Colorado Restaurant Compendium

**telepariah** · 04-11-2010, 09:18 PM

Rioja two tips up.

I took my wife to Rioja for her birthday this week. We had one of the most enjoyable meals ever. Started with the mushroom flatbread and the tuna sashimi and tartare. The flatbread was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Just a nice blend of flavors to balance the mushrooms, which were out of this world. The crust was delicate and light without being overly bready. The tuna sashimi and tartare were yummy, though if I am being completely honest, I thought the sashimi was a little overwhelmed by fennel and olive oil. It was delicious, but only the texture of the fish told me it was tuna.

For salads Kazumi had the crab salad wrapped in jicama and avocado with a carrot/cumin sauce and grilled vegetables. It was out of this world. I am not always a hudge fan of crab but this was an orgy in my mouth. I just ordered a green salad, which was dressed nicely in an olive oil, balsamic, and honey dressing.

For main course Kazumi had the gnocchi paella, which was roasted crispy and floating in a nice sauce that obviously used a lot more saffron than I use when I make paella. The shellfish was all fresh and cooked to perfection. I had the lamb two ways. The lamb chop was a good chop but I liked the lamb sausage even more, along with the crispy potato cake and grilled vegetables.

For wine we had a lower end of the menu 2007 Palacios Petalos, which was a perfect complement for the lamb and did nicely by all the seafood as well. Red always does as far as we are concerned -- call us what you will, we just don't do white.

Service was smooth and friendly. The atmosphere is fun if a little loud. We will definitely return.

**Meadow Skipper** · 09-21-2010, 07:17 PM

Bump.

What's good in Telluride these days? Siam?

**MakersTeleMark** · 09-22-2010, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

Bump.

What's good in Telluride these days? Siam?

Overrated. Honestly, in Tride, just sticking with a decent pie (the browndog pie-hole (well, something, you'll see it) and some street food, and some really good beans (velvet hammer bitches!) is worth saving your money.

Haven't been to the thai place in R'way in awhile, but that was always a better go to.

I don't have much to spend, but I will do it for the goods. I spent a week in T'ride about a month ago, and wasn't drawn into anything worth the risk.

Danno? I know you have a few words to say on this topic.

Also, I have to say that the Secret Stash in CB is just amazing, along with the really new Nepali/Indian place - Sherpa's. Don't waist your carb diet on the momo's, they will just fill you up. But their limited Indian menu is cooked perfectly, and I'm and Indian snob.

The momo guy next to Camp 4 coffee makes a great momo platter with potatoes for a reasonable sum that is great fair for a long mountain bike ride.

Also have to throw down some serious props for Kip's Grill in Creede for just plain delivering the awesomeness. Can't go wrong with the menu, or the bartenders, crowd, scenery, everything. Think soft taco ... mozz stuffed hatch chile in the bottom just to start the bite, with meat and good crisp veggies on top, and some special ask for sauce to complete it. O.M.G. They deserved sticker space on my truck my a mile.

I know this is a front range thread, but I never eat there.

**Danno** · 09-22-2010, 07:57 AM

I don't think this is necessarily a front range thread, it's just that most of us live that way.

I was in Telluride a few weeks ago for just a couple of days, and had an awful meal at Honga's. I would have been disappointed at $8 a plate, at $25 a plate it was a crime. Have heard that Siam is decent and less expensive. The Butcher and the Baker had good sammys. I have had good meals in the past at Cocina de Luz (or something like that) and Floradora.

**Meadow Skipper** · 09-22-2010, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the pointers, gentlemen. Glad not to have to PM Rontele.

**squatch** · 09-24-2010, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by telepariah

Sushi Sasa lunch.

I know I should hesitate to judge a restaurant on lunch alone but if I go somewhere for lunch and you want me to return for dinner, it better be good.

Sushi Sasa has come with some great recommendations from other reviewers on this thread so Kazumi and I decided to give it a try. We both agree, lunch was very disappointing. Service was fine. Our disappointment was purely with the food. Granted, we have a very Japanese perspective on things, but this was just not up to snuff.

