Denver dining: Try these restaurants

Many of us in western Colorado travel to Denver to visit family and friends, for work, sporting events and more.

While I’m there, I enjoy checking out the delicious dining scene. Here are some restaurants I’ve tried recently, listed in alphabetical order.

EDGE Restaurant & Bar — This fabulous restaurant is located within the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Denver at 1111 14th St. It is near the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and is a popular pre-show dining option. It is also simply terrific!

It starts off an evening just the way I like it: comfortable seating in an elegant dining room with seamless and friendly service and a glass of champagne.

Everything was wonderful, from the must-order hot fresh bread to a beet salad in the shape of a rose, to the expertly roasted chicken and a luscious sea bass.

Just when I thought I could eat no more, they brought out a dessert menu that had sticky toffee pudding topped with a Stranahan’s whiskey ice cream. Have you ever had this classic British dessert? It is one of my favorites and a great way to end a spectacular evening.

I paired it with a lovely Scotch since those flavors go perfectly together and brought back some fond memories.

Hop Alley — Located at 3500 Larimer St., the atmosphere at Hop Alley is warm and inviting. The food is creative and features a modern interpretation of Chinese cuisine. My husband particularly loved the large duck “eggrolls” which were wrapped in house-made scallion pancakes instead of egg roll wrappers.

I was intrigued by a yummy jackfruit stuffed bao, grilled tiger shrimp in a fabulous smoked chile bean sauce, and the “dragon whiskers” – pickled mustard greens, garlic, and snow pea leaves. So tasty!

I found the service very personable, and I liked sitting next to the open kitchen so I could watch what was happening. They also have special menus available for those looking for gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options.

Hop Alley is currently a semifinalist for a prestigious James Beard Foundation award for “Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.” They’ve also received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2023 and 2024.

Sap Sua — This fairly new restaurant at 2550 E. Colfax Ave. shares a building with The Tattered Cover bookstore and is so popular right now the only reservation I could get was a 9 p.m. slot, but it was worth it.

It’s a hopping and innovative Vietnamese restaurant that was friendly and delicious. We had a great time there, and everything we tried really shined. I particularly liked the crispy rice, tomato, herbs, and egg dish and the spicy fries. My husband was a big fan of the Hamachi crudo with coconut, lemongrass, ginger and chile.

Everything was presented beautifully, and I look forward to returning. Of special note, the chefs, Anna and Ni Nguyen, are semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation award for “Emerging Chef.”

Yuan Wonton — If you are looking for a fun, casual, energetic place to dine with terrific house-made dumplings, wontons, and more, then this is your place!

Located at 2878 Fairfax St., it is next to a cute little neighborhood park and shares space with a bakery. I was there on a warm, sunny day, and they opened their large, glass garage door for fresh air and outdoor seating.

We loved the OG Chili Oil Wontons (available with shrimp and pork or vegan) and the Chinese Chive Pockets were a panfried delight. I couldn’t resist ordering the Steamed Mantou, which is a playful dessert featuring hot, steamed mantou that you dip into an ube (purple Filipino yam) sweetened condensed milk treat. We devoured it!

The chef/owner, Penelope Wong, won the Colorado Restaurant Association’s HOSPYS award for “Chef of the Year” in September and is a James Beard Foundation semifinalist in the category of “Best Chef: Mountain.”

On our drive home from Denver, we enjoyed Glenwood Spring’s Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 205 Eighth St. We called ahead and placed an a togo order for some slices of yummy pizza. It was fast, and we were able to get back on the road and home to the beautiful Grand Valley after a fun visit to Denver.

Email Christine Gallagher at allthingsfoodchristine@gmail. com.

This smoky grilled tiger shrimp, foreground, and delicious “dragon whiskers” are from Hop Alley, 3500 Larimer St., in Denver.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

Christine Gallagher’s dad delighted in the Steamed Mantou with purple ube that they had for dessert at Yuan Wonton, 2878 Fairfax St.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

Christine Gallagher was dazzled by this “rose” made out of 45 thinly shaved beet slices at EDGE Restaurant & Bar, 1111 15th St., in downtown Denver.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

Christine Gallagher’s husband enjoyed the Hamachi crudo with coconut, lemongrass, ginger and chile at Sap Sua, 2550 E. Colfax Ave., in Denver.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

ALLAGHER