Denver Restaurant Recommendations
 

I'll be in Denver for a quick business trip (staying at the Grand Hyatt Denver) and have a free night for dinner. Would love a recommendation for a good, moderately priced restuarant. Steak or mexican would be fine, although open to other suggestions. I'll probably be dining with some colleagues so let me know if reservations would be needed. Thanks!

One of my favorites for mid-priced steak is the Chophouse. It's in a nice historic building, and we've always had very good food and service there. I'd call them for resies, just in case.

Thanks for the suggestion, PeaceOut. I just received a list of restaurant recommendations from our meeting coordinator. Chophouse is on the list and sounds like what we're looking for - I also notice that it's a microbrewery which is intriguing. I appreciate the advice from a local!

You're welcome. I hope you enjoy Denver. If you have other restaurants on the list that you're curious about, just ask. But Chophouse has good fish, salads, steak, buffalo, etc. I think it's a good value, too.

Hello,
We enjoy Vesta Dipping Grill and Tamayo both very much. Both have websites where you can see menus. I would make a reservation for both. Have a nice visit!

For the best steak you'll eat in Denver try Elway's at Cherry Creek. It is John Elway's restaurant--just GREAT food.

Thanks for the additional replies - you've all given me excellent suggestions. I'll check with my group and we'll make a decision.

Elway's may have great steak, but it is EXPENSIVE. You get just the lonely steak on your plate, unless you pay about $7 for a baked potato, much more for a salad or green vegetable. I think it's the biggest rip in Denver.

The OP asked for "moderately priced". That's not Elway's.

Well, I looked up the Chop HOuse and it is listed as the same $$$ as Elway's. Yes, Elway's is expensive BUT never a "rip". What you are describing is Morton's and Ruth's Chris--in my opinion. Elway's is a dining establishment.
Their chef just won the national pork cooking competition with a great posole pork combo. There are veggies on the plate.
Chop HOuse is Rock Bottom Brewery "grown up".

Thanks again for all the info, I really appreciate it. I think our group is going with the Chophouse (I checked Elway's menu on line and it seems to be higher than the Chophouse). Also, with the Chophouse the entree includes a salad and potato so that works better for our "corporate" budget. I'm going to save Elway's for another visit with my DH when it's our dime!

Let me provide contrary information which I am good at. Some of the above posters I recognize as frequent visitors to Denver but not residents. And then there is the Elway Steak fascination. I am with PeaceOut on this one. It good and it is expensive and the Capitol Grill is probably better for the same money.

But back to your desire for a moderate priced restaurant. The Chop House is very good but the location next to Coor's Field will put it in a dead zone now that baseball is done. And some distance from your hotel.

But if you want a feel for the vibrancy of the city, pick something along the 16th Street Mall - only two blocks from your hotel. That is where the early evening action is. The 16th St Mall is unique. It is only one of three surviving pedestrian malls from the mall movement of the 80s. And if the weather is good, select out-door seating and enjoy the street scene.

Marlowe's is a terrific setting and modest prices. Willy's G is another with more seafood. Rialto Cafe is another good choice with outdoor seating. Beside good food any of those places would add greatly to the atmosphere of the evening.

Gretchen, unless Elway's has changed in the last year, there were no veggies on the plate unless you paid extra for them.

It's a rip IMHO when the steak alone is over $30, and you pay extra for green beans and potatoes. The atmosphere there is like a boys' club, to me. Old guys, young chicks, Yech.

I wanted to check to make sure about Elway's. This is from the menu (note even sauces for your very expensive steak are extra!!) These prices won't shock New Yorkers, but this is Denver.

NEW YORK STRIP 8 oz 30
NEW YORK STRIP 16 oz 40
BONE‐IN NY STRIP 18 oz 41
FILET 8 oz 33
FILET 12 oz 39
BONE‐IN FILET 13 oz 41
BONE‐IN RIB‐EYE 22 oz 41
PORTERHOUSE 22 oz 41
PORTERHOUSE 33 oz 50
PRIME RIB 10 oz 28
PRIME RIB 15 oz 31
PRIME RIB 22 oz 41

AHI TUNA 29
ELWAY’S SALMON 29
FARM RAISED SALMON 20
JAPANESE SEA BASS 38
GRILLED SWORDFISH 34

with…..
Sweet Peas 8
Sautéed Sweet Corn 8
Sautéed Asparagus 7 50
Sautéed Broccoli 6 50
Roasted Cauliflower 8
Crab Fried Rice 9
Creamed Corn 6 50
Sautéed French Green Beans 8 50
Sautéed Cremini Mushrooms 8
Creamed Spinach 8 50
Slow‐Roasted Summer Roma Tomatoes 8
French Fries 4
Macaroni & Cheese 8
Au Gratin Potatoes 7
Baked Potato 6 50
Twice Baked Potato 6 50
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes 6
Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas 8
Broccolini with Toasted Almonds 8
and Saba Syrup

Maytag Bleu Cheese Butter 3
Peppercorn Sauce 4
Béarnaise Sauce 3
Hollandaise Sauce 3
Miso Beurre Blanc 3
Black Pepper‐Horseradish Aioli 3
Oscar Elway’s Style 9

Easy, PeaceOut. Gretchen loves her Elway. She will plug it even if it is not appropriate to the question. And why Cherry Creek when Elway is on Curtis? Much, much closer to their hotel.

Within walking distance of the hotel is Gallagher's Steak House; next to that is LaFondue (15th and Arapahoe).

On E.Colfax is Mezcal for Mexican - will you have a car?

For Italian - I was at Panzano this past Saturday {Panzanodenver dot com}; within walking distance of hotel; reservations - yes. Impressive.

The one on Curtis is in the Ritz--and just not quite the same.