Denver restaurant recommendations?

I tried to mail this, but it bounced.  Here's my response.

Well, I go there all the time, and I used to live there. If your tastes do go towards more diversified fare, you ought to try the following:

Mataam Fez - several blocks east of Colorado Blvd. on E. Colfax. Moroccan food - the best I've had, and I've had Moroccan also in San Francisco and environs as well as Paris.  If you've never had Moroccan, you're in for a treat, but do understand that you take off your shoes, eat with your hands.  Make sure you get some couscous.  Their bastilla is to die for.  Bring lots of appetite.  Prices are moderate leaning towards expensive (abou $60 - $80 with wine, I think)

Dalhi Darber - downtown on Market or Blake close to the 16th St. Mall - 303-595-0680 Some of the best Indian I've had.  About moderate prices. The chay (tea) is also exquisite.

Have a good time!

Dear Nelson:  Downtown Denver is one of the nicest cities to visit. Lower downtown or "LODO" near Coors field is full of resturants and bars. Also, the 16th street mall is loaded with the same.  A free bus takes you up and down the street.  At the far west,  the bus ends at market st and you are in LODO.  I recommend going to the 3 great microbreweries; Rock Bottom,  Whynkoop,  and Breckenridge for beers.  I recommend the Beacon Grill at 303 16th St. for great food(excellent lunch specials).  Hope this helps.  Byron Fisher

We had a good meal at Strings a month ago. My notes follow -

Strings. 1700 Humboldt, Denver - 303 831 7310

At night the pink neon sign high above the entrance that announces "Strings" creates anticipation of a night-club rather than a restaurant. Inside it was certainly bustling and buzzing as one would expect on a Friday night, but the admirable service was certainly never stretched.

A good broad selection of dishes made choosing a little challenging. A salad featuring a portobello mushroom "sandwich" with interesting filling came with quite fierce balsamic dressing but overall was well executed. Also good was an oriental dish of sliced duck breast cooked slightly pink on noodles with a sesame based dressing and stir fried vegetables.

For entrees pieces of tenderloin on garlic mashed potato with a fine wine sauce and a few plain vegetables was very fine indeed. Grilled tuna on a chive rice risotto was equally well cooked although would have benefited with some acidity from somewhere to give the fish a lift.

For dessert a sweet chocolate and hazelnut moist cake came with good apricot sorbet and other interesting bits and pieces, and a creme brulée was a good example. For wine an Oregon Pinot Gris was clean and fresh and an Oregon Pinot Noir, from the same estate and recommended by our waiter, was a fair compromise for our main dishes. A half bottle of Fetzer Riesling for dessert was interesting although a little cloying towards the end.

The bill for the four of us worked out at around $120 for two. Good atmosphere and service plus some well put together dishes. We would go back.

Graham
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~gtigg/

My 2 favorite restaurants in Denver are Strings, where I usually order one of the pasta dishes, and Zenith American Grill downtown.  We've eaten at Strings many times & have never had a bad course, let alone a bad meal. As for Zenith, everything there is outstanding and beautifully presented. The lemon foccacia that's on the table is delicious, and they graciously part with the recipe.  For romantic ambiance & very good food too, try the European Cafe around Larimer Square.  Enjoy your trip.  Denver is a terrific city.  I look forward to visiting there again this summer.

Carole Bailis

NNTP-Posting-User: oconnojf

Jim B. wrote:
>
>I too will be making my first visit to Denver at the end of this month.  I
>will be staying near the Civic Center and generally be without a vehicle.  I
>would love recommendations for restaurants that offer a fun atmosphere at
>reasonable prices.  Any good Italian or pasta restaurants nearby?  I'll
>definitely check out the microbreweries!  How about places for breakfasts? Not
>hotel coffee shops.  Thanks
>Jim B

Try the Denver Chop House in Lo Do near Coors Field for nice-casual ($5 cab ride at most, or take mall shuttle and walk for rest of the way).

Several brewpubs, too.  Best for my money's the Wyncoop Brewery, also near Coors Field, but other reasonable people like Rock Bottom (on 16th St. Mall) better.

For lunch, I like Rockies Deli on the 16th St. Mall.  Not really a traditional deli, but great sandwiches all the same.  Also try Paramount Cafe -- great patio on mall if weather's nice.

If you want great Tuscan-style Italian, take another $5 cab ride up 6th Ave to Barolo Grill.  Prices are somewhat high, but really good choice for that one special meal during your stay.  Also good is Al Freso at 16th and Market (the other end of the mall shuttle from the Civic Center). For pizza-and-pasta style Italian in a fun atmosophere, try Josephina's in Larimer square.

For breakfast, try Dozens, on 13th (I think), right behind the city jail.

jimo