rlm's Profile
Downtown Denver -- 60th birthday brews and great food
I'm with monopod--Euclid Hall would definitely fit the bill.
Great food near Coors Field
Biker Jim's gourmet hot dogs, Marco's for pizza, Trillium (Scandinavian), Mexico City for fried tacos (it's kinda divey though).
NEW TO DENVER AREA - NEED UPSCALE REC
See? There is no consensus as you feared. :) I'd just go to Frasca. If you have enough time to check out the other places on this list before you book, maybe sneak in and have a nibble at the bar at each and see what you think or dispatch a friend that you trust. I've had good meals at most of the places listed here.
Fish sandwich in Denver
Euclid Hall has an Itsy Bitsy Fishwich that is tasty. You could order 2 or 3. :-)
NEW TO DENVER AREA - NEED UPSCALE REC
It is more casual than upscale, but Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder on Pearl is also highly recommended. Owners and several others in kitchen and behind bar are ex-Frasca staffers, so they know about great service and quality food.
NEW TO DENVER AREA - NEED UPSCALE REC
I would go with the tasting menu at Mizuna. Does not look like much from the outside, but excellent service and delicious food. My better half and I have been Frasca regulars for almost 8 years and I took him to Mizuna this year as a surprise for something different. I shamefully admit I had not been in years (usually hit up the chef's more casual Osteria Marco or Bones) and really enjoyed it. He was not as happy with the wine pairings as he usually is at Frasca, but we did like the sommelier so maybe just personal preferences on his part. (I abstained since we couldn't leave the car that night.) If I'm going to spend that kind of money though, I trust no one as much as Frasca to deliver.
Denver Convention Group Dinner
Row 14 is right across the street: http://www.row14denver.com/
Boulder, CO
Guess it depends on what is meant by "casual" (dress code, pricing, comfort). I'm extremely comfortable unwinding at Frasca, dressing up is not required, and the service is warm and friendly, so it feels casual and "neighborhoody" to me. If the definition of "casual" is low-priced, then no, it's not in that category. Colterra feels pretty relaxing and non-pretentious to me too (does anyone dress to the nines in Niwot?!), especially the patio, but it will set you back a few dimes as well. Worth it to me, but your mileage may vary.
Boulder, CO
I'm a Frasca regular and I have seen people wearing Crocs with socks and shorts in the dining room. I certainly wouldn't encourage that in any venue, but it's Boulder. You'll see all styles of dress there, and you'll get great service whether you look like a runway model like Bobby's wife or you begrudgingly buy clothes about every five years like me. Since it's on the higher end, there are people dressed up for anniversaries and birthdays and such, but there are plenty of people dressed more casually, especially at the bar (which is available for walk-ins and might be the perfect way to sneak in on such a busy weekend). If you love food & wine and you don't smell like you woke up in a barn, you should be okay.
Denver Pizza
Interesting. Was it really that awesome or have your tastes just changed over time? ;) Has it not always been that thick? As they expanded did they start using cheaper ingredients?
Denver Pizza
Yes, BeauJo's is kind of gross (hence the "investigate for sociological purposes" quip). I am not even sure there are any left in the metro area, are there? Since this thread started in 2008, the original Virgilio's in Lakewood closed (another is open further south but I haven't been) and a couple of places I like better than any of them opened in Boulder: Pizzeria Locale and Pizzeria Basta. There's another Marco's now in the Vallagio development too.
Visiting Denver, need recommendations
Good suggestions. Two exceptions to the 16th Street Mall rule are the new Ambria and ChoLon Bistro (both excellent).. Another new place worth consideration near Marco's is Trillium (Scandinavian). I also like Row 14 and Crave Dessert Bar in The Spire and Colt & Gray and Sushi Sasa around Platte. If you want to pop over the bridge to the Highlands that opens up even more possibilities.
Colorado food souvenir
The Rioja and Vesta cookbooks are beautiful, as is the Colorado Organic cookbook. I am sure a shop such as The Truffle in Denver or Cured in Boulder could put together a lovely basket of local products or make great recommendations. Be careful what you try to carry on food-wise, however, as I had a jar of Frasca's red pepper jelly confiscated by the TSA.
Denver trip report: Rioja, TAG, Euclid Hall, Bittersweet, Fruition, La Sandia, Jus’ Cookin, The Truffle
The dish you are referring to at Cholon is Kaya Toast. Agree that it is unforgettable.
