2641 E 2nd Avenue
It's probably some sort of crime for S to have grown up in Denver and not been to the Cherry Cricket until a month ago. Certainly it's a shortfall in her upbringing.
The burgers are delicious here, with hot crispy french fries and an assortment of nice cold beer to wash them down. Each burger comes with toppings that you can choose (next time S wants to try the herbed cream cheese,) and they're all made fresh when you order. Prices are fair, but it gets a tad expensive once you start adding toppings to your burger (the burger comes alone - you buy fries, onion rings or chips on the side if you'd like them.)
They seem to be quite busy, but they're definitely worth the short wait. Service was good, though not extraordinary. The tables are packed together, and it's noisy inside, but it sort of adds to the ambiance. We're eager to get back soon, maybe for an evening of burgers and beer.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
D'Corazon (Downtown)
1530 Blake St.
Oh. My. Yum. S eats at D'Corazon at least once a week with her work buddies. Even though she changed offices and moved out of downtown, she still makes the trip, finds a parking spot and basks in the deliciousness of D'Corazon.
Nachos, enchiladas, burritos... it's all good here. The green chili is tangy and just spicy enough, made the Colorado way. The refried beans and rice are SO good. The chips are always fresh and tasty. The guacamole always is fresh. The meat is flavorful and not overly spiced. The sopapillas are fluffy and hot. In fact, the only thing we've ever had there and not loved is the salsa (which isn't bad, it's just not our cup of tea.) The service is consistently fast and friendly - waiter David is awesome! - and S can drive there, get in, enjoy lunch without rushing, and get back to her office in about an hour! Even better, the prices are awesome - for lunch for two, with two soft drinks, it's about $20, including tip!!
It's no wonder that this place is packed for lunch and dinner pretty much every day.
The location is just off of 16th and Blake. It's much too small for the amount of business that this restaurant does, but they manage to turn tables quickly enough to prevent too long of a wait. Crowded inside, you'll find that D'Corazon is tidy, and while it's noisy, it's not so bad that you have to shout to talk to your dining companions. This is a family-run operation, and they do close for most holidays, and for a couple weeks at Christmas (during which time, S goes through withdrawls.)
Inexpensive, great food, awesome service. We're almost hesitant to let the secret out! Go now.
Oh. My. Yum. S eats at D'Corazon at least once a week with her work buddies. Even though she changed offices and moved out of downtown, she still makes the trip, finds a parking spot and basks in the deliciousness of D'Corazon.
Nachos, enchiladas, burritos... it's all good here. The green chili is tangy and just spicy enough, made the Colorado way. The refried beans and rice are SO good. The chips are always fresh and tasty. The guacamole always is fresh. The meat is flavorful and not overly spiced. The sopapillas are fluffy and hot. In fact, the only thing we've ever had there and not loved is the salsa (which isn't bad, it's just not our cup of tea.) The service is consistently fast and friendly - waiter David is awesome! - and S can drive there, get in, enjoy lunch without rushing, and get back to her office in about an hour! Even better, the prices are awesome - for lunch for two, with two soft drinks, it's about $20, including tip!!
It's no wonder that this place is packed for lunch and dinner pretty much every day.
The location is just off of 16th and Blake. It's much too small for the amount of business that this restaurant does, but they manage to turn tables quickly enough to prevent too long of a wait. Crowded inside, you'll find that D'Corazon is tidy, and while it's noisy, it's not so bad that you have to shout to talk to your dining companions. This is a family-run operation, and they do close for most holidays, and for a couple weeks at Christmas (during which time, S goes through withdrawls.)
Inexpensive, great food, awesome service. We're almost hesitant to let the secret out! Go now.
Old South Gaylord Shopping District / Reiver's
Gaylord Street, Between Mississippi and Tennessee
http://www.southgaylordstreet.com/index.html
One of Denver's oldest shopping districts, Old South Gaylord is a quaint, beautiful area that can provide a day's distraction with shopping, dining, galleries, and spas, all crammed in to a couple of blocks. No chain stores here - these are cute boutiques, neighborhood establishments, and one-of-a-kind locations. If that's not enough, then a short walk will land you in Wash Park where you can enjoy the beauty (watch out for the man sunbathing in a thong - ass up, no less!) and get in some recreation.
This weekend, we attended the Memorial Day weekend festival taking place on Gaylord. Live bands were on the center stage, a petting zoo and rides were available to keep kids occupied, and local artisans sold their wares (from fresh-baked goodies and tie-died shirts to homemade soaps and art.) The festival wasn't too crowded, and the people in attendance were friendly, which made for a great afternoon.
