Win $52.80: Tell us about your favorite Denver restaurant

• Where can you find a dumpling so steamy, There is an explosion with just one bite, A burst of gruyere that remains so creamy, Traveling by stream of hot broth delight?   Where can you find a dish dressed so sexy, The water glasses whine in envy, Where innovative combinations scream eat me, The vivacious textures are very teasing Followed by energetic flavors that are so pleasing?   And once the dessert hits your lips bend You don’t want this sultry affair to end. Dining that will be a black swan event, Only at Cholon,your time and money are well spent.

• My favorite grub spot in Denver isn't necessarily sexy or sultry...though it can certainly get steamy if it's crowded enough.  Village Cork's little location on the corner of S. Pearl and Louisiana isn't a seductive temptress in the heart of LoDo or the Highlands, and it certainly lacks the trendy ambiance of Euclid Hall and ChoLon.  But it doesn't dress itself up to be anything of the sort, and it doesn't hide its true passion: good wine, and the most drool-worthy food in Denver.  The recipe for a great restaurant in our humble city is no longer a mystery: throw together reclaimed wood floors, a great wine list, art made from some random recycled material, and fresh locally sourced ingredients in creative ways, and you've got a hit.  Sure, Village Cork has this mix down.  But what they DON'T have is more important: no industrial kitchen. No army staff of sous chefs and line cooks.  They have their kitchen, which seems smaller than a Ford Pinto, and they have Chef Samir Mohammad.  Somehow, in that tiny, hot kitchen, that brilliant man produces the a flavorful and ever-changing menu that showcases his skill in not only classic pork chops and roasted chicken, but also blue crab tamales and rutabagas.  Everything done to perfection, seasoned perfectly, and presented humbly.  His adventuresome nature in the kitchen has never failed to produce the best meals we've had in Denver, even if it is on the outskirts of the trendy action.

• Pesce Fresco Bistro. Fresh, sumptuous food and a brilliant wine list. The fried ravioli small plate can actually put you in danger of eating your hand. Never a mediocre meal.

• Cafe Prague was my favorite restaurant, until Valentines Day Dinner. I know it is not a sexy or hip restaurant, but they serve honest great food. When we have gone for special occassions, we have always ordered the $45 dinner for two which is loaded with duck, schnitzel, and all our sultry german favorites. We arrived on Valentines Day for dinner and after being seated we were presented with the menu. It was a "Special Valentines Day" menu and our $45 dinner for two was not among the choices, in fact, it was prix-fixe at $42 per person which was above our budget and double what we would normally spend. They never mentioned this when I made the reservation and I was steamy mad...in fact, I was steamed. But I didn't want to ruin the evening for my date, and we stayed. By winning this generous contest, I would feel vilified for being ripped-off by deciding to get greedy instead of showing love to their customers...  

• What can be sexier than a Brazilian cowboy standing at your table side, holding his long, hot, sizzling sword......of meat. If variety is truly the spice of life, then Fogo de Choa is certainly spicing up my life. Savor still simmering tender meat that's sliced directly onto your plate. Are you in the mood to do it yourself? Head over to the salad bar, a foodie's dream stocked with an array of fine cheeses and salads. Things getting a little too steamy for you? Cleanse your palatte with some Pao de Queijo, the sexy Brazilian alternative to cheese puff, or even better quench your appetite with a buttery, sultry plantain.  Hot and bothered yet? Don't worry, unlike past experiences, it ends when you're ready, so go ahead, leave your card on green.... I won't tell, all you can eat is just their way of saying: "enjoy  Brazilian cowboys all night long!"  Don't forget a chocolate mint on your way out, a souvenir to enjoy on your own. 

• You know what's not sexy, sultry, or steamy about this years list...the participating restaurants and the lack of a some big hitters...no Frasca, no Z Cuisine, no Fruition, no Pizzeria Basta. Faced with the 5280 list and the Denver restaurant conglomerates of Jasinski and Bonanno...Osteria Marco rises to the top. Shit..regardless of 5280 or not, Osteria Marco is always near the top, because unlike Rioja or Euclid Hall it's always on track and pleasing to many different people from different walks of life. And unlike Mizuna or the Green Russell, it's always great quality food at a great price no matter what kind of group you are taking out-and it's always welcoming and comfortable. Osteria Marco at it's core is always more accessible and more guaranteed to please your grumpy uncle who only eats cheeseburgers and your stuffy east coast friend who fancy's themselves a foodie. Which is why 50% of the time when we are entertaining out of town guests, Osteria Marco hits the mark of everyone enjoying themselves, having a good time, being part of the Larimer scene, and enjoying a good meal.

