The inaugural summer edition of Denver Restaurant Week will launch on Saturday, August 23. While participating restaurants attract many diners, there are still those who seek to get away from the $60 dinner-for-two promotion. Why get away? The massive crowds, the manipulated menus which sometimes don't reflect the essence of a restaurant, the stressed-out waitstaff that gets paid less and works more during those seven days, and hard to come-by reservations. So, here are twenty spots that will offer an alternative to Denver Restaurant Week.
The list is presented in alphabetical order. Have more ideas? Leave them in the comments.
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The RiNo restaurant co-owned by cocktail master Bryan Dayton and chef Steve Redzikowski will serve its regular menu. Diners should not miss the ever-popular kale salad, the hamachi crudo, and the oak-grilled Peking paradise duck breast .
Chef Iain Chisholm focuses on the basics at his two year old restaurant. There are fresh made pastas, cheeses, and sausages, all done in-house and by-hand. Check out the Tuesday Cheap Date Night- for $50, guests get a bottle of wine, three antipasti, two entrées, and one dessert.
The Reillys, chef Paul and host extraordinaire Aileen, are inviting diners in their restaurant for seasonal dishes paired with well-curated wines. Don't miss the pappardelle with
braised shoulder ragú, ricotta, meyer lemon oil, and arugula, a signature dish.
The restaurant owned and operated by chef Olav Peterson and his wife and partner Melissa will serve its regular menu during restaurant week. A highlight: the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil dessert.
The restaurant decided to opt out of the promotion this time and its absence was labeled with the campaign slogan "Miss the Mayhem." Guests who book a reservation during restaurant week, will receive, with their dinner, a free appetizer (hot stone, crab cake, beef tartare, or seared scallops).
This Denver staple restaurant owned by chef Alex Seidel is conducting business as usual. The regular seasonal menu is offered and reservations are always recommended.
The partnership between Sushi Sasa and the Glaze Baumcake Shoppe is proving to be a great one in the Congress Park neighborhood. In a casual but modern setting, this Japanese-influenced eatery serves top quality sushi, approachable appetizers and entrees, and some of the city's best desserts.
Restaurateur Frank Bonanno's flagship spot gives diners a classic fine dining experience with dishes like the pan roasted foie gras appetizer, the lobster mac 'n cheese guest favorite, and the decadent veal tenderloin with grilled peach and herb spaetzle.
The hot restaurant in the Highlands offers its regular menu, a combination of appetizers and entrees created by chef Justin Brunson, as well as a spectacular dessert menu crafted by pastry chef Nadine Donovan.
This Capitol Hill neighborhood that chef Teri Rippeto opened in 1997 is still fresh and inviting as ever. A seasonal menu is offered and, on the current one, guests should not miss the sage roasted chicken prepared in the wood oven and served with a dried cranberry and pecan bread pudding with pan juices.
Tucked away in the Peloton complex on East Arapahoe, this is a wood-fired eatery that dishes out a variety of items from handmade pastas and Neapolitan pizzas to oysters and short ribs cooked sous vide. For a more casual experience, check sister Denver eatery Cart Driver.
The new wine bar and casual eatery owned by Emily Gold brings carefully curated and affordable wine bottles, a wide selection of wine by the glass, and great bites by chef chef Salvatore Proia. Open every night but Tuesday.
The Park Hill neighborhood restaurant, offers its regular menu and a prix fix that is $35 per person. Through Classic Wines, Tables features a couple of wine selections where a portion of the proceeds goes to Brent's Place.
Chef Royce Oliveira opened this quaint bistro in March and with it he created an oasis of Parisian dining on East Colfax. The space is small, the food deceptively simple, and the atmosphere irresistible.
This eclectic yet approachable restaurant that opened in North City Park has quietly but swiftly acquired a loyal following. In a softy light dining room, chef Peter Ryan serves dishes grounded in classic French and Italian cuisine.
The team behind Crema Cofffe House created a timeless community eatery in its space in RiNo. Popular dishes created by chef Johanthan Power include the carrot agnolotti, the kale and faro salad, and the barbecue pork chop.
The very popular sushi restaurant is not offering any restaurant week specials, but the selection of Japanese dishes and beautifully-crafted sushi is irresistible. Don't miss the foie gras oysters and the grilled Chashu-style duck breast.
The odds are there will be a wait at this two year old Momofuku-inspired noodle eatery, but it's worth every minute. The spicy chicken ramen is a crowd favorite and the tofu appetizer a must.
Sure this LoHi speakeasy is not the first thing that comes to mind for dinner, but its signature steak burger and the oyster po' boys are great hunger-fixes and the drinks are always top-notch.
