PlanetEye

I have previously offered my suggestions for dinner reservations during the convention, however they were admitadly a bit on the pricey side, if a table was even still availible.   Going down the line slightly to some reasonably priced places, I have some great suggestions that normally do not require reservations. 

 1. The Rocky Mountain Diner has always been one of my favorite places to take out of town guests as they offer quite a bit of local flavor.   Located in a historic building on 18th st., they are a coulple blocks walk from the 16th St. pedestrian mall, but it is well worth it.  To call this a diner is to (mis)underestimate both the quality and creativity of their offerings.  My favorite dishes include their roast duck enchiladas, the buffalo meatloaf, and the Campfire Rocky Mountain Rainbow trout.  Finish your evening with what the menu refers to only as "A Really Big Piece of Cheesecake."

 2. If The Rocky Mountain Dinner is a little too far off of the beaten track for you, check out Sushi Han, located in the heart of the central business district.   While there are many fine places to enjoy Sushi in Denver, great service and reasonable prices elevate this one above most others.   Their sushi chef has a regular crowd of locals and can be the nights entertainment all by himself if you choose to eat at the counter.

3. In a city that sometimes goes to sleep a little early the Wazee Supper Club serves up some stylin pizza, burgers, and dessert until 1:00 AM.    Combine that with a hip atmosphere and a location close to the Pepsi Center, and you have an unbeatable choice to satiate your post convention appetite.

4. If Rodizio's all you can eat Brazilian Grill might be beyond your budget and/or unavailable, try BD's Mongolian Barbeque.   Here you will find one of the better all you can eat feasts around for under $20, including a huge salad bar, a variety of meats and seafood, and more sauces and spices that you thought existed.   Make your own combination of the raw materials, and watch them them cook it up for you on an open grill.   Repeat until stuffed.   You can't beat that.

 5.  Sams No3 Downtown is more like a true diner than the Rocky Mountain Diner, but it is no greasy spoon.    Their menu covesr everything from burgers and sandwiches to  Mexican and Greek food and beyond, even before you look at their breakfast and desert menus.  So enjoyable is their food and service, that it doesn't even feel strange to stop there before heading out to the performing arts center for a show.

As promised, I will first be showcasing the best places to have dinner during the convention that will require reservatons, yet still have some openings left.

 1.  Vestas Dipping Grill at 1822 Blake Street.   When this place opened years ago, it was so hip and so cool, that many thought it was just a passing trend.  Some time later, it is still alive and ticking, serving fantastic food in a great atmosphere.  Reservations are indeed scarce at this point, but you can still find some for August 24th, for those who are arriving just before the convention starts, and possibly at a few other odd times.   They also have a sizeable bar that you could take advantage of if you try to wait for an available table.   Two years ago, a local magazine rated it their best first date restaurant.   My wife and I could have told you that, it was the site of our first date in 2002!

 2.  Rodizio Grill at 1801 Wynkoop St.    This is a traditional Brazillian Steakhouse, with a wide assortments of grilled meats brought to your table, all you can eat.   Now I have been to some good and some not so good Brazillian steakhouses in both Brazil and here in the States, and I have consistently enjoyed the experience at Denver's Rodizio.   While the salad bar is fantastic, it cannot compare to the monster buffet tables that accompany a true Brazilian steakhouse.   That said, the quality of the meats exceed what you will find in most local places in Brazil.    The location is perfect, the atmosphere sophisticated, and a great time will be had there by all but the most hard core vegitarians.

 3.  In keeping with the South American theme, try Buenos Aires Grill at 2191 Arapahoe Street.   At six blocks off of the 16th Street pedestrian mall, their location is a little out of the way from the central business district, however it is largely their location that makes this place so special.  Brick walls, wooden floors, and white tableclothes are reminiscent of the Italian restaurant that formerly resided in this 100 year old building.   Outside, you will find a secluded garden courtyard that can be magical on a nice summer evening.   Needless to say, their Argentinian food is exceptional, making this dining experience is a quiet oasis so close to downtown, yet so far away.

 4. 1515 is another local favorite at 1515 Market St.   This centrally located restaurant serves what it describes as contemporary Colorado cuisine.   No matter what you want to call it, their menu is as creative as it is mouthwatering.    Be sure to save room for their deserts, a house specialty.   As of this writting they appear to still have some reservatios availible during the convention.

