Denver's Best Restaurants For A Night Out With Friends

Denver’s Best Restaurants for a Night Out with Friends

There are very few things in life better than a great meal shared with your closest friends. One of the best places to grab dinner with your buddies is in Mile High City, known for its rich and thriving food culture. Indeed, Denver has slowly morphed into a culinary melting pot, giving you a unique multitude of dining experiences that can satisfy pretty much every craving. Given the number of choices, where would one even begin? We've got you covered. Read on to discover the best restaurants in Denver for your next night out with friends!

Acorn

Acorn Facebook Page

From the creative minds of the people behind Boulder's OAK at Fourteenth restaurant, Acorn is one of the city's must-try culinary stops. This restaurant seamlessly blends together local Colorado fare grounded in a strong Southern tradition, sending all who dine there on a culinary trip you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the city — or even the country. Be sure to try the cured Rocky Mountain Trout and the 14-day dry-aged Hudson Duck Confit.

Other than the great food, another reason to stop by here with a couple of friends is its proximity to the Mission Ballroom. Acorn is located in the Source Hotel, so be sure you and your friends stop by the next time you go out to see a show.

Mead St. Station

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If you're looking for something a little more casual, USA Today recommend restaurant Mead St. Station. The restaurant, established in 1994, is a Coloradan institution. They specialize in rustic no-nonsense American food where everything is made from scratch. Be sure to grab their famous Mead Street Burger with a healthy serving of sweet potato fries.

As an added bonus, if you and your friends happen to drop by on a Tuesday night then you should enter their weekly rock n' roll bingo night. Foxy Bingo’s guide on how to play 75-ball points out how it's especially fun for groups – the more friends you convince to join, the bigger the prize pool! So, be sure to grab some friends before heading on over to the Mead St. Station for a night of fun and food.

Root Down

Root Down

From culinary whiz Justin Cucci, who also happens to be behind culinary hotspots Linger and Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, Root Down is your one-stop-shop for good conscious eating. Root Down prides itself on its sustainability practices that both benefit the environment and produce delicious food. They have a 4,000 square-foot garden in the middle of the city that accounts for 20% of the seasonal vegetables they use in their restaurant. They provide diners with non-GMO fed cows, and all their seafood is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, assuring that their diners get the best and most humane products. Their menu also indicates where the ingredients on the items are sourced, letting you know just what you're eating and how it was grown.

Be sure to try the Three Chile Chicken and their Flat Iron Steak with meat sourced from Callicrate Meats.

Bonanno Opens 16-Venue Marketplace Downtown

Acclaimed Denver Chef Frank Bonanno has created his most ambitious venture yet, bringing together sixteen individual local dining and imbibing concepts under one roof in the new Dairy Block development on Wazee and 18th Avenue. The aptly named Denver Milk Market opens June 1st - a century after the Windsor Dairy first opened in the same location. As Bonanno tells us, just as Windsor Dairy nourished the community with its dairy products, we strive to do the same with a focus on family, community and a love of celebration within our doors.” His dedication to the community is also evident in his decision to donate one percent of all sales at DMM to the neurology department at Children's Hospital Colorado. and we have the insider sneak peek of all the delicious eats and drinks you'll find inside this lovely 18,000 square foot marketplace.

Guests can grab pastries and coffee in the morning; enjoy a freshly chopped salad or hot sandwich for lunch; meet friends and colleagues for evening cocktails; and pick-up fresh meat, seafood and house-made pasta by-the-pound to enjoy at home. Bananno tells us, "Each concept is rooted in a family member, a favorite trip, or favorite dining experience, so the design is not only meant to be engaging and fun for the guest, but is also a love note to every memory that each space represents." Below are the 16 carefully crafted concepts and what you can expect at each:

Morning Jones:  Coffee and nitrogenized oat milk and almond milk lattes; hot chocolate on tap; and pastries. For convenient grab-and-go, Morning Jones features a walk-up window in the Dairy Block alleyway!

Bao Chica Bao: Celebrates the cloud-like and perfectly steamed bao buns that have been a neighborhood favorite at Capitol Hill restaurant Bones. The venue is one of only two U.S. restaurants to serve jelly beer, a popular drink in Thailand that’s likened to a beer slushie. A walk-up window in Dairy Block’s activated alley allows for quick grab-and-go.

