Paris on the Platte fails to quench our happy hour needs

By Kate Kennedy Fri., Apr. 13 2012 at 11:03 AM

Happy Place: Paris on the Platte Café and Bar, 1553 Platte Street, 303-455-2451.

The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The Deals: $3 draft beers and well drinks; $5 wines by the glass; $1 off all appetizers.

Were we happy? Flip the page to find out.

The Digs: Paris on the Platte is a cozy wine bar wedged between the shops and restaurants along Platte Street that also include Savory Spice Shop, Proto's Pizza, and the crunchy yet convenient Wilderness Exchange. It's an eclectic little space, where brick walls showcase feminist art and the wooden floors give rise to cherry oak bistro tables and bar stools. This wine bar features a patio off the front doors, as well as behind the dining area. And the wine bar caters to every type, opening early in the morning for a slow cup of Joe and keeping the gates open well into the evening for those looking for a late night bottle of wine and a good chat.

The Verdict: It had been a long time since we had stopped in for a glass of vino at Paris on the Platte, but the space continues to be as inviting as ever. The bartender approached us and explained the details of happy hour, and we were left to decide what we wanted to enjoy.

The food selection at Paris on the Platte is typical coffee-shop-meets-wine-bar fare -- mostly tapas and simple sandwiches. But for a wine bar, we found the wine selection mediocre on paper and less than satisfactory on the palate. Our German Riesling was peachy and bright without being overly sweet, and it had a delicate minerality that provided a nice balance. However, our California mourvédre rose left much to be desired and drank as though the bottle had been open a little too long. Our pulled pork sliders were disappointing; arriving on dinner rolls and served with cold barbecue sauce, the meat was dry and lacking in the tenderness we except from braised meats. The bruschetta, flaked with salty pieces of pancetta and drizzled in aged balsamic, was slightly more appealing, but not good enough to beckon us back. And the bartender, who quickly became distracted and nonchalant, didn't help matters. True, the space is swell, but the overall experience of Paris on the Platte's happy hour leaves much to be desired.

Overall Grade: C

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Aceranchero

Now that the neighborhood has, hmmm, 'matured' it's time for POTP to give itself a big kick in the pants and take advantage of a great opportunity to make a claim as the go-to place for those in-between periods when it's not quite time for lunch (Proto's) or dinner (Colt & Gray, Sushi Sasa). Breakfast? Not as long as they keep individually wrapping the scones up in plastic. They're supposed to be crumbly, not spongy! In fact, light breakfast and late night snacks might be their best play given that they're surrounded on all sides by far better options such as Masterpiece Deli, Amato's, Mona's, Forest Room 5, and so on.

thespot84

I prefer the paris on the platte of my youth. Ya know, the one with the waiters that would scare the pants of your parents, more board games on tables than tablets, in a 'neighborhood' had more to do with 'hood' than 'neighbor'. Plus Shakespeare's was pretty tit. I guess that's the price we pay for being comfortable in lohi/riverfront after dark.

Carly

I was in the area last night. If you would have told me ten years ago that the potholed parking lot for Paris would turn into the entrance for a ped bridge and valet parking for an upscale restaurant, I would not have believed you.