A ‘Deluxe’ Experience

The brick wall from "The Barnes Commercial School," a business college on Broadway.

When dining in Denver neighborhoods packed to the brim with top-notch eateries, sorting through all of the options can at times be overwhelming. Fear not Adventuresome diners,  Hopefully I can give you some insight into some of my favorites for single professionals.

With an inherent apology for the obvious play on words, let me say, my evenings at Deluxe (30 South Broadway) live up to its name (and then some).

 

 

 

Finding Adventuresome Places for Dinner for Six and friends.

The openness of the front windows transitions into a cozy dining room filled with dark wooden furniture set against the intriguing brick wall from the past. Deluxe’s dining room represents both the energetic bustle for single professionals of the neighborhood and the vibe of mystery. The exposed kitchen has a minimalist feel, allowing you to watch the chefs preform their magic. Combine this ambience with the attentive service, and you’re well on your way to a special evening before you even place an order.  The menu is Chef Driven by owner Dylan Moore.

On to the fun stuff– the menu.  I’m a follower of ‘trust the wait-staff," and when on a date I like to suggest sharing. I always arrive at a restaurant with an open mind of what to order. Now having said that I must recommend, even to those not fond of oysters, the masa-fried oyster shooters, six oysters coated in cornmeal and fried crispy, served individually on Asian soup spoons, sitting atop salsa fresca and topped with a smoked jalapeño aioli, cilantro and a dash of lime. Deep layers of texture and complementary flavors.

For a salad, I always feel healthy when I have the red-beet carpaccio thinly-shaved with (chevre) goat cheese, with novel notes of orange and a pistachio vinaigrette.  And if it’s a lite dinner then it’s baby back ribs, glazed in a five-spice hoisin sauce, sticky and unctuous and best treated as finger food.

The menu changes seasonally with Dylan in the kitchen tweaking the menu almost daily, and it is certainly worth viewing the whole menu to see what catches your taste buds.  If you’re there mid week before they get busy, Dylan will often offer you a new dish he’s working on.  I also suggest that you ask the waitstaff for wine recommendations as they are tasting wines on a regular basis.

 

 

If you’ve got a date you want to impress share the very rich mocha pot de creme with a glass of port, both of you will be in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

A Summer "Big Plate" roasted chicken with string beans and mash potatoes

 

Deluxe opened it’s doors, March  2004 and mid September 2011 open for Lunch 11:30am – 2 pm.

 

Single Professionals gather next door at Delite for Happy Hours

There’s no fussing around when it comes to happy hour at Delite, the hip Broadway lounge sister to the ever-popular Deluxe. Everything on the food menu is a flat-out 50 percent off, with no dish off limits. And none of these are scaled down to fit happy hour prices. Delite serves up a wide array of cocktails and  tapas in a casual setting.  Join them for Happy Hour from 3-7pm weekdays. 

Overall, Deluxe accomplished something many restaurants overshoot – leaving us feeling perfectly full without being uncomfortably stuffed, complete with smiles on our faces. I’d recommend this 30 South Broadway gem to any friend – just as long as I am invited to go along.

Denver French Restaurants Tips for Single Professionals

by Charlie Higgins, Demand Media

• Le Central

  With moderate prices and friendly, unpretentious service, Le Central bills itself as an "affordable French restaurant." Le Central’s laid-back, romantic setting makes it a popular date restaurant, even if that date involves eating baguettes on a lazy afternoon. With its annual children’s Easter cookie decorating party, and monthly cooking demonstration classes, Le Central makes a solid effort to give back to the city that’s made it so successful. Garlic butter escargot, beef bourguignon and seafood Bouillabaisse are among the dozens of classic French dishes that guests are likely to find on Le Central’s seasonal menu. The popular mussel menu features two lbs. of mussels, a choice of 10 different preparations and unlimited French fries. Vegetarians can rest assured that Le Central offers a vegetarian selection on all of its daily menus. Le Central 112 E. 8th Ave. Denver, CO 80203 303-863-8094 lecentral.com