 5.  Elway's at 1881 Curtis St. in the Ritz Carlton hotel.   Named for the former Denver Bronco's quarterback, John Elway, who led the team to two Superbowl victorys, this restaurant has been getting some surprisingly good reviews.   When the football great opened up his first steakhouse in the Cherry Creek Mall, I wasn't expecting much from the overexposed former athlete/local car dealer. Celebrity eateries are generally not known for their food, yet the Ritz Carlton's inclusion of his second Denver location seems to be the ultimate confirmation that Elway's upscale eatery has been a match for his skill with a football.   While I truly expected their reservation system to laugh at me when I checked for availiblity during the convention, something unexpected occured.   The system said "Your requested date exceeds the maximum advance reservation limit for Elway's Downtown."    It seems that reservations are only accepted approximately two months out, so you might still get a table if your timing is right.

Let's just say that while these are all very nice places walking distance from downtown hotels, yet the are definitely the kind of places I would typically go to when someone else is paying.   That said, we are not talking New York expensive, as you can enjoy dinner for two at all of them for around $100, with the possible exception of Elways. 

There is something about going out that will always appeal to everyone but the most claustrophobic shut-ins.    No matter how good a chef you are, it is fascinating to explore new cuisine.  Your friends might be the wittiest, hippest people in town, yet it is still fun to see a show.   Most of all, I enjoy fine hospitality; the feeling that you are a valued customer, and that the establishment will make some effort ensure a pleasant evening.  

It is with that expectation that I found The Soiled Dove Underground extremely disappointing.  The Soiled Dove was once a bar and concert venue on Market Street in Downtown Denver.    It's name was a reference to it's location, which was Denver's historic red light district many decades ago.  

More recently, the Soiled Dove moved to the Lowry neighborhood in east Denver, where they offer a venue for variety of  music and comedy acts.
Their menu is neither large, nor special in any way, so I decided to order their Buffalo wings.   When they arrived I asked for a glass of water.   I was asked if I wanted to buy a bottle of water.   As usual, I declined, as Denver enjoys excellent tap water from the Rocky Mountains that tastes as good as bottled water and is better for the environment.

I was shocked when our server refused to give me a glass of water.  To add insult to injury, I noticed that they were trying to pass off "Arrowhead" bottled water for three dollars a bottle, the kind that you get from Costco for three dollars a case.

In an instant, my wife and I went from feeling like valued customers to be treated like bums off the street looking to use their restroom.  Certain that we merely had the misfortune of stumbling upon the wrong server on the wrong night, I later contacted the management of the Tavern "Hospitiality" Group.   He confirmed that it was his establishment's policy not to serve water for free to people at his venue (I can't really call them guests).  He then offered some lame justification that had more to do with his profit margin then his customer's satisfaction.

I have visited almost every state in America and traveled to dozens of countries, yet I have never been refused water when ordering food from a table.  
Reader's of this guide will know that Denver is a very dry place with thin air, and that staying hydrated here is much more of a challenge than in other cities, especially in the winter.

There was nothing egregiously wrong with the show or the decor at the Soiled Dove, however, when an establishment fails so miserably to treat it's customer's like guests, you find yourself wishing that you had stayed home.

I was enjoying a georgeous day at the arts festival in downtown Denver this weekend when a group of us decided to step in to the Paramount Cafe on the 16th pedestrian mall.   Their outdoor seating area is perfectly placed on the sidewalk, European style, and is irresistable on a sunny day.   Inside, they are filled with Hollywood celebritie's pictures and memorabilia, as if that is something that will stand out these days.

 It is when I opened up the menu that I realized that this place might actually have something unique going for it.   It's appetizer menu includes such treats as shrimp and avacado ceviche, and cheddar and jalapeno won tons.  

 As you look towards salads, you notice pepper grilled ahi tuna as well as a balsamic chicken and hummus plate.   Trust me, from the modest atmosphere in this place, you would never guess that this place serves hummus.

