Monday Night in Denver

[Rosie]

Any recommendations? Casual is fine or any hidden gem. Any cost or cuisine is fine. Already have reservations at Mizuna, Vesta Dipping Grill and for Frasca and The Kitchen in Boulder.

[TheMatt]

Any recommendations? Casual is fine or any hidden gem. Any cost or cuisine is fine. Already have reservations at Mizuna, Vesta Dipping Grill and for Frasca and The Kitchen in Boulder.

Well, for a hidden gem, where abouts are you staying or how far do you like to drive?

[Rosie]

Will drive for good food. We are staying in Aurora. We are going to be driving through the state for a few weeks with stops in Alamosa, Durango, Ouray, Glenwood Springs, Boulder and then back to Denver. So any recommendations in those areas would be greatly appreciated. And we have one night between Glenwood Springs and Boulder where we are not sure where we want to stop or may just have an extra night in Boulder. Any suggestions on an interesting stop would be great. We've been to Vail and Aspen.

[mongo_jones]

the kitchen is a waste--i've had too many boring meals there. in any event, better at lunch than dinner. you'd be better off eating good vietnamese food on federal blvd. in denver, at dalat or new saigon. weekend brunch/lunch at the chautaqua dining hall in boulder is a nice experience, which is not to say the food is stellar.

[rlm]

Too bad Fruition is closed on Mondays, as that's the other fine dining spot besides Frasca I would recommend without hesitation to out-of-state foodies.

 

If you're referring to Monday the 28th, one problem you may have is that some places normally open on Mondays may be closed for the holiday. When you do an Open Table search for the Denver area on that evening, only 32 registered places have availability (56 don't). That's unusual for this town.

 

If you want an excellent snack that's not on the fine dining end of the spectrum, take Lori Midson's advice (mentioned on the CITY thread) and get some pupusas at Pupusas Sabor Hispano way up North Broadway in Boulder. 3 bucks each. I am stuck on the rajas con queso pupusa. It's like crack. Also made it to another one of her recs yesterday, the newer location of Tacos Y Salsas at Federal & Kentucky in Denver and stuffed myself silly on carnitas tacos and gorditas and the like for under 10 bucks.

 

I really like The Kitchen at breakfast and weekend brunch. Dinner is sometimes a little on the plain side. We've had better luck in the evenings at their Upstairs (about a week ago we split a simple but tasty wood-fired pizza with local Cure Farm greens, goat Gouda, and carmelized onions).

 

Does anyone know if L'Atelier in Boulder across from Frasca is back in a good groove or not? I almost had lunch there yesterday, but felt the Taco Tractor Beam pulling my car to Denver.

 

For the "between Glenwood Springs and Boulder" idea, I'd recommend Dish in Edwards. We ate there last weekend and their 7-course tasting menu was only $25 during the off-season. Eat!Drink! downstairs is fun too (but anytime I'm in close proximity to so much cheese and wine, I'm a happy woman). We wanted to go to Juniper as well, but they were closed for the off-season until May 25th. I've enjoyed the food at Mark Fischer's six89 and Phat Thai in Carbondale, although that's technically past Glenwood Springs a little ways.

[Suzanne F]

Nothing to add about Denver, but: Hi, Rosie! Nice to see you here!!

[TheMatt]

rlm, is Z Cuisine closed on Mondays? (My internet is spotty at the moment...this reply is a challenge.) If not, I'd recommend that. But, since I thought of it, it's probably closed.

 

Another thought is Domo in Denver. I've always loved it.

 

Finally, if you're up for a bit of a drive, there is 240 Union in picturesque suburban Lakewood. I have yet to have a bad meal there.

[pepperedpalate]

Also made it to another one of her recs yesterday, the newer location of Tacos Y Salsas at Federal & Kentucky in Denver and stuffed myself silly on carnitas tacos and gorditas and the like for under 10 bucks.

 

I was there Thursday! Did you like it?

[rlm]

Yes, Matt, Z Cuisine is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

 

Has anyone been to 240 Union since Chef Matt Franklin left? Know anything about Jay Shedlin?

 

Lori, I loved Tacos Y Salsas (just wish it was closer to where I live or work). I was only able to make it there yesterday since I was off of work. That's a spiffy new location on Federal. Is the one on Colfax more of a dive? I think I like the salsas a tiny bit better at Tacos Jalisco, although I haven't done a side-by-side comparison yet. The parking lot is much easier to navigate at Tacos Y Salsas.

[Rosie]

THANK YOU so much for the recommendations. Yes, I was asking about this Monday May 28 and also June 11.

[pepperedpalate]

Lori, I loved Tacos Y Salsas (just wish it was closer to where I live or work). I was only able to make it there yesterday since I was off of work. That's a spiffy new location on Federal. Is the one on Colfax more of a dive? I think I like the salsas a tiny bit better at Tacos Jalisco, although I haven't done a side-by-side comparison yet. The parking lot is much easier to navigate at Tacos Y Salsas.

 

Yep, the original Tacos Y Salsas, on East Colfax, is a complete dive -- of the best kind. I'll never forget the first time I saw it. It was six or seven years ago, I was driving down East Colfax at midnight and saw a long stretch of people milling outside the door. Did a double-take to catch the name and went back the next day. I think I ate there every day for a week. They don't have a liquor license and the space would barely fit into a thimble. I think the food is better at the Federal outpost, but the salsas are the same. I also love the salsas at Las Carboncitos (6th and Sheridan or 38th and Pecos.) No chips, however (they fry them for you fresh on the spot at Tacos Y Salsas, but you need to ask.)