MAP

Lots to do and several excellent suggestions. Thanks very much.

Tabernash2

One more thought: since you mentioned meats-- the Denver Chophouse is a short walk from Union Station. It's in a cool historic building. Not elegant per se, but very good food and prices.

http://www.denverchophouse.com/menus...enu62014v2.pdf

Seamus

You'd have to be careful to keep it under $100 for two, but every time I have been to Rioja it was a wonderful meal. Every single thing was delicious, from the bread and butter through desserts. www.riojadenver.com Well worth every penny

wtm003

I like Bistro Vendome. It has been around for awhile, on the same side of Larimer as Tamayo. My husband and I were there a couple of weeks ago and had mussels, entrees and cocktails for around $100 - $120. Nice outdoor patio. Same chef/owner as Rioja, Euclid Hall and a new or soon to be new place in a Union Station.

Tabernash2

I thought I'd heard of Bistro Vendome, but we've never been there.

Maybe the OP wants to return to their first idea, if you ate there for under $120. We'll have to try it ourselves, too.

Tabernash2

Mmmmmm-- those steak frites are calling me!
http://bistrovendome.com/menus/BVdinner.pdf

wtm003

I found my credit card receipt and the total through tax and tip was about $105 and we also shared a creme brûlée.

I love their frites!

Gretchen

Our DDIL and DGD is here from Denver and they LOVE Bistro Vendome--good chef credentials.
She says LOTS of new places opening in Denver and getting rave reviews.

tarfan24

Bistro vendrome would be a good choice if the menu suits your taste. The chef there placed third on Top Chefs Masters earlier this year and trained under Wolfgang Puck. She also won a James Beard award for best southwest chef 2013.
I also really like Gretchen's suggestion of Le Centrale. Always good and inexpensive relatively speaking if not exactly 'fine dining'. I'm not big on Avenue Grill. Been there twice in the last two years. First time was for restaurant week with some girlfriends and it was good. Second time was with DH and was less impressed.

Have not yet been to any of the new places in Union Station but second the idea of checking it out if you travel downtown via light rail. They've done a great job with the remodeling there and I would love to check out what the hotel rooms look like one of these days. Another option downtown is Venice Ristorante for Italian. It's right by Union Station and is very nice. Osteria Marco also gets good marks from many of my downtown coworkers.

One final suggestion is Zengo which is described as Asian fusion. I haven't been yet but again, coworkers recommend it and there is a living social deal for it running now.

Hope you have a great trip and enjoy a wonderful celebratory meal wherever you decide.

MAP

I am so appreciative of your thoughtful responses. Early September beckons us to a lovely patio, so Bistrot Vendome it is! Will keep other suggestions for future trip to Denver. Thanks all.

wtm003

The patio is small and first come, first serve I believe, so it is probably a good idea to call and ask about best arrival times.

MAP

Good advice about early arrival for patio. Thank you. I'll call them.

Tabernash2

Please let us know how the dinner goes. I've never been there.

Have fun in Denver! Best city on the planet.

Gretchen

Take note of what I call the "navy blue sky" in Colorado/Denver in the fall!!

Tabernash2

Navy and orange sunsets: I think that's why the Broncos chose that color scheme!