Z Cuisine and A Cote are magical places where dinner is a ritual that can take as long as the guest wishes. The regular menu is available for diners to enjoy and, on Wednesday, a three-course prix fixe meal is offered for $42 (weekly prices may vary). Tuesday at A Cote, all night happy hour is in full effect.
The RiNo restaurant co-owned by cocktail master Bryan Dayton and chef Steve Redzikowski will serve its regular menu. Diners should not miss the ever-popular kale salad, the hamachi crudo, and the oak-grilled Peking paradise duck breast .
Chef Iain Chisholm focuses on the basics at his two year old restaurant. There are fresh made pastas, cheeses, and sausages, all done in-house and by-hand. Check out the Tuesday Cheap Date Night- for $50, guests get a bottle of wine, three antipasti, two entrées, and one dessert.
The Reillys, chef Paul and host extraordinaire Aileen, are inviting diners in their restaurant for seasonal dishes paired with well-curated wines. Don't miss the pappardelle with
braised shoulder ragú, ricotta, meyer lemon oil, and arugula, a signature dish.
The restaurant owned and operated by chef Olav Peterson and his wife and partner Melissa will serve its regular menu during restaurant week. A highlight: the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil dessert.
The restaurant decided to opt out of the promotion this time and its absence was labeled with the campaign slogan "Miss the Mayhem." Guests who book a reservation during restaurant week, will receive, with their dinner, a free appetizer (hot stone, crab cake, beef tartare, or seared scallops).
This Denver staple restaurant owned by chef Alex Seidel is conducting business as usual. The regular seasonal menu is offered and reservations are always recommended.
The partnership between Sushi Sasa and the Glaze Baumcake Shoppe is proving to be a great one in the Congress Park neighborhood. In a casual but modern setting, this Japanese-influenced eatery serves top quality sushi, approachable appetizers and entrees, and some of the city's best desserts.
Restaurateur Frank Bonanno's flagship spot gives diners a classic fine dining experience with dishes like the pan roasted foie gras appetizer, the lobster mac 'n cheese guest favorite, and the decadent veal tenderloin with grilled peach and herb spaetzle.
The hot restaurant in the Highlands offers its regular menu, a combination of appetizers and entrees created by chef Justin Brunson, as well as a spectacular dessert menu crafted by pastry chef Nadine Donovan.
This Capitol Hill neighborhood that chef Teri Rippeto opened in 1997 is still fresh and inviting as ever. A seasonal menu is offered and, on the current one, guests should not miss the sage roasted chicken prepared in the wood oven and served with a dried cranberry and pecan bread pudding with pan juices.
Tucked away in the Peloton complex on East Arapahoe, this is a wood-fired eatery that dishes out a variety of items from handmade pastas and Neapolitan pizzas to oysters and short ribs cooked sous vide. For a more casual experience, check sister Denver eatery Cart Driver.
The new wine bar and casual eatery owned by Emily Gold brings carefully curated and affordable wine bottles, a wide selection of wine by the glass, and great bites by chef chef Salvatore Proia. Open every night but Tuesday.
The Park Hill neighborhood restaurant, offers its regular menu and a prix fix that is $35 per person. Through Classic Wines, Tables features a couple of wine selections where a portion of the proceeds goes to Brent's Place.
Chef Royce Oliveira opened this quaint bistro in March and with it he created an oasis of Parisian dining on East Colfax. The space is small, the food deceptively simple, and the atmosphere irresistible.
This eclectic yet approachable restaurant that opened in North City Park has quietly but swiftly acquired a loyal following. In a softy light dining room, chef Peter Ryan serves dishes grounded in classic French and Italian cuisine.
The team behind Crema Cofffe House created a timeless community eatery in its space in RiNo. Popular dishes created by chef Johanthan Power include the carrot agnolotti, the kale and faro salad, and the barbecue pork chop.
The very popular sushi restaurant is not offering any restaurant week specials, but the selection of Japanese dishes and beautifully-crafted sushi is irresistible. Don't miss the foie gras oysters and the grilled Chashu-style duck breast.
The odds are there will be a wait at this two year old Momofuku-inspired noodle eatery, but it's worth every minute. The spicy chicken ramen is a crowd favorite and the tofu appetizer a must.
Sure this LoHi speakeasy is not the first thing that comes to mind for dinner, but its signature steak burger and the oyster po' boys are great hunger-fixes and the drinks are always top-notch.
Z Cuisine and A Cote are magical places where dinner is a ritual that can take as long as the guest wishes. The regular menu is available for diners to enjoy and, on Wednesday, a three-course prix fixe meal is offered for $42 (weekly prices may vary). Tuesday at A Cote, all night happy hour is in full effect.
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