Jennifer Jasinski opened Euclid Hall. Other places by FB are Mizuna & Luca D'Italia next to Bones on Grant, Lou's in Highlands, Green Russell/Russell's Smokehouse across from Osteria Marco & downstairs on Larimer.
Regarding an earlier post, I have been eating at Frasca at least once a month (more frequently in the early years) since they opened in August of '04 and there's always a couple of meals there which are in contention for meal of the year. Where else are you going to chat with Terry Theise about wine or find some of the country's best chefs like Daniel Humm putting in guest appearances?
LA Hound in Vail and Denver for a few days, curious for your thoughts.
Excellent choices (except I'm not famililar with Flame so can't comment on that). I am sure you realize Frasca is not actually in Denver but roughly 20-30 min. NW in Boulder. Another idea for dessert in Denver besides dBar is the fairly new Crave Dessert Bar in the bottom of the Spire next to Row 14. Boxcar in Boulder has good coffee. The Frasca Caffe next to Frasca & Pizzeria Locale sells/serves Boxcar and they also have a spot next to Cured across the way on Pearl. I must admit to enjoying the mochas from Aspen-based Ink Coffee (Riverfront location in Denver is what I hit the most since the one near me in the 'burbs burned down a few years ago). You should go to The Truffle cheese shop on 6th Avenue in Denver and buy some local hand-made Helliemae's Salt Caramels.
Dining in the Denver Tech Center Area (second try)
Fisher-Clark Deli is out of business. The White Chocolate Grill is a chain. Fruition is delicious but tiny, so if you have a large team that might not be a good choice. Root Down and their sister restaurant Linger nearby have interesting decor (mixed feelings on the food--have loved some dishes like the soups at both locations and disliked others like the raw samosas at Linger). I think Euclid Hall would be fun for a group, especially for beer fans, and the food is much better than at Wynkoop and suitable for sharing.
Edited to add that you might check out the Vallagio area nearby which has some independent restaurants such as Marco's Coal Fired Pizzeria and Street Kitchen Asian Bistro. http://www.vallagio.com/the-shops
I'm having a hard time thinking of anything meeting your "unusual experiences" criteria though (Casa Bonita on Colfax further north qualifies, but the food is horrendous and your team would enjoy it more if they were still in grade school).
Recommendation for Sunday afternoon lunch/brunch in Boulder?
I agree. I think monopod's photo just sold me on getting my booty into Snooze soon and trying that.
Yaletown near Opus?
I really appreciate the recs. Vancouver is very walk-able and friendly. We popped into the bars at Boneta and L'Abattoir. Definitely want to return to check out more of your city.
cocktails & dinner before show at the paramount theatre (on a monday night)
I'd suggest happy hour at Row 14 (2 - 6 pm) on 14th between Champa and Stout. http://www.row14denver.com/menus/happy-hour
Great cocktails & wines by the glass, and $5-$10 eats that will fill you up without breaking the bank. Ask about off-menu specials too (I had a delicious hamachi collar at the bar one night). You'll recognize former staffers from TAG and Rioja there so it will feel just like Larimer Square. :-)
-----
Rioja
1431 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202
Trip recs such as best "NW cuisine" in Seattle?
Thanks for all the recs, particularly Caffe Migliore, which was perfect for coffee during the week. I will write more later, but we were very happy with our experiences in Seattle (with the tajarin at Spinasse and seafood at Walrus & the Carpenter being highlights) and wish we would have had more time to explore.
-----
Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA
Caffe Migliore
1215 4th Ave Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98161
RN 74
I had a good experience there last week, but I was more focused on the amazing wine list. I have occasionally seen Krug by the glass elsewhere (SF, NYC, Aspen), but never DRC. Wonderful to be able to drink such an extraordinary wine without dropping hundreds of dollars first. The fact that they had both meant I was over the moon (although the DRC dropped off the train board that evening after they apparently ran through a case of the stuff over the last month).
The sommeliers and our server were polished and professional. We split some black pepper gougeres and I had the corn/crab bisque (mine was the right temp) and beef bourguignon. My food at the SF original a couple of months ago was perhaps a notch above, but everything was properly executed in Seattle. Didn't hit the same highs of the degustation menu I had at Spinasse the previous evening, of course, but the superior wines and wine service made up for it.