• Rioja.  Didn't even need to think about that one.  I love Rioja because the food is amazing, and the staff is Sexy as all get out. My first visit there I had no idea what I was getting into. I went with my Ex (another story all together). I had heard about the place and walked by it a few times but never tried it. After a sultry seduction to go out against my better judgement, I went. I am so glad I did, and returned a few months later for the $52.80 deal.  I could have picked any of the hundreds of other restaurants participating in Denver Restaurant Week last year; but I chose Rioja. Why? Because the food is not too complicated and the service is on point. I loved the grilled mozzarella appetizer was so awesome I still think about it; my main course last year was the milk poached pork loin. It had these curry candied cashews and a sauce that I would have drank a gallon of. In addition to that, we could not decide between two of the desserts; PB&J squares or the Lemon Tart. Our waiter, sensing the lack of ability to make a decision between me and my date, brought us both. Of course we gave him a hefty tip and dug in. The portions were so perfect my date and I left satisfied, but not to full to make the ride home a steamy one in the back of the cab. :) 

• Did not read the rules. Sorry. How do I delete? LOL

• Love Banzai Sushi. Great food, good prices, nice waitstaff.

• oops, double post

• When first walking past Olivea's publicly visible kitchen, you can't help but wonder what will follow. What you see next is a charming room featuring contemporary decorations and a modest, yet satisfying wine bar, lit just dimly enough for a dining couple to feel both sexy and sultry. Upon viewing Olivea's selection of French and Mediterranean creations, you can't help but anxiously wonder if the cuisine matches the romantic atmosphere. Savory and inventive appetizers then precede succulent, flavorful and, surprisingly, well portioned gourmet entrees, leaving you well prepared for any steamy, post-dinner activities. But before you even think of ending your night here, it would be a crime to not indulge in any one of Olivea's decadent and exotic desserts, particularly their staple chocolate caramel torte. After all this and a bottle wine, my partner and I always seem to leave Olivea thinking, "Let's do that again." This is why it is our favorite restaurant.

• It was our second year living in Denver, when we first learned about Denver Restaurant Week.  My husband had insisted that we rake our steamy horse pasture of all its 'vegetarian and gourmet' leavings.  I was feeling pretty sultry after about 4 hours of said raking and shovelling - so when my husband asked me what I wanted for dinner, it was a no-brainer - I wanted meat.  I wanted, steak, specifically.  Searching the Denver Restaurant Week offerings, I espied 'The Dusty Boot' - and knew our dinner prayers were answered.  It was a great value for the money - which is always sexy in my book - and the appetizer, steaks and dessert were... fantastic. 

• Cholon is my suggested because Planning Lon needs the amazingly un-sexy the city contacts and changes them into the steamiest, hottest meals I've had in a while.

• Cholon is my favorite because Chef Lon takes the decidedly un-sexy brussels sprouts and turns them into the steamiest, sexiest dish I've had in a long time.

• To pick a favorite restaurant, would mean I have a bias. Its hard to then succumb to one's cheaply bid of "try us." If a choice must be made, Then my vote is for The Broker. Its underground, Gotham vibes begat dinners with a Joker. Steaming steaks, buttered lobster tails, and spirits older than I, A waiter offers a platter of shrimp, without hesitation, I can't deny. This booth is just a vessel for sultry flavorings of old. A vault now housing met desire, once owned our city's gold. Date night, late night, or merely happy hour, Restaurant week or not, I'll still enjoy their whiskey sour.

• I absolutely LOVE Venue. When you first open the doors to Venue, your nose is greeted with a deluge of lush, steamy scents. Their tiny dining area invites you into their cozy little restaurant. Simple pictures of culinary tools on the wall are a sexy reminder of the fresh, real food being produced in the kitchen. The menu spans the local fish and game of Colorado. Each protein item is carefully concocted with jazzy sides and sultry sauces, bringing international flavors to local foods. The pastry chef also spins magic with such favorites as pots de creme, hot chocolate and cookies, and fruit tarts. Each time I pay the bill, I wonder- when will be next time I get to tango with Venue?

