Top Restaurants In Denver Worth The Hype
(credit: Salt & Grinder)
What is really "worth the hype" in Denver? Is it environment? Food? Bar menu? Attention to sustainability and local purveyors? For discerning Denver diners, it needs to be a delicious blend of attention to all details. Below is a small selection of the best restaurants in Denver that live up to the reputations they have acquired.
Beast + Bottle
719 E. 17th Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 623-3223
www.beastandbottle.com
Siblings Paul C. Reilly and Aileen Reilly believe memories are made over shared meals and have imparted this sensibility in Beast and Bottle. Denver's Uptown neighborhood superstar serves rustic American craft cuisine centered on sustainability, versatility, creativity and comfort. Personal relationships with farmers and purveyors bring ethically and humanely raised, responsibly harvested and organic meats, fruits, vegetables and fresh fish to the plate. The restaurant offers a nightly tasting menu, a great way to enjoy menu standouts.
Izakaya Den
1487-A S. Pearl St.
Denver, CO
(303) 777-0691
www.izakayaden.net
Izakaya Den debuted last year to unveil a stunning new design paired with its signature "izakaya-style" Japanese cuisine. Creating an open-air garden in the sky, the grand staircase is encased by a lush, 20-foot bamboo garden juxtaposed by a glass-enclosed elevator and leading up to the second floor. A beautiful sushi bar surrounded by dramatic woodwork and illuminated walls create a dynamic dining experience on the first. The restaurant features an extensive sushi menu, izakaya-style plates and global menus divided by "ranch, sea, garden." Izakaya Den's sake menu is one of the best in the country and its star continues to shine bright on South Pearl Street.
Root Down
1600 W. 33rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 993-4200
www.rootdowndenver.com
Since opening in 2008, Root Down has built a devoted following with a personal riff on local, organic cuisine that pulls seasonal inspiration. Beyond spectacular food, the dedication to food philosophy continually (and deliciously) educates diners. One of the few certified raw chefs in the country, Daniel Asher dreams up vegetarian and vegan dishes while Executive Chef Jeremy Kittelson turns out beautiful meats, fish and vegetables. Weekend brunch is a tradition for locals and the daily happy hour is one of the best in town. Pair that with eclectic, original and just downright cool design and Root Down continues to be worth the hype.
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Salt & Grinder
3609 W. 32nd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 945-4200
www.saltandgrinder.com
While Salt & Grinder is new to the Highlands neighborhood, it is a concept Frank Bonanno has had in mind for years. The 11th restaurant to join the Bonanno Concepts family brings a high-quality, eclectic, Jersey-style deli to northwest Denver on charming 32nd Street. Bonanno worked for months to develop the perfect signature grinder bread with baker Jeff Cleary of Grateful Bread to serve high-end meats, cheeses and soon-to-come house-cured salumi. Jacqueline Bonanno was instrumental in many aspects of the new deli, and specifically created an alluring space with an old antique library case filled with eclectic cooking items such as hand-crank grinders, wooden spoons, cocktail shakers and antique books.
(credit: Sushi Den)
Sushi Den
1487 S. Pearl St.
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0826
www.sushiden.net
Sushi Den is regarded as one of the premiere sushi and Japanese restaurants in the United States and is celebrating 30 years this year. At the heart of its excellent cuisine is access to the southern Japan fish market, where Koichi Kizaki selects high-quality fish to be dry iced and shipped to Sushi Den within 24 hours. With Toshi and Yasu Kizakis' combined 60 years of sushi-making expertise the restaurant is known for its authentic ingredients, decades of family recipes and a consistency in cuisine that is hard to match. In addition to an extensive list of popular sushi rolls and nigiri sushi, sustainable fish selections are ample. Sushi Den is famous for its house-made ramen and soba noodles, and rounds out the menu with fresh salads and gluten-free/vegan menu options. The sake list is carefully curated by Toshi Kizaki, while servers are highly trained to suggest interesting sakes by the glass and bottles for food pairings.
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Ellen Marchman Larkey has a savvy knowledge of culture and events and maintains trusted partnerships around
the country. She has substantial expertise with food, wine and lifestyle including Aspen Food &
Wine Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Cochon, Top Chef and numerous destination
restaurants and master mixologists. She has beeen Examiner.com's Denver's Fine Dining writer since 2009.
