Back in 2004, a restaurant opened on Pearl Street in Boulder, simply named The Kitchen. The equally simple concept was to offer people a comfortable and transparent environment to dine on healthy and delicious American cuisine, much like the kitchens in our own homes. And, unlike many new restaurants that dive into Boulder’s competitive dining scene, The Kitchen did very well. In fact, it did so well that they soon opened a cocktail lounge above the restaurant called Upstairs, and a community pub called the Kitchen Next Door, which as you might have guessed, is right next door.
Today, The Kitchen has locations in Fort Collins and downtown Denver, as well as one in Chicago that opened this past October. There are also now two Kitchen Next Doors in the greater Denver area; one is within Union Station, and the other is conveniently situated in Glendale, just three miles from campus on Colorado Boulevard.
Let’s face it—there isn’t a ton of good, healthy food in the DU area. Asbury Provisions has definitely helped the scene since their doors opened in the fall, but essentially everything else, excluding Pearl Street is a far cry from satisfactory. Therefore, the Kitchen Next Door is an absolute must for Pios seeking a decent meal without the burden of heading downtown. While The Kitchen is certainly a great place to go eat for a big occasion, The Kitchen Next Door was created for people like us who don’t have a big budget but want to eat as if we do.
Their menu contains a variety of American dishes, ranging from greens to grease, all at an affordable price point. A plethora of salads make up the green side of things—like the Learning Garden for $8.95 (kale, carrots, almonds, onions, feta and apple vinaigrette) and Wild Sockeye Salmon Salad for $9.95 (arugula, celery, marinated beans, aioli, lemon and olive oil)—as well as some other veggie-based options like the Next Door Beet Burger for $8.95 (arugula, balsamic onions and feta).
They also have a lot of heartier options for omnivores, like the Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich for $8.95 (arugula and salsa verde), the Cuban for $8.95 (slow-roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles and dijon), the Bangers ‘N’ Mash for $13.95 (housemade sausage, mashed potatoes, sautéed greens and onion gravy) and the Koberstein Ranch Beef Meatballs (soft polenta, tomato sauce and almond gremolata) for $13.95. Besides the Hanger Steak, which is $18.95, the most expensive item on the menu is just $13.95. Considering the quality of this food and the restaurant’s fabulous atmosphere, this is one of the best deals you can find in the greater Denver area’s extensive cuisine scene.
Speaking of atmosphere, The Kitchen Next Door has a perfect balance of casualness and classiness. You can go in there wearing a t-shirt and jeans and fit in just fine, but it’s also a place that’s great to have an elegant night out. Smooth steel chairs, rustic wooden tables, green leather booths and white brick walls comprise a style that’s easy to get comfortable with. There’s also a massive bar for those busier nights with long waits, and behind that bar are some solid beverage options. 11 craft beers are on tap ($4.25 – 6.25), including Deschutes Brewery’s Fresh Squeezed IPA—my personal favorite that I’ve never seen at any other restaurant or bar. There are also four red wines ($6 – 9), four white wines ($6 – 9) and countless cocktails made to your liking.
The staff is friendly. However, the restaurant can get really busy, which can make them a little pushy in terms of getting you in and out of there quickly. But, just take your time and don’t worry about that one bit. Most of us don’t get the chance to eat out like this very often, and there’s no reason to rush the occasion.
The Kitchen Next Door also does “Community Hour,” which offers discounts on drinks and snacks from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. Select beers are $3, select wines are $5, Moscow Mules and margaritas are $3.95 and snacks are $3 – 5. I highly recommend the Crispy Garlic Smashers—essentially massive french fries that are insanely good—and the Salt ‘N’ Pepper Calamari. They also have “Late Night” deals Monday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to close and Sunday from 6 p.m. to close, which include half-price beer pitchers and wine bottles.
Next time you want to go out somewhere new, don’t think twice and go hit The Kitchen Next Door.
