This Week's Keepers: Stoic & Genuine and The Nickel

Stoic & Genuine is "quite a catch," according to Westword. This week, critic Gretchen Kurtz took to Union Station to experience the new venture from partners Beth Gruitch and chef Jennifer Jasinski. The concept grew out of the question " what do you want to eat in town that's not already here," Jasinski shared. The all-day menu features dishes from coastal communities ranging from not just the East and West coasts, but the Pacific Rim and Europe, as well. Kurtz describes the menu as a "quirky" assortment of raw-bar items, small plates, sandwiches and a la carte sides, as well as a small selection of hot, entree-sized dishes. The menu musts? Oysters, which are served alongside tasty sauces, and the crab-mango salad. Fill up on those, and pass on the desserts. All in all, the Union Station spot is a hip place to enjoy both elegant and casual food.

Add The Nickel, located in Hotel Teatro, to the list of successful hotel eateries like Panzano in Hotel Monaco, and Second Home at the J.W. Marriott in Cherry Creek, says critic William Porter of the Denver Post. The restaurant opened midsummer in the former Restaurant Kevin Taylor space. After a complete reworking of the interior, the Nickel has a "cool, funky vibe." The menu rotates monthly, and the results are somewhat mixed. While flavors are excellent, the texture is sometimes off, Porter describes. Despite this culinary hiccup, the restaurant stands out. The Nickel does its own pickling, cures some of its own charcuterie, and keeps bees in a rooftop hive.

· Denver's Wine Renaissance Starts in Its Newest Bars [EDEN]

· Cocktails Now Served on Tap at Many Bars and Restaurants [EDEN]

· Review: Stoic & Genuine Is a Keeper [Westword]

· Dining Review: The Nickel Serves Fine Far in Denver Hotel [DP]