaf, pot roast, and other fare make this an extraordinary eatery, but the huge array of fine bourbons and humongous desserts make it extra special. Prices are modest; service is adept and friendly. Great for late dinner.

Rodizio Grill
1801 Wynkoop St - 303/294-9277
www.rodiziogrill.com
The all-you-can-eat menu includes: steak, ham, sausage, buffalo, lamb, chicken, and other goodies, all served table-side by "gauchos" from the pampas of Brazil. Or maybe an apartment in Corning, Iowa. The fixed price includes a large salad bar with salads (what else?), beef stroganoff, black beans and rice, quail eggs, Hearts of Palm and lotsa other goodies. The papaya milk shake thingee in a bowl is fantastic, as are all the desserts. Soft drinks, hooch and desserts are extra $.

Sonoda's
550 Grant St - 303/991-1000
www.sonodassushi.com
While this store just opened a few weeks ago, Kenny Sonoda's other three locations get great comments, so how can this one miss? If you're into sushi, this is one of the best. Lunch 6 days, dinner 7 nite. Cool website.

Sweet Rockin' Coffee
414 E. 20 Ave - 303/318-9788
www.sweetrockincoffee.com
A bit off the beaten path, muh old bud, Tammy Davis is still doing the best chocolates in town, as well as a zillion other fab desserts. A dozen or so super yummy sangies, housemade soups, and a breakfast burrito that will warm you up for the entire day round out the menu. If you ain't had some of Tammy's butterscotch pudding: 2-die-4. Just about everything ceptin the water is made on site. Check out the two-week-old website.

Tamayo
1400 Larimer St - 720/946-1433
www.tamayorestaurant.com
This year-old eatery is still serving fab Mexican fare, but not what you'd expect. This is the good stuff. Gourmet fare. great grub. The guacamole dip is 2-die-4.

Trinity Grille
1801 Broadway - 303/293-2288
www.trinitygrille.com
An elegant eatery, directly across from the Brown Palace Hotel. Stop in for veal meatloaf or a sliced steak sangie, fine pasta, Maryland crab cakes, or just a salad. Dinner is up- scale with fine steaks and other fare. Plan to wait for a table at lunch. The green chile, almost like a stew, is UN-believable!

Walnut Cafe
338 E. Colfax Ave - 303/832-5108
Great breakfast burritos, inexpensive lunch specials, and a zillion papers for your reading pleasure. Yummy! Try the tuna melt.

Wazee Supper Club
1600 15 St - 303/623-9518
www.wazeesupperclub.com
I'm not a pizza fan, but this ain't no ordinary pizza. Not only do they pile on toppings (don't even think about more than three), but the pizza itself is delish. Served on high trays with legs soes you don't have to move your swig out of the way.

Wolfe's Barbeque
333 E. Colfax Ave - 303/831-1500
Wondrous brisket sangies, delish baked beans and a great homemade cheesecake is all man (or woman) needs to sustain life forever. It's all right here. Louis is The Man! CS

Wolfgang Puck's
500 16 Street, 303/535-9653
www.wolfgangpuck.com
Of the Pavilion eateries. this is the only one to go to. The food is incredible and service is good. The menu is huge and somewhat pricey, but it's a classy joint. But the man is so obnoxious. Disdainful little man.

Cya.