"Some people like to eat octopus. Liberals, mostly." - Russell Baker
THIS IS THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL "Welcome Back, Y'all" column, with muh recommendations for scarfin' grub within walking distance, or not more than a short ride from the state capitol, All are open for lunch ceptin where noted otherwise. This column will be two issues cuz of the large number of good eateries that abound in the surrounding area. The list is alphabetical. The list includes places that lobbyists oughta take ya to cuz you can't afford them. It also includes some you can do on your own, or take your favorite restaurant critic to. If I left out one of your favorites, I probably don't like the place. A bit of info: most eateries now have websites with everything from menus to reservation links. Go online and take a peek. If we could find the website address, it's listed. Watch the spelling cuz some names get tricky. If I couldn't find a website but CitySearch (or one of the other major dining info sites) had info on them that was useful, I put a "CS" at the end of the paragraph.
1515 Restaurant, 1515 Market St, 303/571-0011, www.1515restaurant.com
Gene Tang's finest venture into dining. This one has the critics applauding. The expansive menu includes seafood, game, steaks, chicken and pasta. Did you read our Bugger review about the Kobe buggers and the unbelievable fried spud salad? This is Bugger Numero Uno! It was also Numero Uno in John Lehndorff’s RMN. And if you can't afford the eleven bucks for the Kobe, the less expensive non-Kobe bugger is damn near as good.
Appaloosa Grill, 535 16 St, 720/932-1700, www.appaloosagrill.com
A huge menu with munchies, soups & salads, buggers and sangies. Now known for the exclusive area server of Highland Premium beef, whatever the heck that is. I guess they think it’s good. Anywho, the new menu features lotsa steaks, seafood, and poultry as well as game. They also have delish chicken salad sangie. Dinner brings out the yummy Appaloosa ribs.
Avenue Grill, 638 E. 17 Ave, 303/861-2820, www.avenuegrill.com
The joint rocks. Grub served ‘til 11 during the week, ‘til midnite on weekends. Have a bugger on a baguette roll with some of the best french fries in town. And they still do the best San Francisco cioppino in town. Yo!
Bambino’s Ristorante, 1135 Bannock St - 303/221-7215
A variety of very good Italian fare. Owned by Clyde Canino of the famed Fort Collins Canino’s. Family members Mark and Joni run the place here. Lots of goodies to try. Anything that comes on house made bread is yummy.
Benny's Cantina, 301 E. 7 Ave, 303/894-0788, www.bennysrestaurant.com
A Mexican eatery with good food and service. The awesome shredded beef is spicy and fresh without being torched for days; the tacos al carbon and breakfast burritos are super. The website is rockin’.
Bistro Vendome, 1424-H Larimer St, 303/825-3232, www.bistrovendome.com
Owner Chef Eric Roeder started his career at the famed Flagstaff House in Boulder as a pastry apprentice, and has been cooking great grub (I bet he hates that word) ever since, ceptin for the time it took him to attend Culinary Institute of America. G and I have been for brunch several times and it's always superb. The raves keep coming.
Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17 St, 303/297-3111, www.brownpalace.com
With several great eateries, this is always a fun place to dine. Bring money. The Palace Arms is ultra-fine dining (lunch and dinner) with a price tag to match. The hotel's "main" dining room is Ellyngton's, a great room serving breakfast and lunch daily as well as a superb Sunday brunch. More relaxed and affordable for both lunch and dinner is the Ship Tavern (no “possessive “s”, please) with fresh soups, sangies, salads and other great dishes. The prime rib's fantastic; it's always available in sangie form (lots cheaper) even at dinner. Good buggers, Great atmosphere. And Old Tom is still working there. I think it’s about 87 years now. Churchill Bar (again no possessive) offers lunch and dinner but mega cigars and their odors abound as well.
Buckhorn Exchange, 1000 Osage St, 303/534-9505, www.buckhorn.com
Alligator tail anyone? You can get most any game imaginable: elk, buffalo, pheasant, Rocky Mountain oysters (some real swingin' meat), grilled duck breast and more, all served in a great room loaded with trophies. Beats the heck outta The Fort for game grub. Check out Gramma Fanny's pot roast sangie for lunch.
The Burnsley, 1000 Grant St, 303/830-1000, www.burnsley.com
This fine dining emporium, located in one of Denver's nicer independent hotels, is off the main road, but only a four-block walk from the Capitol. Just great eatin'.
