LOW Country Kitchen Satisfies Southern Craving in LoHi

Culinary couple Brian and Katy Vaughn first opened LOW Country Kitchen in Steamboat Springs in 2014. The concept debuted with strong response and had long lines weave out its doorway during the first weekend of service. About three years later, the Vaughns brought their take on Southern hospitality and cooking down from the mountains to the Mile High City. Talk of the second, urban iteration began in 2016 as Southern cuisine swept the Denver food scene. LOW Country Kitchen settled into the Lower Highlands this February and quickly garnered praise for its rustic chic design, authentic and delicious recipes, Colorado-sourced products and spacious porch and rooftop. However, the must-have fried chicken – that undergoes three days of brine and marinade in preparation for service – is the real star of this restaurant. Now that Denver’s LOW has been in business for nearly six months, do diners and customers think the Southern spot is worth slowing down for? Here’s a breakdown of different online communities’ opinions of LOW Country Kitchen:

“The Best You Can Find This Side of the Mississippi:” Zagat and Google reviewers alike fawn over the spot’s homey atmosphere, complemented by its Southern-style menu. Zagat featured the restaurant’s decked-out rooftop patio in its “must-visit rooftop bar” round-up before the eatery even opened. Guests enthusiastically treat themselves to the fried chicken, smoked bone marrow, Brussel sprouts and catfish, though the deviled eggs are a favorite happy hour offering. Few diners complained about the “limited” remaining options that emitted “less appeal” than the Southern staples. Others were perturbed by slower service and firmly locked into their negative first impressions. However, customers overwhelmingly commented that the restaurant regularly served “delicious” dishes (despite a lack of dessert). [Zagat]

Brunch Blunders Disappoint Some Diners: On Open Table, online reviewers praise would suggest the restaurant was a hit. Community members noticed kinks in the execution of the food and service. A relatively recent diner warned others to “[a]void this place for brunch” after a modest portion of under-poached eggs; another visitor didn’t enjoy her eggs “soupy,” despite the staff’s contention that the dish was served southern-style. Guests who ordered the fried chicken and brioche French toast fared better, while a few servings of biscuits came out dry. Despite the morning mishaps, brunch guests plan to return to LOW Country Kitchen for dinner service. [Open Table]

Colorado Ingredients and Southern Style: Editor Rebecca Treon from DiningOut Denver found the restaurant’s February opening to be the most anticipated debut of the city’s Southern culinary wave, as the Vaughns brought their Kentucky and Tennessee roots to the mountains, and now grace the Mile High City with their Southern charm. Treon is a fan of the Creole-inspired jambalaya, collard greens, okra and shrimp and grits. The flavors of the Carolinas shine throughout the Anson Mills antebellum grits and Carolina pink shrimp. The “[u]nfussy and unpretentious” cocktails take diners further down South with the taste of the Hemingway Daquiri and Vieux Carre. Treon also compliments the restaurant’s “light and airy” design grounded by rustic notes and lights. [DiningOut]

Welcome Addition to the LoHi Neighborhood: Since the close of Jezebel’s last fall, LoHi has needed a new Southern joint. Westword seems to be a fan of the neighborhood’s new kitchen and featured the restaurant in multiple round-ups since its opening. LOW Country Kitchen gains praise for its multi-regional approach to Southern cooking in June’s “The Ten Best New Restaurants in Denver in 2017... So Far.” As Kentucky Derby flare migrated across the Mississippi to Denver this May, the restaurant’s Buffalo Trace mint julep is worth a taste, as it starts sweet and mellows into its full flavor. LOW Country Kitchen’s blend of modernity and rustic design landed the restaurant in May’s “Twenty Hottest New Restaurants to Ope So Far This Year” round-up. Overall, the critics at Westword align with Denver diners and jointly welcome the resturant to the trendy neighborhood. [Westword]