MOO Bar: Adorned with a one-of-a-kind chandelier that speaks to the space’s former life as a dairy, MOO Bar is the striking centerpiece of Denver Milk Market that serves up craft cocktails, beer and wine. Many of Bonanno’s greatest boozy hits appear on the menu, made using house-made bitters and syrups.

Lou’s Hot|Naked: A Denver favorite has been resurrected! Fans of Lou’s can expect the same juicy and spicy Nashville Hot Chicken that made their former Sunnyside neighborhood joint famous. 

Stranded Pilgrim: Offers guests an all-Colorado list of brews previously only available at brewers’ taprooms. “Frank’s Honey Blonde” – brewed exclusively for Denver Milk Market by Great Divide Brewing Company – is a nod to Frank’s wife and partner, Jacqueline, and is only available here.

Albina by the Sea: A tribute to Frank’s grandmother, whose cooking inspired him as a child, offers seafood favorites like crab cakes and lobster rolls, along with fresh fish, house-made cocktail sauce and other necessities to create a seafood feast at home.

The Green Huntsman: For lighter fare, guests will find freshly chopped and perfectly dressed salads at The Green Huntsman, in addition to house-made drinking vinegar and nitrogenized green tea.

Mano Pastaria: Mano, meaning “hand” in Italian, features quintessential hand-rolled pastas to enjoy at Denver Milk Market or at home. Pastas and sauces are available for purchase by the pound, as well as antipasti and pizza dough from neighboring Bonanno Brothers Pizza. 

Bonanno Brothers Pizza: Named after Frank’s two sons, Luca and Marco, Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria celebrates decades, and generations, of Bonannos crafting delicious, freshly-spun pizza.  

Ruth’s Butchery: A one-stop-shop for the best meats, Ruth’s Butchery is a tribute to his wife Jacqueline’s grandmother, who famously made the best hamburger around. Guests can try it and a selection of other hot sandwiches here.

S&G Salumeria: After 15 years of perfecting cured meats, S&G Salumeria offers Frank’s expertly house-cured meats, as well as house-made and imported artisan cheeses. Guests can observe as fresh mozzarella and burrata are crafted behind the counter, while enjoying a sandwich made popular at Denver Highlands’ neighborhood restaurant, Salt & Grinder.

MoPoke: Offers the ultimate Hawaiian experience, with fresh fish over rice, and the perfect accoutrements to transport taste buds to the islands.   

Cellar: Cellar allows guests the unique opportunity to purchase a bottle of wine from a carefully curated selection and bring the opened bottle with them through the Market. Wine is also available by the glass.  

Fem: With just three ingredients (flour, eggs and milk), Fem turns out simple, yet seriously tasty crepes.  

Cornicello: Cornicello transports guests to the streets of Rome with deliciously indulgent gelato, boozy milkshakes, soft serve and other delicious dairy treats. The creamery also features a walk-up window in Dairy Block’s alleyway, ideal for warm summer evenings.

Engine Room: Open late and the perfect way to end a night out, Engine Room serves up delicious New York-style slices and Sicilian pies from the walk-up window located directly on Dairy Block’s activated alley, on 19th Street.

To celebrate the opening, Denver Milk Market is offering a variety of activations Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, many of which are free and open to the public. Events will include yard games in the Dairy Block Alley, photo booths, a Rockies Rally Happy Hour with cocktail and beer specials, community yoga, a violinist brunch and more. For a full list of events, visit DMM’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/denvermilkmarket/

For more information, please visit http://dairyblock.com.

Photos by Robert Castro

The Summer Passport Has Arrived

Whether you’re looking for a place to enjoy patio weather, a new date night spot, or the perfect after-work libation, The Summer Passport has you covered. The Denver Passport Summer Edition is a pocket-sized book filled with 2-for-1 drink specials from the city’s best establishments. This Summer Edition will feature 66 establishments and also includes a spotlight on a few of the best pizza spots around town.

“For our sixth summer we compiled a list of the 66 best bars and restaurants Denver has to offer,” said Amy Osgood, director of The Passport Program. “We’re featuring Frank Bonanno’s not-yet-opened Moo Bar in the Milk Market, while also not forgetting about his other concept Luca and its frozen Aperol Spritzes. We’re including James Beard award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski’s newest concept Ultreia, as well as the nationally anticipated American Bonded. And making its first appearance in the Denver Passport is the beloved El Chapultepec, which will offer 2-for-1 ‘jazz-themed-cocktails.’ Also new this year, one can get 2-for-1 slices at Marquis Pizza and Sexy Pizza, because who doesn’t love pizza!”