Capital Grille, 1450 Larimer St, 303/539-2500, www.thecapitalgrille.com
Open a year and packed most every meal. The bugger sucks, but the rest of the grub is fantastic, Service is primo. If you ain't tried the cold-smoked lox munchie, you ain't lived. If you haven't guessed, the steaks are superb. The sliced New York is superb. If you can get a lobbyist to buy, this is THE place.
CityGrille, 321 E. Colfax Ave, 303/861-0726, www.citygrille.com
This popular legislative hangout is packed all day during "the session". Soups (including The Best green chili in town) are fabulous; buggers and BLT's are yummy. Now serving dinner seven nites with nitely specials. Great prime rib deal Saturday nite. Try the huge rib-eye steak sangie or the Cuban roast pork sangie. Open late, til midnite Sun – Thurs; til 1 am, Fri & Sat.
Cuba Cuba, 1173 Delaware St, 303/605-2822, www.cubacubacafe.com
The unusual cuisine is well prepared as well as fun to eat. Pronounced with a "G" as in Guba Guba. They ain't doing lunch yet, but someday…The Cuban bread will blow your mind. They now have a website where you can peruse the exquisite menu before going for a fine dinner. Just a short walk from the Capitol. Sorry, no reservs
Denver Chop House, 1735 19 St, 303/296-0800, www.chophouse.com
Next to Coors Field, the joint is packed day and nite cuz the grub's as good as the service. And it's perty. Super munchies, great buggers, fab London Broil and other entrees. The portobello mushroom munchie and the onion rings are super. Since they’re owned by Rockbottom, getting to their website got tricky. Click on the Denver link; it’s hard to see cuz of the dumb color clash.
Diamond Cabaret,
1222 Glenarm Place, 303/571-4747
Yeah, yeah, all you suckers will rake me over the coals cuz I wrote about a strip joint. So you know who goes to this place? Yuppie lawyers and old-fart businessmen. Food and service are really good. Hey, weren't you born nekked? Friday lunch is all you can eat prime rib. Yo! Invite me.
Dixons Downtown Grill, 1610 16 St, 303/573-6100, www.grdeating.com
A sister eatery to the two great eateries: Goodfriends and Racines, sans parking. Food and service are similar. I luv the place. Try the Mexican fare or one of the dozens of munchies, sangies, salads, or entrees. Leave room for dessert. If short ribs are on the menu, go for 'em. And the buggers? Outstanding on the flat grill, but you gotta ask. Number Five on the Best Bugger List.
Downtown Broker, 821 17 St, 303/293-9832, www.thebrokerrestaurant.com
Ed Novak opened this very popular eatery about Ought 6, and has been serving fine steaks and other goodies including the bottomless shrimp bowl ever since. One problem: while the desserts are fantastic, you never have room for 'em. Such a problem. I could tell you a great war story about lunch here.
Duffy's Shamrock Grill, 1635 Court Place, 303/534-4935
Last I heard this popular Irishery was owned by a coupla Eye-talian fellas. But that don't stop 'em from cooking the popular corned beef. I prefer the buggers, but that's me. The place is loaded with character... and characters. And good grub. (CS)
Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, 1631 Wazee St, 303/573-5050, www.ilfornaio.com
The most gorgeous eatery in Denver also serves good food. The enticing menu offers pizza, pasta, and dinner entrees. The items that strike muh fancy are the bruschetta, calamaretti fritti, pollo toscano, and a costata alle erba (bone-in rib-eye steak).
Keg Steakhouse & Bar, 1890 Wynkoop St, 303/296-0023, www.kegsteakhouse.com
Serving fine steaks and chops, this place has a fun atmosphere and good food. They usta do lunch but don’t anymore. The prime rib is quite yummy. Check ‘em out.
Le Central, 112 E. 8 Ave, 303/863-8094, www.lecentral.com
This is "the affordable French restaurant", where the grub is truly exquisite. Desserts are 2-die-4. Sunday brunch is killer. If you like mussels, this is The Place. The French bread - maaavelous. This is the place that G takes ‘Lil Emma (who adult-sits G) when I’m on the road. They feast on mussels, Caesar salad and lotsa bread.
