From Feb. 26 to March 6, Denver’s top restaurants will come together for the 12th annual Denver Restaurant Week. These ten days offer Denver residents a chance to sample some of the finest dining in the west via $30 three-course meals at over 235 top Denver restaurants. The event is a celebration of Denver’s dining scene and gives people the chance to splurge at their favorite spot or try out new offerings in the city for a relatively low price.
The beauty of Denver Restaurant Week is in its ability to open up pricey dining to those that don’t usually have the opportunity to partake. It also acts as a great time for local restaurants to showcase themselves to patrons and find new customers.
If you’re looking to jump on Denver Restaurant Week but don’t want to travel too far, there’s a sampling of restaurants on South Broadway, Pearl Street and in the Wash Park neighborhood that are part of the event and offer opportunities to eat a delicious $30, multi-course meal.
The closest participating restaurant to DU is Fooducopia on Kentucky Avenue, located by Wash Park. The corner market offers fresh, organic and locally sourced food, serving entrees like the High Point Farm bison filet, herb whipped Colorado organic potatoes, organic roasted tomatoes and asparagus with demi-glace. Another participating restaurant located relatively close to DU is Colore Italian Restaurant, located near the Gothic Theatre on South Broadway. They serve up traditional Italian grub, such as New York style hand stretched pizzas, calzones and chicken parmigiana.
Italian restaurant, Colore, boasts traditional Italian favorites such as pizza and calzones.Photo courtesy of milehighhappyhour.com
Whether you’re looking to have a nicer than average college dinner with friends or a cheaper than usual fancy dinner with a date, Denver Restaurant Week is the best opportunity of the year to dine well and relatively cheaply.
A full list of participating restaurants can be found on the Denver Restaurant Week website; there you can sort the restaurants by neighborhood, location, menu and type of dining to be sure to find the right place for a meal.
Be warned, however, that reservations—especially for the more popular joints—are absolutely necessary and fill up very quickly. It’s advised that you book a day or two in advance. It can also behoove you to make a reservation for later or earlier than usual dining times, as you have a greater chance of getting a table. If you can’t grab a table but the restaurant has a bar, it’s a good idea to sit there instead, as the Restaurant Week menu should still be served.
Restaurant week only comes around once a year so be sure to take advantage of the deals and sample some of Denver’s finest dining options.