Kazumi had the moriawase lunch (nigiri) special. I had the gyu-donburi. We also ordered some toro and saba nigiri. Our lunch came with a choice of soup or salad. My salad was very nice. I liked the citrusy, mayo-based dressing a lot and the greens were fresh. Kazumi had miso-shiru. It had almost no floating ingredients and there was almost no trace of dashi. The flavor was bland. The next thing we noticed was the sushi rice was cold -- really cold. Sushi rice should be room temperature to lukewarm and freshly made. Was this last nights leftovers? Unacceptable. The fish, with the exception of the toro which was fine, was dry -- really dry. The ebi was so overcooked I had a hard time chewing it. It was a piece of rubber that I had to rip off the tail. Also, the sushi fish had no wasabi on its underside. We figure this is just catering to an American audience who either loves or hates wasabi. But sushi should have a touch of wasabi on the underside of the fish. Having no wasabi should be the option, not the other way around. In any case, if they don't put wasabi on the fish, they should give us the option to have it. Just providing wasabi on the side is not authentic. My gyu-don was tasty enough but it was drowning in sauce. I like the gyu-don at Izakaya Den a lot more. The saving grace was the toro, but that too suffered from the old and cold rice. Actually, the spicy tuna roll was ok, though the rice was also too cold.

Before tax and tip, lunch (no alcohol, no dessert) was $57. Really, you can get better sushi in a convenience store in Japan for less than $10 -- $15 in a department store basement. If dinner is supposed to be competitive with Sushi Den or Izakaya Den, there had better be a hudge step up. But frankly, having had the lunch, we are reluctant to spend $250 on dinner for two at Sushi Sasa when we can go to one of the Dens and get consistently great food.

Hmm, I've had the opposite experience: Sushi Den was the suck for lunch but I've always liked Sushi Sasa for dinner. I'm pretty much a nigiri and rolls sort of guy, though, so I have limited perspective on the menu. Maybe both restaurants are content to bring their B-games for lunch. I've had that happen other places, too...so disappointing.

Also dinner, drinks, and enough food that we couldn't finish at Sushi Sasa was only about $125 (for two).

**Meadow Skipper** · 09-26-2010, 08:18 PM

Telluride: Actually, Siam was pretty fuckin' good and not too expensive for that town - we stuck to a tableload of appetizers. The Geow soup and lettuce wraps were very good. The sweet basil martini was awesome.

Cosmopolitan was fine for a birthday/special night but spendy, and on the reasonable side the Floradora and Brown Dog delivered, as usual.

For breakfast, Maggie's was only so-so but Cocina de Luz was good, especially the juice. I wish Baked in Telluride would re-open.

**Rontele** · 09-27-2010, 10:13 AM

Rioja is great. Twelve, IMHO, is currently the best restaurant in Denver.

**smmokan** · 09-27-2010, 10:57 AM

I've been on a bit of a Frank Bonano kick lately with Luca D'Italia and Osteria Marco.

Luca was one of the best dinners I've ever had (top 3) and the service matched the food. A little pricey for us common folk, but damn was it worth it. The Lobster Ravioli is to die for. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking to impress or celebrate a special occasion.

Osteria Marco is an entirely different type of restaurant- cool environment, more relaxed, slightly slower service but that wasn't a problem. We got the $40 Monday deal which means a set appetizer for two (cheese and salumi), splitting a pizza, and a bottle of house wine. I'm intrigued to go there again for more house-made cheese and meats... they were amazing.

**Cruiser** · 09-27-2010, 07:41 PM

^^^ You gotta hit up Mizuna then. We did 5 courses at lunch 2 week ago and the quality just floored us. Flawless presentation, perfect seasoning, innovative dishes, no uppity attitude. Frank came out after lunch to thank us for coming and applause spontaneously erupted at our table.

**Missing Sock** · 09-27-2010, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Rontele

Rioja is great. Twelve, IMHO, is currently the best restaurant in Denver.

My place is only a few blocks away. We absolutely love it. The fact that we get to try a new menu every month makes it that much better.

**Missing Sock** · 09-27-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

I've been on a bit of a Frank Bonano kick lately with Luca D'Italia and Osteria Marco.