• Euclid Hall- I could eat the marrow every day. The first time that perfectly steamy, bruleed bone was placed in front of me, I knew I was in heaven.  Spooning out the sweet, glistening, juicy, marrow to spread on the toast was surprisingly sultry.  Eating at Euclid Hall made me feel sexy, in the way that life's greatest pleasures always do...excellent food, drink, and the company of people I love and choose to eat with.  What could be better? I can't wait to go back! 

• Rioja made an indelible impression on me thanks to a whole host of scrumptiously edible details, but what had me swooning from the very beginning was their bodaciously steamy bread basket. It ranneth over with not one anemic mainstream variety as is the case with so many eateries but four distinctly different hand crafted wheat-enhanced morsels studded with everything from lemon zest, chunky oven roasted garlic cloves and flecks of fresh rosemary to a trio of house-cured olives, one variety more sultry in texture than the next. Carb-free dieters -- go ahead and work your lean mean bodies all you want -- but in my humble opinion, there's nothing more sexy than a restaurant that appeals to one's carnal carby desires...and as for the willing diner who seizes the day by plowing with reckless abandon into a gorgeous collection of artisan breads courtesy of Rioja, fuggeddaboudit. 

• I like Euclid Hall and I cannot lie The rest of Larimer Square can’t deny That when a sultry girl walks in for an itty bitty taste To stuff hand-cranked sausage in her face She gets sprung!   It used to be a brothel hall But things have changed, its okay, don’t bawl.   Did you notice that Euclid’s got the ambience, the chandaliers, two bars, that’s hot. I’m hooked on their study hall specials of beer, Their servers are sexy, you hear!? Their shirts say “I love sausage” I wish they would take me hostage.   If you’re on a steamy date, I got a suggestion you won’t hate. Stop in the Hall, its on 14th street, if you like heat, their s’mores dessert is a sultry treat. They use a blowtorch and it ain’t cool, Chocolate, ‘mallow and heat is sure to make you and your girl drool.   Euclid Hall, once a sexy steamy sultry brothel hall, Now a sexy steamy sultry “study”/drinking/sausage hall.   Sausage is here, yes! but that’s not all! Baby got back!

• I know it might be cliche but hand's down..Steuben's!  It just represents the steamiest of Denver.  The sultry drinks! The sexy staff, including the sultry drink makers, the fact that nothing stands in their way from roasting a whole pig on their patio in the middle of winter, and then there's the lucky burger!  Steuben's could of just had me at "prosecco", but Steuben's also just guarantees a good time.  With good spirits and delicious food to boot! 

• Hard to compete with Mark Twain, I enjoy duo because i every time i go there, it's the best meal since the last meal there.

•   Admittedly, when it comes to restaurants in Denver, I suffer from a wandering eye, flipping through them for something that sparkles and tempts, something unexpected that catches my eye. This has never happened with Bistro Vendome. While many chefs seem content mostly recycling recipes from the latest food channel trend, Bistro Vendome does not dance the latest culinary cha cha cha. The latest gastronomical craze would never sully the unpredictable world of BV. In a very unassuming yet tempting nook of Larimer Square, Bistro Vendome projects the most romantic setting with small tables lovers can nestle together at, even on the same side, without feeling awkward. The wait staff is quite kind, thoughtful and hospitable without being over-bearing or always around. Their cooking embodies the imaginative possibilities of the best old world french recipes I have ever eaten, and I swoon over so many of the tasty treats they conjure up. There was a moment, such as the surprise of a delightful amuse-bouche of roasted red pepper soup that was like a steamy little kiss of dreamy creamy goodness providing a comforting, warm start to dining on a chilly night. The mussels appetizer were glistening in their sexy saltiness of preposterous possibility, with tender flesh cooked in the garlicy savoryness, equal parts musky and sweet. We sopped up the beautiful juices with warm fresh baguette served in a scandalous paper bag. Their pomme frites are cut with precision, deliciously thin, crispy on the outside and soft and steamy on the inside. Then there was another moment when my paramour had the filet mignon, which was a house special. It was seasoned and cooked flawlessly, topped with a fragrant truffle sauce that was steeped in subtleties that were uncannily unique, clever and delicious. Then there was a third moment when my very own herbed chicken was beautifully crisp on the outside and deliciously moist on the inside, seasoned superbly, paired with a cauliflower gratin that was light and fluffy. These moments stack on top of one another in my memory like a woman's pink-flounced pillows. Another red hot glowing feature of Bistro Vendome is their willingness to allow the unequaled luxury of uninterrupted time. Time for the long and languorous running sentences of seduction and sensuality, while savoring perfectly prepared food such as their sultry crème brulee as we curled closer and closer together resembling quotation marks to the casual observer. They don't rush you out of there as soon as they've cleared your dinner plates. It's difficult to marshal some response as to why this place is so special, but it's likely something about the importance of journeys and destinations, the totality of the experience and not its end, even if that end is punctuated by the siren song of the last glass of Sirene Margaux and a delicate lychee sorbet you will continue to lust over for weeks. The artfulness of Bistro Vendome awakens a ray of sunshine slumbering way down deep in our memories of how food should taste, giving one pause, a slight inward hush of my breath, and every dining experience I have ever had there touches me on the inside from nip to tip, top to bottom and all the naughty crevices in between.