• Bistro Vendôme is Great for Single Professionals in Denver

  Named after the historic Vendôme Square in the heart of Paris, this classic French bistro in downtown Denver features has received steady praise from local publications, and is especially noteworthy for its Sunday brunch. People flock to Bistro Vendôme on Sundays for the homemade smoked ham quiche, avocado and scallion cheese omelet, waffle topped with poached pear, and, of course, the crepe du jour. Dinner choices include maple-marinated pork loin with bacon and apple-stuffed quince, steak tartare topped with a fried quail egg on a grilled baguette, and Hawaiian blue prawns served with roasted new potatoes and grilled cipollini onions. Bistro Vendôme’s extensive wine list features nearly two dozen imported French wines by the glass. Bistro Vendôme 1420 Larimer St. Denver, CO 80202 303-825-3232 bistrovendome.com

• Brasserie Felix  – CLOSED SUMMER OF 2011

  With its welcoming Parisian interior, mustard-yellow walls and charming, laid-back atmosphere, Brasserie Felix is not the kind of intimidating, pretentious restaurant that people often expect when they think of French cuisine. The chefs here are clearly talented, but they are not trying to show-off. Dishes are simple, and straight to the point, like the grilled salmon with mushroom risotto and asparagus, steak frites with lemon tossed baby greens, and Colorado lamb shank with ratatouille and black olive puree. No French menu is complete without appetizer classics such as French onion soup, the fruit and cheese plate, and the country-style pâte, all of which are prepared with fresh ingredients purchased from local farms. Brasserie Felix 3901 Tennyson St. Denver, CO 80212 303-953-2401 brasseriefelix.net

• DenverCOColoradoUSUnited States

References & Resources

• Le Central
• Bistro Vendôme
• Brasserie Felix
• Denver tourist and vacation information
• Dinner For Six – Adventuresome Dinners

• About the Author

  Charlie Higgins is a writer, teacher and musician currently based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Originally from New Canaan, Conn., Higgins studied media studies and music at Oberlin College in Northeast Ohio. He has taught English, written for numerous websites, and was contributing editor at a performing arts journal in New York City. He started writing for Demand Studios in September 2009.

• Photo Credits

  crepes fromage image by Johann WELCH from Fotolia.com

LoDo NEWS

LODO & DOWNTOWN UPDATE WITH DINNER FOR SIX

Being single doesn’t have to mean another cozy dinner with Fido. In fact, if you’re lucky to be single in Denver, it could be your entree to some of the city’s new and hip cuisine. Dinner for Six, a unique singles organization, has made an art of pairing single professionals with palate-pleasing restaurants since 1994.

Typically, Dinner for Six hosts between 4 to 8 dinners each week at 3 to 6 different eateries around town. With that kind of frequency, the organization is rapidly becoming a boon to the local restaurant industry. Since it inception the company hosts more that 300 dinners yearly. "Denver has become a Mecca for excellent restaurants. Part of our service is to introduce members to some of the undiscovered gems," said organization founder, Robert Denison.

One thing that sets Dinner for Six apart from other singles organizations is that it doesn’t attempt to be a dating service. "Our members tend to shy away from dating services. They aren’t desperate; they want to enhance their social sphere and enjoy good food with like-minded individuals," said Denison. Currently the organization has over 400 members, ranging in age from 22 to late 60′s. Dinners are based on the individual member’s age and preferences.

In addition to dinners there are group events each month, which are open to all members. Each month there is a group dinner and wine tasting. Other events include taking advantage of Colorado’s great outdoors (skiing, full moon hikes, rafting trips, biking, etc.), cultural outings, archaeological digs and more. "We constantly explore hundreds of ideas," said Denison.

If you’re intrigued call 303-777-0700 for more information. Don’t want to dial? The Dinner for Six website can answer many of your questions. The Dinner for Six website can be found http://www.dinnerforsix.com