Have you done Bones yet? Probably not worth a special trip to downtown but pretty damn good for a casual meal.

**smmokan** · 09-28-2010, 12:26 PM

I haven't yet, but my wife isn't a big fan of Asian cuisine so it makes things difficult. Especially since my girlfriend is such a picky eater too.

**Rontele** · 09-28-2010, 12:38 PM

Steve,

If you liked Luca. Your next blow out Italian meal should be at Barolo.

**DAFTC** · 09-28-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

I wish Baked in Telluride would re-open.

http://www.telluridenews.com/article...5592133078.txt

Your wish come true. Better buy a lottery ticket.

A.M. - Steaming Bean for something quick

Lunch - Clif Bar on a lift, Gorronos if you're done and it's sunny, or La Cocina if you're heading back into town

Apres/early dinner - a drink at Allred's bar for sunset if you're feeling posh/romantic, Fat Alley if you're a meatatarian and/or prefer a schlitz or bacon shot to a martini, Excelsior early-bird for decent value pizza/pasta and a glass of wine.

Bigger-money dinner - If you go out expecting to get good value you will not have a good evening, especially if your point of reference is SF/NYC/Seattle/Paris/Rome etc.. If you go out accepting that you can have a nice meal w/good atmosphere and decent service (some servers are world class and have been doing it for over a decade, others got hired a month ago and are clueless) and you're going to pay more than you would in some city with an economy that isn't built around tourism then you can have a fun evening. New Sheridan and Cosmo deliver this most consistently. If you have the time and are willing to make the drive (~30 minutes), the Argentine Grille at the Rico Hotel is also usually pretty good.

**Meadow Skipper** · 09-28-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by DAFTC

http://www.telluridenews.com/article...5592133078.txt

Your wish come true. Better buy a lottery ticket.

Yeah, I saw all that activity. What I should have written was that I wished it was open last weekend when I was there.

And your calls seemed pretty much spot on, though I'd add wings and a brew for lunch at the Brown Dog. We had very good service and a nice table at Cosmo, so it was cool.

Did I just have bad timing or is Cocina la Luz kind of swarmed with flies?

**Lurch** · 09-28-2010, 03:06 PM

Has anyone been to Baur's Ristorante just of the 16th mall in Denver? I'm eying up their Lobster Paella from my b-day.

**smmokan** · 09-28-2010, 03:24 PM

Anyone been to Venue in the Highlands? We have a gift certificate there and I'm waiting for their menu to be something we're both interested in...

**Rontele** · 09-29-2010, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Anyone been to Venue in the Highlands? We have a gift certificate there and I'm waiting for their menu to be something we're both interested in...

Venue is great.

**smmokan** · 01-12-2011, 10:42 AM

Just a heads up.... Denver Restaurant Week reservations just opened up for business. It's running the last weekend in February through the second weekend in March.

We already have reservations at Venue and Arugula in Boulder, and we're thinking about one other... 1515 maybe?

**Danno** · 01-12-2011, 10:50 AM

I really dig Arugula.

With a baby due any day now, I can't commit to reservations right now, unfortunately.

**Crampedon** · 01-12-2011, 10:53 AM

Any one seen the bevy of hot young sweethearts currently carrying Sushi at Sato?

Damm. They should do a calendar or something, or tag team hot tub massage.

**Edgnar** · 01-12-2011, 05:57 PM

Duggans Deli in Breckenridge for sandwiches. Holy fuck their french dip is AMAZING. I have also heard good things about the Veggie and the Italian. In the basement of the big brown building next to Pup's glide shop on ski hill rd.

**smmokan** · 01-18-2012, 03:08 PM

Bump for Denver Restaurant Week.... book now because reservations are going FAST!

I've noticed that a lot of restaurants have pretty limited, lacking menus this year- it's almost like they're taking advantage of the $52.80 deal rather than using it to show off their food to win new customers.

**bean** · 01-18-2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Bump for Denver Restaurant Week.... book now because reservations are going FAST!

I've noticed that a lot of restaurants have pretty limited, lacking menus this year- it's almost like they're taking advantage of the $52.80 deal rather than using it to show off their food to win new customers.

Any suggestions on where's worth going?