7/10/2006
“Eternity is two people and a roast turkey.” – James Dent
I CALLED MAYOR STEVE TO COMPLAIN about the parking at Belmar, the new “downtown” of Lakewood. There are 4,000 parking spaces but the place has been packed with so many people lately, that last nite I had to park way far away and walk two entire blocks to meet G and Baby Grant (our youngest – 14 months). There were folks everywhere, including hundreds of teenagers at the wonderful Century Theatre for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean. Every patio-dining seat at the several restaurants at The Plaza was taken.
There were lines at most of the restaurants, ‘ceptin for the several that are at the East end of Alaska Street cuz the crowds haven’t discovered them yet. But fear not; Las Margaritas is scheduled to open at that end in September (so it will probably be February). That will bring the total number of eateries to 17, and that doesn’t include the ones on the drawing board (including Home that is now tentatively going to open in November 2034). Can you imagine how wonderful it is for the citizens of Lakewood to have this terrific development?
The dining at Belmar is going to KICK ASS over any equivalent area in Denver or anywhere else. Belmar is rockin’. Check ‘em out. www.belmarcolorado.com. Here’s the latest list, in alphabetical order cuz there’s no way I can pick a fav.
221B Baker Street Pub (7260 W. Alaska Dr, 303/953-5510; www.bakerstreetpub.com). My initial experience at this Texas-based chain was not positive, primarily due to the exorbitant amount of smoke in the restaurant. G and I were there fairly soon after it opened, and besides the smoke, the kitchen was quite slo. Now that they’ve had a chance to practice, and the smoking problem has been fixed by the general assembly, we’ll be back to check out the fish & chips. The patio is open and ready for al fresco dining.
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill (7085 W. Alaska Drive, 303/991-9090; www.bajafresh.com) is a division of Wendy’s International, altho not the sucko quality you get at Wendy’s. Remember the old “hot and juicy”? They’re now cold and dry. Anywho, Baja Fresh is serving good grub. The salsas are handcrafted daily with fresh stuff. The steak is USDA choice and the chickens have never been on TV.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (7181 W. Alaska Drive, 303/934-2888; www.benjerry.com) is really here. I’ve never been fond of Ben & Jerry’s (as those of you who have been to my office can attest) because I don’t like paying for non-ice cream stuff when I buy ice cream. I don’t want nuts, marshmallows, bananas, brownie pieces or anything else in my ice cream. I particularly don’t want to pay high ice cream prices for it. Now that they’re going to be making some plain ice cream in the basic flavors, I might give ‘em a try. The folks at this new store are real nice so go in and buy a cone.
Chama Restaurant and Tequila Bar (425 S. Teller St, www.chamarestaurant.com) is another in a long line of successful Sean Yontz eateries. This is an upscale Southwestern fare restaurant with very unusual dishes and the most extensive array of tequilas you’ve ever seen. Also located on the The Plaza. G luvs the place.
Elephant Bar Restaurant (7111 W. Alaska Dr; 303/922-7907; www.elephantbar.com) is a California chain but gets high marks from the locals who have dined at the Arapahoe Road store. Serving buggers well-done is not my cup of tea, but they have other items on the huge menu that ought to find me dining there regularly. Ooh, homemade chicken noodle soup. Anyone have Campbell’s in the last fifty years? Really sucks. Howsabout a Jamaica Mojo salad? Or some Kona BBQ pork ribs? Sounds yummy. I’m hooked on the BBQ pulled pork sangies altho they’re stingy with the sides, so I have to eat two sangies to fill up. The tri-tip steak dinner is terrific. They have discounts for seniors and that’s me. Barely. Service has been “less than satisfactory” on most occasions and most of the booths have little legroom for my long legs, but I keep going back. Must be a masochist. Luv that pulled pork.
Emogene Patisserie et Café (433 S. Teller St, 303/232-8888; www.emogene-cafe.com) just opened last week and is the second location of chef Troy Guard and developer Jim Sullivan. This is a Parisian-style bakery and café, the first being in Cherry Creek North. If you want elegant pastries, salads, soups and sangies, this is the place to dine in or take home some goodies. These are the same folks who own and operate Nine 75 (975 Lincoln St, 303/975-0975; www.nine75-restaurant.com) home of the most unbelievable Kobe beef sliders you’ve ever tasted. Maybe they’ll bring a Nine 75 to Belmar? I believing in begging so this is a beg.
Frisco’s Deli and Market (7057 W. Alaska Drive, 303/229-2234; www.friscosdeli.com) is the brainchild of culinary school graduate Steve Devery and Bryan Lee who joined forces to find their ultimate dream. Open daily (10 am – 9 pm Monday -Saturday; 11 am – 6 pm Sunday) Here you’ll find the freshest and finest house-made soups, salads and French and Italian style deli sangies. There’s also a butcher case with quality meat, fresh game (seasonal) and Boar’s Head brand deli meats. In the retail section of the store you can also find prepared dinners, imported cheeses and olives and lots of other accompaniments for your dinner table. This is a welcome addition to the Belmar dining scene. While Frisco’s is certainly competing with Whole Foods, I think their unusual selections, convenience and good service will be a draw to the folks who live on the east end of the development.
Jamba Juice (7161 W. Alaska Dr, 720/974-3216; www.jambajuice.com) serves juice. And smoothies, boosts and baked goods. Healthy foo foo stuff. Hey, someone out there must like the stuff cuz there are 430 of them suckers around the country and more coming.