 The real surprise comes with their entree selection.   The prerequisite burgers come in an amazing variety.   While it is not unusual to find your choice of beef or buffalo burgers at any Denver restaurant, the Paramount Cafe additionally boasts elk, lamb, and even ostrich burgers.  Ostrich is a lean, tender red meat that is a rare delicacy this side of South Africa, where the vast majority of ostrich farms are located.  Ostriches are grown primarily for their leather, and finding ostrich on your menu is quite a challenge.  If you are lucky enough to find a restaurant like the Paramount, that serves ostrich meat, I highly recommend it.

With a great patio and an amazing menu, the Paramount Cafe exceed the expectations of everyone in our party.   If there is a better place to savor an ostrich burger in Denver, I haven't found it.

The highlight of my visit to Brazil was it's amazing food.  Brazil is approximately the same size as the United States, and it boasts many varieties of cuisine.    The central coastal region of Bahia is the home of exotic seafood dishes that are heavily influenced by the African descent of its residents.  Once you have tasted these unique flavors you will be haunted by a periodic longing to enjoy another Brazilian meal.

 You can imagine my surprise and pleasure when I found an Bahian restaurant right in the middle of Denver.  Cafe Brazil has been a well kept secret on the edge of the Highlands neighborhood of east Denver for 16 years, which is a lifetime in restaurant terms.  Any restaurant that survives this long in such an obscure location does so only because of a loyal following.

 The signature dish of Bahia cuisine is a flavorfull seafood stew called Moqueca.  The typical stew includes fish, shrimp, and/or chicken, along with coconut milk, onions, garlic, and rice.  Each bite is like taking your mouth on an exotic voyage.  Cafe Brazil also features similar dishes from the coast of Columbia.

 Like a long voyage these, your experience will not be inexpensive.   The average dish will set you back about $20.   Dinner for two could easily cost $80 once you have purchase appetizers and a couple of Caipirinhas, the traditional Brazilian drink.  You might leave broke, but you will not go home unsatisfied.

  Reservations are recommended, and I would even go so far as to advise an earlier seating as some dishes may not be availible by late evening,

 Cafe Brazil

4408 Lowell Blvd.

Denver, CO 80211

303-480-1877 

Tuesday-Saturday 5:00-10:00pm 

 Mataam Fez is definitely hidden.  Located a rather run down section of Colfax, the main commercial street in Denver, it is almost as if Mataam Fez is trying to hide the fact that it is Moroccan restaurant.   The exterior is as plain and non-descript as it could be, without any indication that it is a Moroccan restaurant, or even that it is open.   Once inside, you will find that it's interior is as exciting and exotic as it's outside isn't.   Tapestries are hung from every wall and ceiling and belly dancers move to a middle eastern beat while the scent of what's to come wafts in from the kitchen.

By the time you are invited to sit on the floor among piles of pillows,  you are just beginning to get an idea of the treats in store for you.   The menu features a rich variety of lamb, poultry, fish, and even rabbit.  A vegetarian entree is also availible.  I have visited Mataam Fez perhaps a dozen times in the last 10 years, and regardless of what was ordered, everyone felt privilidged to enjoy such a unique feast.   In fact, the menu states that the kitchen purposely varies it's recipies as it's access to ingredients changes.

Your entree will be preceded by home made bread, lentil soup, a variety of vegetable salads, and a steaming hot, baked meat pie wrapped in a delicate flakey dough.  Now is the time to accept that you will not be able to finish everything.  At the conclusion of the meal, you will sprayed with rose water before given a glass of mint tea.  It is not that simple, but I will not spoil the surprise.

 For some however, this experience is not all fun and games.    You will be sitting on the floor with a towel over your shoulder and eating with your hands; silverware and napkins are not availible.  Do not wear your finest clothes, as they will almost certainly have food on them by the end of the evening.  Do not plan to have a quick meal and run off to a scheduled engagement as you can expect  your meal to take at least two hours.  If you are interested in an authentic Moroccan meal, it might be the most memorable two hours you ever spend in a restaurant.

 Insider tips: 

Always call them ahead of time to make a reservation, even on a week night.    You won't have too much trouble getting a reservation, but for some reason they do not like guests to show up without warning, especially when they are slow.

While their prices are reasonable, they are not inexpensive.   A typical meal costs about $20 before tax and tip.  Fortunately, a two for one discount is availible with the Entertainment Card (availible online and at local bookstores).

Mataam Fez Denver

(303) 399-9282  

4609 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80220