Rather than grabbing some food from one of the booths, we decided to venture in to Reiver's, a cute bar on the corner of Gaylord and Mississippi. A long-standing tradition in the neighborhood, Reiver's is cozy and has two outdoor seating areas - a patio off the front, and a courtyard in the back. Definitely a neighborhood bar, there are TVs scattered around with sports playing, and the interior is done in dark wood. As we just wanted lunch to sustain us as we wandered through the shops and booths, we both opted for wraps - S had the Chicken Ranch and G had the Turkey Bacon Avocado. Both were delicious, with fresh ingredients. The Chicken Ranch had grilled chicken, cheese, lettuce, red onion, and ranch dressing. The Turkey Bacon Avocado came with lettuce and aioli mayonnaise. G had his with Tomato Basil soup, which was creamy and tasty (though it could have been a bit warmer - but who orders soup when it's over 80 degrees outside?!,) and S had hers with fries, which were crispy, fresh and hot. The service was good and friendly despite the crowd. An adorable, out of the way place, we'd definitely return for a lazy afternoon (and we wish we lived closer so we could return for a lazy evening with a couple of drinks!)
http://www.southgaylordstreet.com/index.html
One of Denver's oldest shopping districts, Old South Gaylord is a quaint, beautiful area that can provide a day's distraction with shopping, dining, galleries, and spas, all crammed in to a couple of blocks. No chain stores here - these are cute boutiques, neighborhood establishments, and one-of-a-kind locations. If that's not enough, then a short walk will land you in Wash Park where you can enjoy the beauty (watch out for the man sunbathing in a thong - ass up, no less!) and get in some recreation.
This weekend, we attended the Memorial Day weekend festival taking place on Gaylord. Live bands were on the center stage, a petting zoo and rides were available to keep kids occupied, and local artisans sold their wares (from fresh-baked goodies and tie-died shirts to homemade soaps and art.) The festival wasn't too crowded, and the people in attendance were friendly, which made for a great afternoon.
Rather than grabbing some food from one of the booths, we decided to venture in to Reiver's, a cute bar on the corner of Gaylord and Mississippi. A long-standing tradition in the neighborhood, Reiver's is cozy and has two outdoor seating areas - a patio off the front, and a courtyard in the back. Definitely a neighborhood bar, there are TVs scattered around with sports playing, and the interior is done in dark wood. As we just wanted lunch to sustain us as we wandered through the shops and booths, we both opted for wraps - S had the Chicken Ranch and G had the Turkey Bacon Avocado. Both were delicious, with fresh ingredients. The Chicken Ranch had grilled chicken, cheese, lettuce, red onion, and ranch dressing. The Turkey Bacon Avocado came with lettuce and aioli mayonnaise. G had his with Tomato Basil soup, which was creamy and tasty (though it could have been a bit warmer - but who orders soup when it's over 80 degrees outside?!,) and S had hers with fries, which were crispy, fresh and hot. The service was good and friendly despite the crowd. An adorable, out of the way place, we'd definitely return for a lazy afternoon (and we wish we lived closer so we could return for a lazy evening with a couple of drinks!)
Baker Street Pub (Belmar)
7260 W Alaska Drive (Belmar Shopping center)
Lakewood
The other night, we were driving along, trying to figure out where to go for dinner. After aimlessly wandering for a good 30 minutes, we wound up in Belmar. Since it was nearly 9:00, we didn't want to keep driving, so we parked and went to find somewhere for dinner. We decided that we'd like to try somewhere we hadn't been before, and that left us with two options. One appeared to be filled with teenagers, and the other was Baker Street Pub. Since Geoff can always make do with fish and chips, we headed in.
Baker Street is a British-themed chain restaurant that specializes in pub fare - fish and chips, shephard's pie, etc. Named after the famous street where Sherlock Holmes resided, the restaurant was dark and filled with Bennigan's-style random knick-knacks. We found it to be surprisingly empty (it was a Saturday night,) though the patio was full. Within about 45 minutes, though, it began to fill up, and we figured that the band was going to be starting soon. What had been a pretty quiet seat quickly became noisy as the bar and dining area filled with 20-somethings from Lakewood and Golden.
G enjoyed the fish and chips, and S had the chicken and chips. Both were served in baskets lined with pretend news paper. And while both were tasty and crispy, they were definitely grease-laden.
It seemed that there were only waitresses; the male employees seemed to be bussers or bartenders. The waitresses' black t-shirts declared them to be "English Muffins," though they seemed pretty American to us! The service grew worse and worse as the place filled up (hey, it's authentic English!) - we had to flag down our waitress to get drink refills, and we eventually had to get up and ask her to bring our check, after we sat with empty plates and glasses for about 20 minutes.
