Colorado Restaurant Compendium

[Danno]

The tapas plates are small. Were you there during happy hour? I think they're cheaper but smaller. Even so, you can make a meal out of 3 or 4 tapas plates, and their pizzas are pretty good and cheap. And the eye candy is always appealing.

[pechelman]

speaking of caprese, i had the best chicken sandwhich of my life this past weekend at chinook for lunch
not sure if they still have it, cause it was a special for the week, but it was a smoked chicken boob, topped with a caprese stack (w\ their homemade mozz), some bermuda onions, and drizzled in some balsamic sauce thing. On really good ciabatta bread. combined with a tall spaten oktoberfest and a beautiful day on their patio = pwned. im gonna miss it when they finally move from that location to DTC...though itll be closer to me then.

[stupendous man]

But the thai dishes at Moongate Bistro and Chez Thuy are better, IMHO.

This is because you are a silly american. Khow Thai is way more authentic, even down to the atmosphere, than the others. You want your thai food americanized, and that's ok, but it doesn't make 'em better. for the price and the authenticity of the cooking, khow thai just rocks.

[Danno]

This is because you are a silly american. Khow Thai is way more authentic, even down to the atmosphere, than the others. You want your thai food americanized, and that's ok, but it doesn't make 'em better. for the price and the authenticity of the cooking, khow thai just rocks.

dude, get off the crack, I don't know where you get the idea that I want "Americanized" food. I have been to Thailand, I lived in Seattle where every neighborhood has numerous great thai restaurants, I know Thai food (not making myself out to be some super expert, just don't know where you get off acting like I'm some rube and you know the shizzle). The mere fact that you have been to Thailand more recently than I does not make you some kind of expert. Khow Thai most definitely does not rock, based on my experience. I'll grant you that there may be some dishes that are great there, but not the ones I ordered (which were merely "decent"). And if you really think the place rocks, I suggest you try more thai restaurants outside of Boulder.

And of course it is way more "authentic" than Moongate or Chez Thuy, you numnut, because those places are not Thai restaurants. That doesn't make its food any better. The mere fact that those restaurants are even in the comparison is kind of sad.

[lemon boy]

Boulder Smack Fight Royale!

[MakersTeleMark]

Internet lawyer Thai boxing throwdown!!!

[Danno]

Internet lawyer Thai boxing throwdown!!!

[pechelman]

Internet lawyer Thai boxing throwdown!!!

you mean jewish karate!?

sweet!

[MakersTeleMark]

you mean jewish karate!?

sweet!

You mean like hebrew kung pow?

[pechelman]

whats that, like gefilte fish with chestnuts?

[MakersTeleMark]

whats that, like gefilte fish with chestnuts?

Like nutty kippered snacks?

[pechelman]

crunchy jewish jerky?

[MakersTeleMark]

You saved their foreskins?

[pechelman]

Off with their heads!

[MakersTeleMark]

Wow, that's harsh.

[pechelman]

eh, we're used to it
you know, being old testamenters and such

so really, how did we get here from thai boxing?
amazing

[Cruiser]

1515 Restaurant - $$$-$$$$ - New American
After much deliberation Mrs. Cruiser and I decided to give 1515 a try for a night out without our 13 month old son. A rare treat for us considering the amount of effort involved with leaving him for the night with the in-laws. Economic stimulus check in hand we made a 7 o'clock reservation at 1515. We arrived about 15 minutes early, eager to get started with our meal. Our booth was ready and waiting and our server greeted us promptly. I should note that the decore is simple with exposed brick and some art on the walls. It's not one of these trendy fusion type places. Either way the owner came to greet us and we talked about the 7 course tasting menu and wine pairings. I explained my wife's wine preferences and he told me that he's make sure to find apropriate pairings for her. Then we began. I won't spend much time going into each course except to say that the duck liver pate, pan fried sweetbreads and veal cheeks over porcini risoto, and duck confit should not be missed. The courses flowed seamlessly. Our server did a fine job of making sure that we had time to really enjoy each course and a moment of downtime between them to finish our wine before the next course was presented. The owner (a sommelier) present each wine and briefly explained why he chose it for the pairing. The wait staff did a good job of presenting the dishes and offering just enough info about them without boring us with the details. Our dinner wound up being 8 courses each with an apropriate wine, and nice glass of 20yo tawny with desert (a free form chocolate creme brule). The total check with tip was just a tad shy of $400 which we both deemed to be quite reasonable considering the amount of food, wine, and service we received over our 4 hours in the place. All in all I would highly recomend this place to anyone who wants a well made meal in a casual setting near LoDo.