• LINGER!! It's my favorite because 1) the first time I biked over one sultry summer night and walked into the bar with its amazing views I thought I was in heaven. 2) Sustainability - even someone with my strict food politics can order anything off the menu, and those bathroom mirrors are awesome! 3) They label their menu V & GF and you can go there with vegans or meat eaters and everyone has great choices. 4) On Halloween aka "Dead Celebrity" night I got waited on by Jesus - how sexy is that?. It's enough to make my glasses steamy.

• A Steuben's limerick: I'm so happy that Steuben's exists: it's where steamy, sweet ribs meet my lips. And the portions? Not paltry. Sexy waitresses? Sultry. Their meat always brings in good tips.  

• For my money, ( or yours ) the Saucy Noodle can't be beat. The sultry Bonnie Brea neighborhood, the sexy waitresses, the steamy pasta, and the garlic.

• P17 delivers every single time.  A hot bowl of pho, an infused vodka cocktail, delicious brunch and bottomless mimosas, a superb dessert menu and a great patio make this a go-to for any day!

• TAG - sexy bartenders serving up inventive concoctions, great atmosphere, top notch and friendly wait staff, fabulous food.  Butterfish appetizer is a must - it truly MELTS in your mouth (I promise), black cod is to die-for, sticky toffee cake  - OMG.  You don't need sex to sell this place. 

• Le Central is my go to Denver restaurant for their huge variety of steamy mussels and fries. For only $20 you can have a romantic and sexy dinner for two and the back patio is sultry and sweet...just like the food!

• I’m not sure I ever have been to a restaurant that lived up to the hype like Linger did for me. I work just down the street from Linger, so when it opened last summer, I noticed all sorts of hip looking people park their cars and walk in (usually a good sign). Then on Facebook, all the foodies and braggers started posting positive reviews about Linger. Then I read the eventual glowing reviews of the place. After a few weeks, I decided to make a reservation. My review? Near perfect. Every minor detail at Linger exceeded my expectations, from the ambiance and service to the menu and bathrooms. Not only is Linger an incredible place to dine, the food was absolutely delicious, which was surprising given the menu’s lack of focus. In a way, what the chefs at Linger accomplish with that menu is simply unbelievable with such a high degree of difficulty. And as a diner, you can sort of globetrot around the menu and get all sorts of different flavors in just one sitting. For someone that does regularly read restaurant reviews, I can say I’ve never been to a restaurant that lived up to the hype of Linger, and I’m so glad to see it have success since it opened.

• Colt & Gray Oysters are an aphrodisiac, but fry them delicately and serve the steamy muscle with a cool, sultry tartare sauce - you'll be feeling so sexy you may have to raincheck the entree in favor of "Check, please."

• Upon ol' South Broadway, a summer night so steamy. Amid sultry rockers and hipsters; none mean-y. Through Woodsley's door, I'd have "just one more"… BECALM M'EYES! -a'place more sexy than whisky!

• TAG Restaurant is my absolute favorite. From the steamy chefs to the sexy plate presentation it's the Denver spot for me!

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