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Denver, Colorado, local's advice: Bistrot Vendome or other?

Denver, Colorado, local's advice: Bistrot Vendome or other?

Old Aug 1st, 2014, 07:07 AM
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Denver, Colorado, local's advice: Bistrot Vendome or other?

We have just one Tuesday night in Denver this September to celebrate a birthday/ 48th anniversary and would like to dine on $100 or less. Bistrot Vendome gets great Trip Adv. reviews, but what do you Fodorites recommend?

We don't care for trendy, upscale food, but love high quality meats and ingredients. We would really appreciate opinions of those who know Denver well and eat out often.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 07:52 AM
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For someone who spends a lot of time in downtown Denver, that is a new one for me. I will check it out.

Where are you staying in Denver - downtown, suburbs, Tech Ctr???? Is it $100/couple or per person?
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 08:27 AM
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The Avenue Grill, on 17th Street, just east of downtown. It is a very nice restaurant, great service and menu, with surprisingly low prices. It's been our go-to place for many years. Free parking across the street.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 08:36 AM
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http://www.urbanspoon.com/cities/17-...nue-grill/menu

This is representative of the menu choices. It's not often that you see filet mignon for less than $30.

Highly recommend.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 08:43 AM
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Bistrot Vendome is not on the list of the 25 best restaurants in Denver via the 5280 magazine. But it could still be very good. I think it is in the old Limes restaurant space and does have outdoor patio below grade. Could be relatively new unless they moved from somewhere else. Right across the street is a top 25 restaurant - Rioja - But it is more expensive. Next door is another Italian that we like a lot - Osteria Marco but it tends to be a lower price, but good, Italian.

What exactly do you want? You mentioned high quality meats. Are you looking for a steak house? And how casual do you want to go? There are some great hole-in-the walls but it could be to informal for a big celebration.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 08:49 AM
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We ate The Avenue. Good food, a bit smokey from the grilled meats. We would go back.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ion-please.cfm
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 09:02 AM
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It's never been smokey in all the years we've been there. Something must have gone wrong the night you were there.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 09:47 AM
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Avenue Grill offers a huge range of good sounding food. By "meat" I mean duck, chicken, veal, beef, even fish. Good bread is a plus as are nice wines. Love a special dessert! Thanks for suggestions. Any more?

We are staying near Cherry Creek, but noticed lite rail to downtown is handy.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 09:48 AM
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and $100 is per couple.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 09:53 AM
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Not sure where you are staying as there is no light rail in the Cherry Creek area. The Cherry Creek area is around University and First Ave.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 10:44 AM
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Fruition? http://fruitionrestaurant.com/
Barolo Grill
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 10:57 AM
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Those are good choices if they are truly in Cherry Creek but the remark about handy light rail threw me since the closest light rail station is at DU, University and I-25.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 11:35 AM
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Barolo Grill is wonderful, but probably not under $100 for two.

Fruition has entrees under $30, and a great reputation.

Le Centrale is French, inexpensive, but not too close to CC.

CC is an expensve neighborhood, in general.

The Kona Grill or Brio could work, at the CC mall.

Piatti's is nice. Can't recall the prices, though, but it's not extravagant.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 11:37 AM
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http://www.piatti.com/denver/#menu

We like this place, but it's not exactly "meat" oriented. Nice atmosphere, though.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 11:55 AM
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Fruition is lovely too.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 11:59 AM
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Some very good choices. Thanks. I may have misled when I said near CCreek.........we stay on Colo. Blvd about a mile from CC. There is a lite rail within walking distance of hotel.

Was glad to read the good review of steak frites at Vendome. Barolo looks wonderful, too.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 01:30 PM
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You are at Colorado and I-25 which is well south of the Cherry Creek area. And there is a Light Rail station at Colorado. If you going to use the Light Rail and it appears that you are over 65, you can buy discount book of ten tickets at the service desk of King Soopers. The is one just south of your hotel. It is also easy to park in the Cherry Creek area with several large surface lots and a free parking garage.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 02:12 PM
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Take a taxi where you want to go. Or if you have a car, parking is not impossible.
If you just want to eat meat and frites for a celebratory meal, that is fine. Choose.

Barolo Grill is just an incredible dining experience for Italian food, as is Fruition for its style. If it can't fit the budget, then that is that.
La Centrale is probably our FAVORITE restaurant in Denver, particularly for mussels. It is basically "budget". You would have to really try to eat $100 for a couple--but the food is delicious. I'm not sure I would "celebrate" there, but it isn't "wrong" to do that.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 02:36 PM
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This thought just crossed my mind. The rehab Union Station that is now the hub for Denver bus and rail transit system just had the grand opening last weekend. Several new restaurants with good reviews opened in Union Station. Obviously easily reached by Light Rail. We were by the week before the grand opening when everyone was on "soft" opening. A couple of the places looked very elegant and would service well for a special occasion. The old train station is worth a look even if you don't eat there. The rehab of the old Union Station has been very well done. That whole areas that is referred to as LoDo (Lower Downtown) has undergone a huge transformation since the arrival of baseball.
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Old Aug 1st, 2014, 03:07 PM
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That's a great idea! Ride the rails downtown and checkout the new shops and restaurants at Union Station. Some of the restaurants are open now, like The Kitchen, and Stoic & Genuine. From there, you can walk to another restaurant if you'd like.

I see that Fruition is opening there, too, but not yet.
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