Johnny Rockets (450 S. Teller St, 303/922-7044; www.johnnyrockets.com) is full of fun, frolicking and good grub. While they still won’t cook me a rare bugger, it’s still deliteful to eat there. I don’t use the word “dine” cuz it definitely ain’t that. But they have a super tuna sangie; good buggers if you don’t mind well-done, great shakes and malts and assorted other yummies. The Belmar store is relatively small, but it has a great patio (weather permitting) and the staff seems to have fun working there. Stop in for a last minute meal or snack just in time to catch the show next door at the Century Theatre, or maybe get some grub on the way outta the theater on the way home. The apple pie is quite yummy.
Lucky Strike Bowling Alley (415 S. Teller St; www.bowlluckystrike.com) Yeah, who sez bowling alleys don’t serve good food? Well, Steven Foster is out to disprove that myth. His first venture outside of California was downtown Denver at the Pavilions and is now at Belmar. There are14 lanes of bowling, but more importantly 80 seats in the main dining room and 40 seats in the private party room. The menu features lotsa munchies, buggers, chicken specialties, ocean delites and other yummies. The hand-packed half-pound bugger cooked to order is terrific as are the various salads. But the filet mignon skewers will getcha. Check out the mac and cheese balls. I hate mac and cheese but these suckas are addictive. You can order anything in the dining area or at your lane. Service everywhere is very good. You ain’t gonna believe how good this food is.
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (7210 W. Alameda Ave, 303/922-5800; www.pfchangs.com). There aren’t enuf superlatives in the dictionary to describe this always packed, great eatery. I’m in a rut when I go to Chang’s. It’s always the lettuce wraps with chicken for starters, then some ribs, then zee duck. Usually a double order of duck. I can’t help it, I luv the stuff. I just wanna know where they get the perfect lettuce leaves for the wraps. Must chop down one heck of lot of lettuce trees to get them that perfect. Lotsa veggie dishes for those who do that. They can even do Gluten Free.
Tacone (7007 W. Alaska Dr, 303/742-0778; www.tacone.com) was the most pleasant surprise of any of the 16 eateries that have opened in Belmar. The friendliness of the staff, the quality of the food and the unusual menu are going to bring G and I back frequently. They offer a semi-quick service of wraps, panini sangies, quesadillas, grilled platters, soups, salads, smoothies and desserts. G and I had four dinners between the two of us and took very little home. The sweet potato fries with the apple-apricot dipping sauce will blow your mind.
Ted’s Montana Grill (330 S. Teller St, 303/922-7770; www.tedsmontanagrill.com) serves bison buggers, beef buggers, chicken, and some of the best soups in town. They also have fine steaks, fresh salmon, and a yummy meatloaf. I still have a problem getting the buggers to come out rare cuz they use what I call a Dumb Dome but the bun is so good sometimes I overlook it. Actually, I almost like their kiddy sliders better. And who can resist the malts and shakes and other desserts? Muh new fav is the chicken salad (salad with chicken and stuff). Try sitting at the bar near the cooks sometime and watching the action. GS Bryce goes crazy when he sees Scooter hanging on the back wall.
The Oven Pizza E Vino (7167 W. Alaska Dr, 303/934-7600; www.tarbells.com) is owned by Phoenix Chef Mark Tarbell. This upscale pizzeria and Italian trattoria came about because Chef Tarbell was so impressed by the Belmar development and the creation of a city within a city, that he decided to open not one but two upscale dining emporiums. At The Oven everything is made from scratch including all the sauces as well as the mozzarella cheese. Known for his fabulous wood oven pizza, you get to taste the best. His fine dining eatery, Home, is coming soon. Not only was The Oven featured their first year in business by Bon Appetit magazine and Food & Wine magazine, but they were awarded Westword’s “Best of Denver” for 2005 as “Best Masterpizza”. This place is always packed. They even have a terrific patio for folks to watch the world go by. That's muh favorite pastime.
The Press Coffee Company (7150 W. Alaska Dr, 303/922-0911) serves fine gourmet coffee and espresso drinks, teas and pastries in a cozy environment. Since I gave up coffee two years ago, I haven’t been in the place, but will check out the pastries. Their website is under construction so look for it in a month or so at www.presscoffee.com
Whole Foods (444 S. Wadsworth Blvd, 303/935-5000; www.wholefoods.com). According to their website, this is the premier store in the Rocky Mountain Region. And you wanna know why G and I can eat here every nite and not eat the same meal for months? They have tons of prepared food items and if you don’t find it, they’ll cook most anything you want. If you haven’t been by the seafood (I don’t dare call it fish) department, where most every variety of the freshest seafood in the world is available, you’ve missed one of the best “restaurants” in the area. There is a large round section of cases with a cooking area in the center where fabulous chefs will fry, grill, broil or otherwise prepare whatever you want to eat. There are a dozen seats and several tables as well as a counter where you can select from the varying menu or pick out anything you want and a chef will prepare it for you. The best shrimp cocktail at lots less than at your favorite steakery is here. And them pastries in the bakery will send your blood sugar count to 999.
The Problem. My home is about two miles and my office five miles from Belmar. With all these great eateries close by, where’s the incentive to travel to other parts of the metro area? It sure is a challenge.
p.s. As we went to press, we got word that the enormously successful, third annual Italian Festival at Belmar will be a full week this year, September 18 thru September 24. You gotta go. Check it out at www.belmarcolorado.com
Cya at Belmar.
In his real life Jay Fox is a CPA. He offers all kinds of good tax planning advice, financial calculators and the latest in tax news at his website: www.jayfoxcpa.com. He just writes this column for the money.