Curated with the mission of highlighting the city’s best drinking destinations, The Passport Program encourages locals and visitors alike to explore different cities and regions via 2-for-1 craft beverages. The Passport’s various seasonal programs feature pocket-sized field guides that are designed to spark adventure, as well as support local establishments and non-profits. From tried-and-true local favorites to newly opened hot spots, this Summer Edition Passport helps narrow these options down while also providing extra incentive, a complimentary drink, to make going out that much easier—and more fun.
 
Participating bars and restaurants: Ace Eat Serve, Aloy Modern Thai, Alternation Brewing Co., American Bonded, Angelo’s Taverna, Banded Oak Brewing Co., Bar Fausto, Bear Creek Distillery, Bellwether, Bistro Vendôme, Block & Larder, Brazen Neighborhood Eatery, Copper Lounge, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Deep Roots Winery & Bistro, Denver Distillery, Dio Mio, El Chapultepec, Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen, FERMÆNTRA, Fish N Beer, Fort Greene Bar, French 75, Great Divide Brewing Co., Hudson Hill, Illegal Pete’s, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Kachina, Leña, Leopold Bros., Lola Coastal Mexican, LOW Country Kitchen, Lowry Beer Garden, Luca, Middleman, MOO Bar at Milk Market, North County, Odell Brewing Co.’s RiNo Brewhouse, Ophelia's Electric Soapbox, Oskar Blues’ Black Buzzard, Park Burger, Punch Bowl Social, Ratio Beerworks, Root Down, Sarto’s, Seedstock Brewery, Skyline Beer Garden, Spangalang Brewery, Stem Ciders, Steuben’s Uptown, Stoic & Genuine, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, Tacos Tequila Whiskey, Tatarian, the ART, The Family Jones, The Post Brewing Co., The Way Back, there …, TRVE Brewing Co., Ultreia, Upstairs Circus, Vesper Lounge, Vital Root, Woods Boss Brewing Co. and Zeppelin Station.
 
Participating pizza locations: Marquis Pizza and Sexy Pizza

The Passport Program Summer Edition is a proud supporter of the Colorado Restaurant Association's Angel Relief Fund. A portion of Passport sales in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and the Mountains support the Angel Relief Fund's mission of helping hospitality professionals recover from the unexpected by offering emergency assistance grants to those facing an unanticipated hardship such as: accident, illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, or natural disaster. To learn more, please visit angelrelieffund.com.

In addition, to celebrate all the good things teachers do year-round, The Passport Program is setting up its own Summer Passport Scholarship. The first 1,000 teachers that apply, in each city, will receive a free Summer Edition Passport. Teachers can apply here.
 
The Denver Passport Summer Edition is valid from May 25th through September 3rd. Passports go on sale on May 15 at 10:00 a.m. MST for $25. To purchase, visit ThePassportProgram.com.

Lifestyle | Denver's Newest Booze-Based Festival

Denver event and marketing company, Two Parts, have teamed up with the Rocky Mountain Cider Association to introduce a craft cider festival to Denver this Saturday May 28th! The cleverly named “Pressed Conference” is a first-of-its-kind cider festival for Denver and features 15+ craft cideries from across the Rocky Mountain region showcasing the best pressed apples the region has to offer.

We can look forward to tastings from top cider makers, live music from Robby Peoples, lawn games (at last!) and Baba's Falafel and Keenwah food trucks cooking all day. All attendees will be greeted with a full tasting glass of Molly’s Spirits Barrel Aged Cider from Colorado Cider Company to welcome them to the festival.

Featured at the event are the following Cideries: Anthem Cider, Big B’s Cider, Colorado Cider Company, Colorado Common Cider, Compass Cider, C Squared Cider, Montana CiderWorks, Snow Capped Cider, Stem Ciders, Talbott’s Cider CO., Wandering Aengus Cider, Wild Cider.

We think this is a great way to kick-off summer, enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, and wrap up the first ever Colorado Cider Week! For more info and to purchase tickets visit the link below~

Saturday, May 28th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Highlands Masonic Event Center 3550 Federal Blvd.  Tickets are on sale now for $40 and includes unlimited tastes and commemorative glassware.

www.ThePressedConference.com