This is definitely a kitschy, cute place. The band sucked - bad versions of 80's pop with a female singer doing songs originally sung by men - but it seems that there is a rotating schedule, so maybe you'll have better luck if you go. Dinner for two and 3 beers was about $35 - a more than fair price (the servings were generous.) The food wasn't outstanding, but it was good (as noted before, a bit less grease would have been good.) Service definitely needs to be adjusted. If they are understaffed to handle the Saturday night crowd that appears to hear the band, then they need to adjust. Or maybe our server was just having a REALLY bad night. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood and feel like some Brit-style comfort food, but definitely don't make a special trip.
Lakewood
The other night, we were driving along, trying to figure out where to go for dinner. After aimlessly wandering for a good 30 minutes, we wound up in Belmar. Since it was nearly 9:00, we didn't want to keep driving, so we parked and went to find somewhere for dinner. We decided that we'd like to try somewhere we hadn't been before, and that left us with two options. One appeared to be filled with teenagers, and the other was Baker Street Pub. Since Geoff can always make do with fish and chips, we headed in.
Baker Street is a British-themed chain restaurant that specializes in pub fare - fish and chips, shephard's pie, etc. Named after the famous street where Sherlock Holmes resided, the restaurant was dark and filled with Bennigan's-style random knick-knacks. We found it to be surprisingly empty (it was a Saturday night,) though the patio was full. Within about 45 minutes, though, it began to fill up, and we figured that the band was going to be starting soon. What had been a pretty quiet seat quickly became noisy as the bar and dining area filled with 20-somethings from Lakewood and Golden.
G enjoyed the fish and chips, and S had the chicken and chips. Both were served in baskets lined with pretend news paper. And while both were tasty and crispy, they were definitely grease-laden.
It seemed that there were only waitresses; the male employees seemed to be bussers or bartenders. The waitresses' black t-shirts declared them to be "English Muffins," though they seemed pretty American to us! The service grew worse and worse as the place filled up (hey, it's authentic English!) - we had to flag down our waitress to get drink refills, and we eventually had to get up and ask her to bring our check, after we sat with empty plates and glasses for about 20 minutes.
This is definitely a kitschy, cute place. The band sucked - bad versions of 80's pop with a female singer doing songs originally sung by men - but it seems that there is a rotating schedule, so maybe you'll have better luck if you go. Dinner for two and 3 beers was about $35 - a more than fair price (the servings were generous.) The food wasn't outstanding, but it was good (as noted before, a bit less grease would have been good.) Service definitely needs to be adjusted. If they are understaffed to handle the Saturday night crowd that appears to hear the band, then they need to adjust. Or maybe our server was just having a REALLY bad night. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood and feel like some Brit-style comfort food, but definitely don't make a special trip.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
India's Restaurant (Tamarac Square)
3333 S. Tamarac Drive
We love this place.
G, being English, is obviously a huge fan of Indian cuisine. S isn't as big of a fan, but is usually able to find something that she can enjoy on the menu. India's keeps us both really happy.
Located in a strip mall, India's is a surprise when you enter. Dark but welcoming, with colorful fabric and Indian tapestries hanging from the ceiling, you quickly forget that you're in a strip mall. The server will light the red candle at your table, take your drink order, and bring you a basket of pappadum. The naan is outstanding - served warm, usually with some more "toasted" bits on each piece from being baked in a wood-burning oven. Each dish that we've tried has been very good - our only complaint is that they aren't as spicy hot as Indian food typically is. But it's always flavorful and carefully prepared. Dishes are the perfect size for one person each (we usually share a bit off of each of our plates,) and come with a small salad. The perfect end to your meal is the amazing cinnamon bread pudding and a cup of chai.
Service isn't overly friendly, but we find it refreshing to find a restaurant where the server isn't hovering over us, and we can actually enjoy our conversation and meal without interruption.
This isn't the place for a quick meal, or an inexpensive evening out - it usually comes up to about $60-65 for the two of us, with one cocktail each, naan, main dishes, one bread pudding and two chai teas. But it's great for somewhere to really enjoy the meal, talk and people-watch. If you haven't been, give it a try!
We love this place.
G, being English, is obviously a huge fan of Indian cuisine. S isn't as big of a fan, but is usually able to find something that she can enjoy on the menu. India's keeps us both really happy.
Located in a strip mall, India's is a surprise when you enter. Dark but welcoming, with colorful fabric and Indian tapestries hanging from the ceiling, you quickly forget that you're in a strip mall. The server will light the red candle at your table, take your drink order, and bring you a basket of pappadum. The naan is outstanding - served warm, usually with some more "toasted" bits on each piece from being baked in a wood-burning oven. Each dish that we've tried has been very good - our only complaint is that they aren't as spicy hot as Indian food typically is. But it's always flavorful and carefully prepared. Dishes are the perfect size for one person each (we usually share a bit off of each of our plates,) and come with a small salad. The perfect end to your meal is the amazing cinnamon bread pudding and a cup of chai.