Luca d' Italia, 711 Grant St, 303/832-6600, www.lucadenver.com
This Italian trattoria serves unusual dishes not found elsewhere in Denver. Fresh seafood, game, and meats showcase regional cuisine. If you've dined at Mizuna (just around the corner), you'll see it in the menu cuz the same folks run that great eatery. Sorry, dinner only. The Lobster Fra Diavola, with grilled lamb chops for the main course. You can die and go to Heaven a happy person. With some hot chocolate from Rioja.
McCormick's Fish House and more, 1659 Wazee St, 303/825-1107, www.mccormickandschmick.com
Great seafood as well as steaks, pasta, and a munchie list that goes on for days. Front Room is a gas; main dining room is gourmet at its best. Service is top-notch. If it swims, it's on the menu.
Mizuna, 225 E. 7 Ave, 303/832-4778, www.mizunadenver.com
Some say the Best Restaurant in Town. Dinner only, very small, no group larger than six. Sure is the best restaurant on this list. Great grub and service. It's quite intimate. Menu changes regularly. Service is The Best. This is the sister restaurant to Luca d’Italia, around the corner.
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
Palettes will be closed until the new museum is ready sometime in 2006. But otherwise 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.
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 (most of the time) a 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. 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
Now in their new location (650 Sherman St, 303/595-0418), 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. Remember to order the bugger cooked on the flat grill. Lotsa free parking in the lot to the north; just don’t trip over the sidewalk.
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
Well, they were off this list til I got the word that they have done a complete makeover with new décor and a new new menu that I wouldn’t get up and walk out as I did the last time I was in the place. Yeah, they didn’t want me and my money but I guess now they do. The menu looks really yummy so I is gonna get there. Click and go. (I just made that up, and it sure sounds good. See, ya go to the website, click on the menu link, check it out, see it’s yummy, and go there and eat. Got it?)
Rioja, 1431 Larimer St, 303/820-2822, www.riojadenver.com
The intro on the website sez, “featuring a menu inspired by Mediterranean ingredients and influenced by local and seasonal products.” Boy, is that the understatement of the century? Never has any restaurant, to my knowledge, opened to such fanfare and such a warm reception by the dining public, as Rioja. Meaning the damn place is packed for lunch and dinner weeks in advance and they’ve only been opened a few weeks! Yeah, the place is gorgeous. Yeah, the service is super. Yeah, the food is almost all 2-die-4; just have a poor old steak and you’ll see. Course a 14-page spread in the Rocky Mountain News sure helped. But folks, the cooking of Jennifer Jasinsky is what its really all about. You gotta go. Just for a cup of hot chocolate. Oh my!
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 also the quality of the grub and the service are super. The spicy spinach cheese dip is yummy, the blackened salmon Caesar salad is fantastic. They got 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 (mini and maxi) 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 $. But what happened to the tuna salad?
Sonoda's, 550 Grant St, 303/991-1000, www.sonodassushi.com
All four Sonoda’s locations get great comments. If you're into sushi, this is one of the best. Lunch 6 days, dinner 7 nite. Cool website. And if you don’t do sushi or sashimi, that’s OK. They got real food too. And it’s sooo good.
Sullivan’s Steak House, 1745 Wazee St – 303/295-2664, www.lonestarsteakhouse.com
An upscale sister of the famed Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, and junior to the super prime Del Frisco’s, this is really muh fav of the trio. Leastways the 24-ounce bone-in Cowboy Rib-eye steak is about the best steak in town. They also serve muh favoritist drink, the Knockout. And two of ‘em probably are. It’s also a fun place with great ambiance. Unfortunately they don’t do the super lemon layer cake that is 2-die-4, which Del Frisco’s makes. So I gotta go there also. Sullivan’s is now serving lunch, and that’s why they are in the column this year.
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, house made 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 website. And her chocolate prices are too darn low so you better get there b4 she finds out.
Tamayo, 1400 Larimer St, 720/946-1433, www.tamayorestaurant.com
This Larimer Square 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. No point in commenting on the menu cuz it’s all good and it’s all on the web.
Trinity Grille, 1801 Broadway, 303/293-2288, www.trinitygrille.com
An elegant eatery, directly across from the Brown Palace Hotel. Stop in for Pete’s 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. Had a bugger once; won’t make that mistake again.
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. Try Sunday (or Saturday) brunch; it’s a yummy buffet and service is really good. The website is a real pain as is the man who’s name is on all this stuff. Odious fella.
Cya.