Top Tasting Menus In Denver
Summer is a great time to take a tasting journey around Denver. Tasting menus offer a chef's choice of menu favorites and can be highly educational. Read on for a collection of Denver's top tasting menus.
See our previous piece on Top Tasting Menus In The Denver Area here.
711 Grant St.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 832-6600
www.lucadenver.com Executive chef Eric Cimino offers a four-course prix fixe menu for $65 and up ($95 and up with sommelier pairings) and a chef's six-course menu for $85 and up ($125 and up with sommelier pairings). The six-course tasting menu includes choices from braised meatballs, soil roasted beets, tagliatelle fra diavola, pappardelle bolognese, roasted black cod, tasting of rabbit and duo of duck. The restaurant is known for its exceptional wine program. Named after owner Frank Bonanno's son, Luca d'Italia is an ode to the beauty of dining and celebration of family.
Chef's Tasting at Mizuna
225 E. 7th Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 832-4778
www.mizunadenver.com
Executive chef Stephen McCary offers a five-course prix fixe menu for $75 and up ($155 and up with sommelier pairings) and a chef's eight-course menu for $125 and up ($200 and up with sommelier pairings). The menus rotate seasonally but offerings could include grilled baby octopus, Burgundian escargot, seared diver scallops or Colorado lamb chops. With a laid-back vibe and thoughtful wine list, Mizuna has earned a reputation as a special place among food lovers and critics due to its quality and great service.
Gypsy Kitchen
Rotating locations
reservations@gypsykitchendenver.com
www.gypsykitchendenver.com
Gypsy Kitchen is a collaboration of chefs Jon Robbins and Brian Dudzinski with wine expert Alex Kayir. Guests can expect a spectacular 10- to 12-course tasting with unique wine pairings. Previous menus have included geoduck and linguica sausage, stuffed squash blossom, salmon sushi, sea bass paella, red snapper and spectacular desserts such as millefeuille and cheesecake surprise. The pop-up dinner only offers 20 seats so count on communal dining with an interesting group. The price varies on tasting and location. Be sure to email the reservation's address for the upcoming calendar.
Palace Arms at the Brown Palace
321 17th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(800) 321-2599
www.brownpalace.com
When it comes to luxury in the Denver area, you can't go wrong with the Brown Palace Hotel. Known across the country as one of the best, most historic luxurious hotels, this iconic building has been visited by almost every United States President in history. Of course, that means it must have a truly exceptional restaurant as well. The Palace Arms is consistently rated among the best restaurants in the state, and the Chef's Tasting Menu allows you to sample some of his most amazing creations. The four courses begin with the chef's creation for an amuse, then you select your choice of appetizer, soup or salad, entrée and dessert from the menu. Try the French Pressed Suckling Pig, Colorado Rabbit Terrine, Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, Maple Leaf Farm Duck Breast or the Wagyu New York Strip. This is one of those rare tasting menus that allows you a little bit of variety along with the chef's personal suggestions. Make sure to have the staff sommelier suggest the perfect wine to pair with each course.
Chef Wiggins Nightly Tasting Dinners at Panzano
909 17th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 296-3525
www.panzano-denver.com
Acclaimed executive chef Elise Wiggins creates a five-course, chef's tasting menu every night for $55 per person. Chef Wiggins has earned a reputation for sourcing locally and working with high-quality farms, which produce grass-fed beef and natural meats. Nightly summer menus might include insalata primavera, ragu di anatra or salmone alla piastra. Every Sunday evening through the summer, Chef Wiggins offers a special three-course tasting menu for $35 with optional wine pairings accompanying each course for an additional $15. The menu and wines rotate each month to reflect a different region of the Italian culinary and oenological landscape. Be sure to visit the website for upcoming regions.
Related: Top Food Trucks In Denver
Ellen Marchman Larkey has a savvy knowledge of culture and events and maintains trusted partnerships around the country. She has substantial expertise with food, wine and lifestyle including Aspen Food &
Wine Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Cochon, Top Chef and numerous destination
restaurants and master mixologists. She has beeen Examiner.com's Denver's Fine Dining writer since 2009.
