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Fine dining in Denver
Denver literally has more restaurants than I can keep track of. For that matter, it seems as if a new restaurant opens and and older one closes every day. Fine cuisine restaurants seem especially vulnerable to this trend. For example, we had one here in the Cherry Creek North area called Mao's Asian Bistro that was hotter than a firecracker when it opened , I think last year, and closed just last month. So, my list of Denver restaurants is far from comprehensive as it represents just the restaurants that I like that have been around for awhile. If don't know whether or not you can call steak restaurants fine dining but there are three I like.
Aurora Summit The first is Aurora Summit, which has been around for probably 20-plus years. The second is Ruth's Chris Steak House. Aurora Summit is at 2700 S. Havana, about 25-30 minutes from the downtown area. To get to the Summit from downtown denver, take Auraria Pkwy. West to I-25. Go south on I-25 to Hampden Ave. Turn east (left) on Hampden Ave. Hampden will eventually become S. Havana St. Stay on S. Havana until you real 2700 South. The restaurant is in a group of stores so be alert or you'll drive right by it.
2700 S. Havana Ruth's Chris Steak House This restaurant is part of a chain that had its beginnings with the Chris Steakhouse in New Orleans. A woman named Ruth Fertel purchased the original Chris Steak House and added her name to the marquee and presto! Ruth's Chris Steak House was born. Denver's version is located in LodDo (Lower Downtown). Like the Aurora Summit, it serves steaks so tender they just bout melt in your mouth. Outstanding selections of fish and fowl are also available. 1445 Market St.(303) 446-2233 Elway's So our Number 7 was a pretty good football player when he was with the Broncos, but surprise! He's also a pretty good restaurateur. The steaks at Elway's are first rate, the side dishes are excellent and the martinis like totally cold. And don't miss the shrimp cocktail that comes in a bed of dry ice. Outstanding!
2500 E. 1st Av. (Cherry Creek Shopping Center) Other upscale Denver restaurants
Table Six Table Six just might be the hottest restaurant in Denver as of this writing. It's a relatively small neighborhood restaurant that's just a few minutes from the 16th St. Mall at 609 Corona. Its menu focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared in unusual ways. For example, you can get seafood sausage on white cabbage and broiled chicken, rabbit and Colorado lamb. Entrees range in price from $16 to $22.
609 Corona St. Aix If you're in the mood for contemporary French cuisine, give Aix a try. It's menu mixes the tried and true (foie gras, mussels, Caesar salad) with the newer, novelle dishes such as pomegranate risotto and mushroom-stuffed quail with cardamom lentils and orange gastrique. Aix also serves a variety of to-die-for game dishes.
719 E. 17th Ave. Restaurant Kevin Taylor This is definitely one of Denver's most upscale and luxurious restaurants with a bumptious menu that ranges from bay scallop and squid ink ravioli to desert list that includes Hawaiian pineapple Charlotte. The wine list is 900 wines long. If you decide to splurge, don't pass up the glazed squab breast and confit squab legs with toasted wheat berries quince preserves and black currant poivrade. 1106 24th St.303-820-2600 Vesta Dipping Grill This very contemporary restaurant sports curvy walls and a curvy bar and sports a menu that serves up a few curves. It's basically a fondue restaurant where you order an entree and then choose three or more sauces from a long list of possibilities for your dipping pleasure. Featured entrees include ginger-seared Ahi tuna, pork tenderloin cubano, achiote-grilled Altantic salmon, madras coconut milk grilled venison and green chile masa gnocchi. The sauce list is too long to list here but a few of the favorites are sweet chili ginger, salsa verde, cranberry lime chutney, pepita mole, red curry, and cilantro pesto. If the idea of a customized meal fits you fancy, the Vesta Dipping Grill is your kind of place.
1822 Blake St. Click here for a map of downtown Denver restaurants Click here to learn more about the best Denver vacation
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