One negative is that even though the SF original is loud, the Seattle branch seems even more painfully loud. I am fine with boisterous, but people were screaming over each other here.
-----
Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA
Yaletown near Opus?
In Vancouver later today and looking for good spots for lunch and dinner near Opus Hotel. Love wine and craft cocktails. Transit or taxi would be fine if something is worth it. Is Market by Jean-Georges worth the effort to dine there? Seafood/sushi would be great too. Short notice for the trip so not much time to do research.
Trip recs such as best "NW cuisine" in Seattle?
Did I choose the wrong title or post on a slow day? Was really hoping to get some recs close to the W (cab or transit ride away is fine).
Trip recs such as best "NW cuisine" in Seattle?
A couple of frequent and adventurous diners/winos staying at the W soon and already have reservations for RN74 (love the SF original and figure we can get great Burgundy here) and Spinasse. Specifically looking for (1) place where we could drop in on a Wednesday for light lunch (Salumi or something else?), (2) Saturday for dinner (esp. great place to dine at the bar) and (3) Sunday for breakfast/brunch (Cafe Besalu sounds intriguing, but perhaps there is something closer to the hotel). Better half is requesting great "NW cuisine"-type place at some point (probably fits on Sat. night). After doing some reading on this board it sounds like Walrus and the Carpenter might be our best bet for oysters (and seafood in general?). What does everyone think about eater.com's list of essential Seattle restaurants? What about newbies like Bako and Momiji? Also looking for best places for cocktails and good wine bars (maybe with Andrew Will on the list?). Best place near the W to get our espresso on would be appreciated (anything like Blue Bottle?).
-----
Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA
must eat Denver
Curious what you mean by "too authentic for the majority of gringos." Additionally, which places specifically are you referring to? Thanks.
Cheese store in Denver?
No one has mentioned them because if you really want Murray's then go to the shop in NYC. You're not getting the same level of service and care for the cheese at a run-of-the-mill grocery store (or at Whole Foods, for that matter) that you will at a local specialty shop like The Truffle or Cured, where the owners are slicing your cheese to order and have a personal stake in your happiness. Not that I don't appreciate Kroger's attempt at bringing better cheese to the masses.
Cheese store in Denver?
Timely article in the Denver Post today about cheese shops in Colorado: http://www.denverpost.com/food/ci_18982060
Cheese store in Denver?
There is a gorgeous new cheese shop in Boulder on Pearl called Cured that is worth the trip (and their focus is on American artisanal cheeses). http://www.curedboulder.com/
On modifying a tasting menu: Manresa
I love vegetables as well and was underwhelmed with “Into the Vegetable Garden.” It’s an interesting idea and I was excited at first to dig in because I’d read that they combine 25+ veggies and herbs, but mine was truthfully rather flavorless and boring. I just didn’t enjoy eating it very much and wanted to finish it mainly so it would be whisked away and replaced with something better. I felt like my mom was standing behind me imploring me to eat my leaves and dirt so I could have part of a lobe of foie. :-) After spending a week in the Bay Area up to that point I had already had so many meals featuring amazing, colorful, peak-of-freshness veggies (at Frances, Chez Panisse, Cotogna, etc.) for far less money (and still have fond, powerful memories of a vegetarian meal at Ubuntu when Jeremy Fox was the chef), so perhaps this was a let-down by comparison. There seemed to be a vibrancy missing in all of the dishes I had compared to my first visit.
Besides the interior renovations (which are gorgeous, although I’m not sure if I liked the low lighting better than when the place was bathed in sunlight), the service has changed drastically. It was warm and rather informal on my first visit, which I actually preferred to the calculated and cold choreography they have going now. I don’t mind that they are trying to increase the professionalism of the staff to sync up with the level of food they are turning out, but it was not implemented correctly. The focus seems to be entirely on bringing and removing plates in a highly-choreographed fashion, not attending to the needs of diners (more butter needed, water glasses sitting empty, all the things that can come up during a meal). The servers marching around the dining room with one hand firmly planted into their backs becomes distracting after a while, especially when you are sitting there with a question or a need and your table is being ignored because everyone on the floor is so focused on their culinary conga line. I spent several hours dining at Per Se too and was attended to by a number of different people, but it was more of a ballet than synchronized marching.
-----
Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558
Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709
Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