[lemon boy]

siiiiiiick! thanks for the review.

[encore]

1515 RestaurantThe total check with tip was just a tad shy of $400

WOW! I thought my girlfriend and I spent a lot of money dining out! You say "$$$-$$$$" though. What are the typical prices there?

[Cruiser]

WOW! I thought my girlfriend and I spent a lot of money dining out! You say "$$$-$$$$" though. What are the typical prices there?

Apps in the $8 to $15 range and entrees in the $20 to $35 range. Not bad at all really. We spent more because we opted for the tasting menu and wine parings. That's not the norm for us though. We rarely spend more than $100 to $150 for dinner.

[JoeStrummer]

1515 Restaurant Then we began. I won't spend much time going into each course except to say that the duck liver pate, pan fried sweetbreads and veal cheeks over porcini risoto, and duck confit should not be missed. The courses flowed seamlessly. Our dinner wound up being 8 courses each with an apropriate wine, and nice glass of 20yo tawny with desert (a free form chocolate creme brule)

You have just described my pre-electric chair meal, nice work.

Gene (the owner) is a great guy. I recommend 1515 highly.

[Rontele]

Encore, 2550 E. Colfax, Denver, CO. (303) 355-1112. $$-$$$.

We've been here a couple of times and frankly its just meh. I try to be as positive as possible about a place, but Encore never really delivers to its potential. Tucked away in a new building adjacent to the Tattered Cover, I'm not quite sure what Encore tries to get at. It is part retro lounge with a killer looking bar, and excellent outdoor patio, but its food is more Mediterrean(?). Perhaps it does suffer from some identity crisis, but its a tad overpriced for what you get.

[Rontele]

India's Pearl, 1475 S. Pearl, Denver, CO (303) 777-1533 $$-$$$. The future-Mrs. Rontele loves Indian food, so when this new restaurant opened up in our neighborhood it would not be long before we tried it out. Located in the old Mimi's Bistro (Lola's before that), the aptly named India's Pearl opened three weeks ago. They have added a very nice lounge/bar/patio to the top floor, but that isn't the focus of this review.

Rather, I should initially make note of the EXTENSIVE wine and beer list. Its downright awesome, reasonable, and gives you a good chance to try out different wines/beers, etc. It also doesn't hurt that the food absolutely wins here. Seriously. This is the best Indian food I have ever had. The Tikka Masala was superb and the veggie curry owned. Its a bit pricier than other Indian joints I have been to, but you kind of get what you pay for (READ: Little India's).

Lemon Boy, I would put this up against the venerable Masala.

[pechelman]

hey D, have you been to india's restaurant off tamarac in DTC?
just curious how it compares

[mcsquared]

This isn't your typical review but here it comes anyway.

Little Man Ice Cream-Located at 2620 16th Street which is the corner of 30th and Tejon (I know that doesn't make any sense but that is actually the address and location. It is in one of those bermuda triangle areas where the addresses are all weird. Its right next door to Lola though)

In my opinion, there is no such thing as bad ice cream. So I can't really comment on the quality of the ice cream at this place like a true foodie expert, but I can say it is homemade and have some very unique flavors of and what I have eaten in delicious. They have ice cream, gelato, sorbet, rootbeer floats, and a variety of other stuff all packed into about 300 square feet of space with plenty of outdoor seating.
Even if the ice cream was so-so, I would still love this place like I love the NFL network. Which means, I just like the idea that such a thing exists. The architecture is just downright cool. I mean, its a giant creamery can, how fucking awesome is that? And from an urban planning, innovative, adaptive use sort of way this place is pure genius. Take a small lot that is borderline useless for anything else and make a monument out of it.

It doesn't hurt (or help my waistline) that this place is 2 blocks from my house. The wife and I have made a habit of cooking dinner at home on the grill and then taking the dog out for a walk and grabbing some ice cream along the way. An excellent way to spend these hot summer nights. If you live downtown or in NW Denver it is worth the walk over some night. My only complaint is that is is crowded as shit most nights and the two high school kids working there seem to be in over their heads.
Sorry for the hudge pic, I am dumb.