Service isn't overly friendly, but we find it refreshing to find a restaurant where the server isn't hovering over us, and we can actually enjoy our conversation and meal without interruption.
This isn't the place for a quick meal, or an inexpensive evening out - it usually comes up to about $60-65 for the two of us, with one cocktail each, naan, main dishes, one bread pudding and two chai teas. But it's great for somewhere to really enjoy the meal, talk and people-watch. If you haven't been, give it a try!
Rio Grande (Downtown Denver)
1525 Blake St.
The Rio Grande is a chain Tex-mex restaurant, found in a couple different locations in Denver, but this review is specifically about the location at 15th and Blake.
This is definitely a hot spot for the after work happy hour crowd - at 5:00 on any Friday night, you'll find that it's packed with 20- and 30-somethings partaking in the Rio's famous margaritas, which come in two flavors - original and strawberry - and will definitely knock you on your butt. There's a 3 margarita maximum per person, if we remember right.
We've been fans of the margaritas, guacamole, and queso, and because of that, we've been to the downtown Denver, Boulder and Park Meadows locations several times over the years. It's always been a good place to get together with friends, enjoy some drinks and conversation, and be in a relaxed environment. The food has generally been good, but nothing outstanding. We definitely have gone there more for appetizers/snacks and margaritas.
But it will be a long time until we go back to the downtown location. After our last visit a couple weeks ago, we swore off the Rio for at least a year. The service was surly (we felt like we were a nuisance for the server,) the food was mediocre, the restaurant and what we could see of the kitchen were dirty, and there was a not-so pleasant creature scuttering across the floor of the dininr room (an unfortunate incident that was no surprise to management - and for which no apologies or concessions were made.) It's a shame to see this facility end up like this. But there are definitely other options downtown and we'll hit those up instead.
The Rio Grande is a chain Tex-mex restaurant, found in a couple different locations in Denver, but this review is specifically about the location at 15th and Blake.
This is definitely a hot spot for the after work happy hour crowd - at 5:00 on any Friday night, you'll find that it's packed with 20- and 30-somethings partaking in the Rio's famous margaritas, which come in two flavors - original and strawberry - and will definitely knock you on your butt. There's a 3 margarita maximum per person, if we remember right.
We've been fans of the margaritas, guacamole, and queso, and because of that, we've been to the downtown Denver, Boulder and Park Meadows locations several times over the years. It's always been a good place to get together with friends, enjoy some drinks and conversation, and be in a relaxed environment. The food has generally been good, but nothing outstanding. We definitely have gone there more for appetizers/snacks and margaritas.
But it will be a long time until we go back to the downtown location. After our last visit a couple weeks ago, we swore off the Rio for at least a year. The service was surly (we felt like we were a nuisance for the server,) the food was mediocre, the restaurant and what we could see of the kitchen were dirty, and there was a not-so pleasant creature scuttering across the floor of the dininr room (an unfortunate incident that was no surprise to management - and for which no apologies or concessions were made.) It's a shame to see this facility end up like this. But there are definitely other options downtown and we'll hit those up instead.
Newbies
Hi! We're G & S, a married couple living in Denver. G is a 29 year-old transplant from the south of England. S is a 33 year-old Denver native who grew up on the west side of town. We've been married for 5 years now, and are currently residing in Southeast Denver, where we're busy trying to explore more of the city - a way for G to get to know his way around, and for S to gain new appreciation for her home city.
Which brings us to the reason for our blog - it's sort of motivation to really get out and explore more, whether that's restaurants, events, entertainment, or bars. We'll share our personal experiences, and hopefully anyone out there will make suggestions of places for us to check out, and of course, check out the suggestions that we make as well.
Over the next few days, we'll be playing catch-up, making multiple posts a day while we talk about places we've been in anticipation of this blog. After that, it will be one or two posts a week or so.
So, here we go.... exploring the city one location at a time!
Which brings us to the reason for our blog - it's sort of motivation to really get out and explore more, whether that's restaurants, events, entertainment, or bars. We'll share our personal experiences, and hopefully anyone out there will make suggestions of places for us to check out, and of course, check out the suggestions that we make as well.
Over the next few days, we'll be playing catch-up, making multiple posts a day while we talk about places we've been in anticipation of this blog. After that, it will be one or two posts a week or so.
So, here we go.... exploring the city one location at a time!
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