Ace Eat Serve is a fun, multifaceted restaurant and ping pong bar, with three unique spaces in the old Storz Garage space at the corner of 17th & Pennsylvania. As you can see in the photos below, the design and ambiance of Ace Eat Serve play a huge role in the overall guest experience. Re-purposed and recycled materials are used throughout the space to create an industrial design and comfortable setting that compliments the history of the building, while unique Asian elements nod to the food. Further, the Secret Sauce team behind Ace (and also Stuben’s and Vesta) are committed to green and sustainable efforts and each of these locations have been certified as a green business through the EPA and Certifiably Green Denver. They also seek ingredients that are locally and/or responsibly produced to incorporate into their menus.

Today, February 16, Ace is celebrating the Chinese New Year! From 6–11pm all diners will receive a traditional red envelope with a lucky scratch ticket for a chance to win one hour of free ping pong or an Ace gift card worth $5, $10, $15 or $20. Chef Thach Tran's special is a Crispy Fried Whole Fish with Chả Cá Hà Nội, turmeric pickled shallots and charred pineapple served with lettuce cups. The stunning dish is bursting with fresh dill and bright pickled shallots and ginger with charred pineapple for a touch of sweetness. Complete the special night with a Tsingtao beer on special or the Year of the Dog cocktail featuring Ron Zacapa rum, Bird Dog Whiskey, Dancing Pines Black Walnut Liqueur, Hair of The Dog Tonic, and orange bitters. The special fish and the cocktail will be available all weekend long.

Crazy Sichuan Shrimp Wontons

Thach Tran became the new Executive Chef at Ace in August of 2017, and previously held the role of Executive Sous Chef at ChoLon Asian Bistro for five years. Tran first fell in love with food in his birthplace of Saigon, in Vietnam. At a young age he began washing dishes at his grandmother’s noodle restaurants, where she taught Tran to appreciate the intricacies of good food.

When Tran was nine years old, his grandmother sold her restaurants and moved the family to America, hoping to find a better life. Tran proudly graduated from the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University in 2010 and has worked in some of Denver’s top
Restaurants since. Ace's lively, high-energy open kitchen, ping-pong hall, bar and patio perfectly complement Chef Tran’s personality and his creative, interactive, and authentically inspired culinary creations have lent themselves perfectly to creating the new menu at Ace. We recommend you try the Crazy Sichuan Shrimp Wontons and either of the Bao Buns to start. For the main course we loved the gluten-free Scallop & Shrimp X.O. Rice Pillows bowl and the Kabocha Kho Soi, a vegetarian yellow coconut and squash curry with egg noodles and veggies.

Ace Eat Serve is a great place for drinks on the patio, a casual dinner at the Chef’s Counter, and laughs over a game of Ping Pong. Their delicious Asian-inspired menu, creative cocktails, big beer fridge, and cool interior combine to make Ace Eat Serve a unique concept in Denver.

https://www.aceeatserve.com/menus/main

Review written by Tiffany Candelaria